Key Takeaways
- Working student roles typically allow 20 hours/week during semester, full-time during breaks
- Highlight relevant coursework and projects, not just job experience
- Many companies hire working students as full-time employees after graduation
- Apply early -- popular positions fill 2-3 months before semester start
- Since 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum wage is EUR 13.90 per hour; the 2026 minijob threshold is EUR 603 per month
Short answer: A working student application is an application tailored to your degree for a study-accompanying role (typically up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period, full-time during semester breaks). It wins not through years of professional experience but through relevant coursework, projects, and credible motivation. Key for 2026: Germany's statutory minimum wage has been EUR 13.90 per hour since 1 January 2026, and EUR 18-22 is common in IT and consulting. If you stay under the 20-hour working-student limit, you benefit from the working-student social-insurance privilege and pay no contributions except pension. Your cover letter should be one page, ATS-optimized, and show concretely why you fit this specific company.
A working student is a person enrolled at a university who works at a company alongside their studies while using the working-student privilege: at up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period, the job stays largely exempt from social insurance contributions.
You are studying and looking for a working student position? Working student roles are the best way to gain practical experience alongside your studies while earning money. But competition is fierce: popular working student positions at companies like BMW, Bosch, or SAP often attract over 100 applicants. In this article, we show you how to apply successfully, what mistakes to avoid, and what your cover letter and resume should look like.
What Rules Apply to Working Students in 2026?
Before you apply, you should know the current framework — some figures changed in 2026:
- Minimum wage: Since 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum wage is EUR 13.90 per hour (source: BMAS). In IT, engineering, and consulting, working-student rates are often EUR 18-22.
- 20-hour rule: During the lecture period you may generally work up to 20 hours per week without losing working-student status. Full-time is possible during semester breaks.
- Working-student privilege: If you observe the 20-hour limit, you are exempt from health, care, and unemployment insurance contributions and only pay into the pension scheme.
- Minijob alternative: If you stay under the marginal-earnings threshold of EUR 603 per month (2026, dynamically linked to the minimum wage; source: Minijob-Zentrale), you count as a minijobber rather than a working student.
What Makes a Working Student Application Special?
Unlike full-time positions, as a working student you cannot yet impress with years of professional experience. Instead, other factors take center stage:
- Relevance of your degree: Does your field of study match the position?
- Practical experience: Internships, projects, volunteer work
- Motivation: Why this specific company, this department?
- Availability: How many hours per week, time period, semester breaks
Recruiters know that working students have less experience. They are looking for potential, willingness to learn, and cultural fit. Your cover letter must convey these points.
What Should a Working Student Resume Look Like?
As a working student, a one-page resume is perfectly sufficient. Structure it as follows:
- Personal data and contact information
- Education: Your degree program comes first because it is your primary occupation. Include university, program, specializations, current GPA (if strong), and expected graduation date.
- Practical experience: Internships, part-time jobs, working student positions, research assistant roles. Here too: results over task lists.
- Projects and engagement: University projects, hackathons, student organizations, volunteer work.
- Skills: Programming languages, software, languages, certifications.
For detailed tips on resume design, check our article on resume writing: 10 tips for the perfect CV.
Example: Work Experience in a Working Student CV
Here is what an entry in your resume could look like:
Online Marketing Intern | StartupXYZ GmbH, Munich
Sep 2025 — Feb 2026
- Managed Google Ads campaigns with a monthly budget of EUR 5,000 and reduced cost-per-lead by 22%
- Created and executed content calendar for Instagram and LinkedIn (8 posts/week)
- Conducted A/B tests for landing pages, improving conversion rate from 2.1% to 3.8%
Note: even as a student, you can work with numbers and results. A university project can be formulated just as impressively as professional experience.
How Do I Write the Working Student Cover Letter?
Your cover letter should not exceed one page. You will find the fundamentals of structure and phrasing in our complete guide to writing job applications. Structure it as follows:
Opening: Grab Attention
Even as a student, you can craft a strong opening. Here are three approaches:
- Through a project: "In my semester project, I developed a machine learning model for customer segmentation — exactly the type of work that excites me about your working student position in the data science team."
- Through the company: "Since I started following your open-source project on GitHub, I have been fascinated by your approach to sustainable software development. As a computer science student focused on Green Computing, I want to join your team."
- Through a referral: "Your working student Anna Schmidt told me about the open position at the university career fair — her enthusiasm for the team was contagious."
Body: Relevance and Motivation
Connect your studies with the position. Show which courses, projects, or internships have prepared you for this role. Be specific:
"In my 'Databases and Information Systems' module, I designed a relational database model for a fictional online shop and implemented it in PostgreSQL. I want to deepen this experience in your working student position on the backend team and apply it to production systems."
Also explain your motivation: Why this company? What excites you about the department or product? Recruiters immediately notice whether you have genuinely engaged with the company.
Closing: Availability and Call to Action
State your availability clearly:
- Weekly hours: "I am available 20 hours per week, and more during semester breaks."
- Start date: "I can start immediately from April 1, 2026."
- Duration: "Ideally for at least 12 months."
The 5 Most Common Mistakes in Working Student Applications
Mistake 1: Generic Cover Letter
"I am applying because you are a renowned company." This could apply to any company and shows zero research. Name specific products, projects, or company values.
Mistake 2: Listing Irrelevant Part-Time Jobs Prominently
Your waiting job shows work ethic but should not be the first entry on your CV when applying for a tech working student position. Prioritize relevant experience. If you have none, frame transferable skills: "3 years in hospitality: stress resilience, customer orientation, teamwork under pressure."
Mistake 3: Missing ATS Optimization
Even working student positions at large companies are filtered through ATS systems. Use the keywords from the job posting. Read our article on improving your ATS score.
Mistake 4: No References or Recommendations
If you have a professor or former employer who would recommend you, mention it. "Professor Dr. Mueller (Chair of Computer Science, TU Munich) is available as a reference." This sets you apart from other applicants.
Mistake 5: Missing or Unrealistic Salary Expectations
Germany's statutory minimum wage has been EUR 13.90 per hour since January 2026; typical working student rates range from EUR 13.90 to 20 depending on industry and qualifications. In IT and consulting, EUR 18-22 is not uncommon. Research typical rates in advance on our salary comparison.
Where to Find Working Student Positions
The best platforms for working student positions in Germany:
- LinkedIn: Filter by "working student" and your location
- Indeed: Large selection, including smaller companies
- StepStone: Primarily large employers
- University job board: Often exclusive positions only for students at your university
- Career fairs: Direct contact with recruiters, often faster application process
Summary
A successful working student application convinces through relevance, specificity, and honest motivation. Use your studies, projects, and even part-time jobs as a springboard. Tailor each application individually and do not forget ATS optimization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working Student Applications
How many hours can I work as a working student?
Typically up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period without losing working-student status; full-time is allowed during semester breaks.
How much do working students earn in Germany in 2026?
At least the statutory minimum wage of EUR 13.90 per hour (as of January 2026). In IT, engineering, and consulting, EUR 18-22 is common.
What is the working-student social-insurance privilege?
If you stay within the 20-hour limit, you are exempt from health, care, and unemployment insurance contributions and only pay into the pension scheme.
How long should the cover letter be?
One page at most. Relevance matters more than length: connect your coursework and projects concretely to the advertised role.
Do I need work experience for a working student position?
No. Recruiters look for potential, willingness to learn, and fit. University projects, internships, and volunteer work count as relevant experience.
Are working student applications filtered by ATS?
Yes, especially at large companies. Use the keywords from the job posting and a clearly structured, machine-readable layout.
Official Sources
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