How much can non-EU students work in Germany (140 days rule), and what is a Werkstudent job?

Many of us want to work next to our studies. As a non-EU student on a study residence permit (§ 16b AufenthG) you may work, but only within a yearly limit. This is a summary of the law and FAU's guidance; for your own case ask the immigration office or FAU's International Office.

The 140-day rule

• Your permit allows employment of up to 140 working days per year (§ 16b (3) AufenthG). FAU describes this as 140 full days or 280 half days.
• A day with up to four hours of work counts as a half day; longer days count as full days.
• For part-time jobs there is a second way of counting: a whole calendar week counts as 2.5 working days, during the lecture period if you work up to 20 hours that week, and during the semester break regardless of the hours. Whichever method is better for you is applied, week by week.
• Student assistant jobs (studentische Nebentätigkeit, e.g. HiWi jobs at the university) are not counted towards the 140 days.
• A compulsory internship that is part of your study regulations belongs to the purpose of study and does not count. FAU notes that voluntary internships count as normal work, paid or unpaid.
• The permit covers employment only. Ask the immigration office before any freelance or self-employed work.

Werkstudent basics

• A Werkstudent is an enrolled student employed alongside their studies.
• If you work no more than 20 hours per week during the semester, you are exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance contributions on that job (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). Jobs only during the semester break are exempt regardless of hours. Ask your employer how pension insurance applies.
• Remember: the social insurance rule and the 140-day rule are separate. Count your days for both.

Useful numbers (as of January 2026)