Working while studying

The work permit is directly related to the paragraph of the Residence Act under which you are granted a visa or residence permit.

University, Stüdienkolleg and language courses as part of pre-university training (§16b AufenthG)

• You are allowed to work up to 140 days per calendar year.
• Work under university structures, e.g. as a research assistant (HiWi) is not counted in this limit.
• Counting workdays under two models: 8 hours - full-time (4 hours - half-time) OR 2.5 days for a 20-hour workweek.
• Working up to 40 hours per week during semester breaks counts as 2.5 days.

! Don't confuse work authorization with a limit of 20 hours per week during the semester and 40 hours per week during vacations - these are restrictions related to Social Security and the ability to stay on a student's health insurance plan.

Isolated language course (§16f AufenthG)

• You are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the course.

Applicants - usually students with an invitation to take the entrance exam (§17 AufenthG) are granted this visa.

• Authorized to work up to 20 hours per week.