“Can I cover my living costs in Germany with a part-time job?”
Partly, not fully. Fifteen to twenty hours a week within the 140-full-day limit covers food, transport and some rent — it should never be counted in the money you show for the visa.
What the rules allow
Non-EU students may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. Student assistant work at your own university is treated more generously, and mandatory internships that form part of your curriculum do not count against the limit.
The exception that catches people out is the voluntary internship: it counts against the 140 days even when it is unpaid. If your semester break internship is not listed in the module handbook, assume it counts.
What you can realistically earn
General part-time work pays around the statutory minimum wage. Working-student roles in engineering or IT pay noticeably more. Fifteen to twenty hours a week covers food, transport and some of your rent — it does not cover your whole budget, and it should not be part of your visa plan.
In practice, expect nothing in your first two or three months. Registration, a German bank account and a tax identification number come before a contract, and that sequence takes weeks.
Choose the role that compounds
A Werkstudent contract in your field, even at fewer hours, is worth more than a higher-paying hospitality job. It gives you German workplace experience, a referee, and in many cases a full-time offer before you graduate. Most of these roles require B1 German, which is the strongest practical argument for learning the language early.
Start the language course before you fly. Students who arrive at A2 and reach B1 during the first semester are the ones holding working-student contracts by month eight; students who postpone it usually stay in cash-in-hand work for two years.
The next decision
Decide now whether you will reach B1 German before your second semester, because that is what separates a Werkstudent contract in your field from hospitality shifts.
If that is where you are stuck, read how a German first-year budget works without counting job income, or which engineering regions hire working students in your field.
Questions students ask next
- Does an internship count against the 140 days?
- Not if it is a mandatory part of your curriculum. Voluntary internships do count, even unpaid ones, so check your module handbook before you sign.
- How soon after arriving will I find work?
- Plan for two to three months. Registration, a bank account and a tax ID all come first, and most employers ask for them before a contract.
Official sources
Figures in this guide are indicative and were checked on 2026-07-21. Fees, visa rules and financial-proof amounts change; confirm the current numbers with the university and the relevant embassy or immigration authority before you act.