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First: What is the core difference?
| Point | Werkstudent (student employee) | Voluntary internship (Freiwilliges Praktikum) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Part-time job alongside studies | Optional professional internship to build experience |
| Legal relationship | Part-time employment contract with the company | Internship agreement (not full employment in the strict sense) |
| Mandatory in the curriculum? | No, done freely alongside studies | No, unlike a mandatory internship (Pflichtpraktikum) |
Working hours
| Period | Werkstudent | Voluntary internship |
|---|---|---|
| During the semester | Up to 20 hours per week | Up to 40 hours per week possible (with university approval) |
| During semester break | Full-time temporarily possible | Full-time also possible |
Pay and taxes
| Item | Werkstudent | Voluntary internship |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | Paid (10–18 € per hour) | Sometimes unpaid or paid symbolically (6–12 €/hour) |
| Tax | No taxes if income < 520 €/month | Subject to minimum wage if it lasts more than 3 months |
| Health insurance | No deductions if you are insured as a student | No deductions if the internship is under 3 months |
| Pension insurance | Partly deducted after a certain salary level | Usually not required if the internship is short |
Social insurance
| Insurance | Werkstudent | Voluntary internship |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | Remains under student insurance (Studententarif) | Same as long as student enrollment remains valid |
| Pension insurance | Mandatory if pay exceeds 538 €/month | Not mandatory except in certain cases |
| Unemployment insurance | No | No |
| Accident insurance | Usually covered by the company | The company must cover it as well |
Eligibility requirements
| Requirement | Werkstudent | Voluntary internship |
|---|---|---|
| University enrollment | Required throughout the employment period | Yes, proof of enrollment is usually required |
| Field relevance | Preferred (but not always strict) | Yes, to justify the internship as professional development |
| Duration | Can continue for multiple semesters | Usually 1–6 months |
Which one suits you better?
| Situation | Better option |
|---|---|
| You want stable income and regular hours | Werkstudent |
| You mainly want experience in a specific company | Voluntary internship |
| You have limited time during the semester | Werkstudent (20 hours) |
| You only want to strengthen your CV with experience | Voluntary internship |
| You want to work in the same field later (possible hiring path) | Werkstudent |
Summary:
Werkstudent is best for combining studies with long-term work and stable income.
A voluntary internship is best for a short experience or for trying a new field.
Editorial note: The writing and editorial team aims to provide accurate information through extensive research and by consulting multiple sources. However, mistakes may occur or some information may be unconfirmed. Please treat this as initial guidance and always consult the competent authorities for verified information.
