What are working students?
Working students (Werkstudent:innen) are "regular students" who work for a company alongside their studies. This type of employment is designed specifically for students so they can gain practical experience and apply their knowledge. Working students can work in almost any field, from administration to technical or creative areas.
"Regular students" are people enrolled at a university (students) or attending a school for their vocational training (technical school students). Their studies or training must take up most of their time. Whether you can work as a working student during part-time studies should be clarified individually with your university and health insurance fund. Students on a leave semester cannot use the working student privilege, because their student status is suspended during that time.
Rights and obligations of working students
Working hours:
During the semester, working students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. During semester breaks, they can work up to 40 hours per week. This rule keeps the focus on their studies. The hour limit also applies across the whole year. If it is exceeded in more than 26 weeks of the year, the working student status ends. The working student privilege ends with it.
Social security:
The working student privilege (Werkstudentenprivileg) means working students are exempt from compulsory health, long-term care and unemployment insurance as long as they stay within the 20-hour limit. However, they cannot be exempted from pension insurance contributions once they earn more than €603 a month.
Taxes:
Working students must pay wage tax if their income exceeds the tax-free basic allowance (2024: €11,604 per year). An income tax return in the following year can lead to a refund if the allowance was not fully used.
Benefits for employees
Hands-on experience:
Working students can put the theory from their studies into practice. This improves their professional skills. It also makes it easier to enter the job market after graduating.
Flexible working hours:
Since they work only 20 hours during lecture periods, students can combine studies and work well. During semester breaks, working students can increase their hours and earn extra income.
Benefits for employers
Fresh ideas and flexibility:
Working students often bring new perspectives and can enrich the company with innovative ideas. Many companies value being able to deploy them flexibly, especially during busy periods such as semester breaks.
Talent development:
Employing working students gives companies the chance to get to know potential future employees early on. Many companies use this opportunity to offer talented working students a permanent job after they graduate.
Legal challenges and solutions
For employers:
Besides the rules on working hours and social security mentioned above, employers must make sure that working students only count as such if they meet the formal requirements. This includes being enrolled at a recognised university. Students must also give the company information about all current and previous jobs so it can check that the 26-week rule is met. Part-time students and students on dual study programmes are usually excluded from the working student privilege. Students on a leave semester cannot use the working student privilege, because their student status is suspended during that time.
For employees:
Working students must take care not to exceed the hour limits so they keep their working student status. If the limit is exceeded for longer, the working student privilege no longer applies. Social security contributions can then be claimed retrospectively. Working students must also inform their employer about other jobs so the employer can make sure the 26-week rule is met.
Conclusion
Working students offer many benefits for both companies and students. In a structured and supportive work environment, working students gain valuable experience. Companies in turn benefit from motivated staff who are eager to learn. Complying with the legal requirements, especially on working hours and working student status, is essential to make use of the working student privilege. If both sides keep these points in mind, a working student job can be a valuable addition to any company. It can also be a solid foundation for a successful career.
