This page conveys the information shared here by the DAAD.

Preliminary note:

The following information refers to students who were granted a residence permit under paragraph 16 of the German Residence Act (§16 Aufenthaltsgesetz). Students with a permanent residency permit do not require a special working permit.

It also does not apply to most EU citizens and nationals of the EEA states and Switzerland. EEA states and Switzerland. It only applies to Bulgarian, Romanian, and Turkish students to a limited extent.

Legal basis:

International students with a residency permit under §16 of the Residence Act are allowed to work up to 240 half days or 120 full days in a year. This restriction generally applies regardless of the contract type (Minijob, Midijob, Internship, etc.).

Exception: so-called Studentische Nebentätigkeiten, that is, student part-time jobs that are based at the university or in the vicinity of the university (e.g., research assistant, jobs at the student union or AStA). In those cases, the restriction (240 half-days/ 120 full days) does not apply.

Anyone who wants to work more than 120 full or 240 half days in a job that is not a student part-time job, must obtain authorisation from the immigration foreigners’ authority.

Possible combinations:

Most students would like to work full-time during the semester break, and less during the semester. Combining full and half days is a possibility.

For example, if you want to work 22 full days in each of the two semester breaks, you still have 76 full days which can be divided into 152 half days through the semester.

Authorisation of longer/more frequent work by the immigration authority:

If you need to work more than 240 half days/ 120 full days and cannot do so in a part-time student job, you can ask to the Foreigners' Registration Office for permission.

This requires a concrete job offer with details of the duration and location of the working hours and salary/wage required. The foreigners’ authority will ask the employment agency for approval, which in turn will check whether there are suitable "preferential" unemployed persons available for the job, and whether the income meets the usual standards.

Even if the employment agency agrees, the immigration authority can refuse permission if they conclude that the work would jeopardize the success of your studies.

*Working more than you’re allowed to can lead to the immigration’s office decision to not extend your residency permit.

Self-employment:

If you would prefer to finance your studies through self-employment (e.g. as a translator, software developer, self-employed cleaner, music or language teacher, etc), it is also possible under residence law (§ 21 (6) Residence Act). However, the foreigners’ office must authorise the self-employment separately.

The condition is that the scope of the work may not jeopardise the success of your studies. It should therefore remain within the time limits of the rules for dependent employment. Anyone who wants to start a full-time business will not receive authorisation.

In addition to a permit from the foreigners’ authority, in some cases a licence to carry out the activity is necessary, in others a business registration. For freelancers, a tax number from the tax office is sufficient.

Where to find a job as a student:

If you are looking for a job and cannot find one through newspaper/internet adverts or personal contacts, check Catapult, our job portal.

If you are interested in working as a student assistant at our university, the Central Student Counselling Service constantly shares job postings for open spots on their Instagram profile (@zsb_hsbochum).

If you are interested in attending a preparatory (german) language course or need a visa while going through the application process in Germany, this information could be helpful.

1. Visa to attend preparatory language courses (§ 16 Para. 1 AufenthG): Permitted for foreigners who wish to study at state or state-recognised universities. German language skills are proven by the DSH examination. The residence permit is issued for participation in a time-limited intensive language course, which can take place at universities or comparable institutions. As a rule, the preparatory study programmes may not exceed a total of 2 years. 
   
   As an international student at our university you may take part in our preparatory german course. You can find more information here.
    
2. Visa for university applicants (§ 16 Para. 1a AufenthG): Authorised for foreigners who are staying in Germany for the purpose of applying to university. The maximum length of stay as a student applicant is nine months. Within this period, proof of admission to a degree programme or admission to a preparatory language course or preparatory college must be provided.

A Studienkolleg is an institution that prepares students, academically and linguistically, for their studies in Germany during a one-year course.

Visa to attend a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) (§ 16 Para. 1 AufenthG): Authorised for foreigners who wish to obtain the qualification for admission to university by attending a preparatory college followed by an assessment test. The Düsseldorf district government is responsible for applications for admission to a preparatory college in North Rhine-Westphalia. As a rule, the preparatory study programmes (language course and/or preparatory college) may not exceed a total of 2 years.

If you are interested in a Studienkolleg and have already been accepted for the entrance test, here are the basic steps for your residence permit. Detailed information can be obtained from the respective Studienkolleg (i.e. Studienkolleg Bochum: Preparatory College | Studienkolleg Bochum (studienkolleg-bochum.de).

1. Apply for a visa for study application:

• Once you have been accepted for the entrance test, you can apply for a visa to apply for a degree programme.
• The residence permit can last up to 9 months in accordance with § 17 Para. 2 AufenthG.

2. Convince the embassy:

• Show good school grades, a CV with no gaps and certified language skills (at least B1, better B2).
• Present a clear motivation to study and indicate a contact person in Germany who will support you.
• Ideally, you should be under 25 years of age and have relevant work experience or training related to the intended degree programme.

3. Master the entrance exam:

• The entrance exam consists of a language test (B1 recommended) and a subject test.
• Pass both parts in order to pass the preparatory course.

4. From the preparatory college to the degree programme:

• After successfully completing the Studienkolleg, you can take the assessment test, which is required for entry into a regular degree programme.

For more detailed information, please contact the Studienkolleg directly (as stated earlier). We look forward to welcoming you to Bochum University of Applied Sciences! If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.