Working Student Privilege (Werkstudentenprivileg) 2025: Limits and Benefits

The Werkstudentenprivileg: Fewer Deductions, More Net Pay

The Werkstudentenprivileg (working student privilege) is a special social security regulation that gives enrolled students a significant financial advantage. While regular employees pay contributions to all four social security branches, working students (Werkstudenten) are exempt from three of them. This means: considerably more of your gross pay stays in your pocket.

Deduction Comparison: Working Student vs. Minijob vs. Regular Employee (at 1,500 € gross)

* Working students do not pay health/care insurance through their employer, but must be insured independently via student health insurance (approx. 120 €/month, see below).

The 20-Hour Limit During Lecture Periods

The core requirement for the Werkstudentenprivileg: you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the lecture period (Vorlesungszeit). Your studies must remain your primary activity – this is the fundamental principle behind the privilege. If you regularly work more than 20 hours, you are treated as a regular employee for social security purposes and lose all benefits.

The 26-Week Rule

The 26-week rule allows exceptions to the 20-hour limit, but with an important restriction: within a rolling 12-month period, you may work more than 20 hours per week for a maximum of 26 weeks. If you exceed these 26 weeks, you lose the Werkstudentenprivileg retroactively.

Semester Break Exception

During semester breaks (lecture-free period), working students may work unlimited hours – even 40 hours or more. However, this time does count toward the 26-week rule. Many students use semester breaks to work full-time and build up savings. Make sure that the total number of weeks with more than 20 hours does not exceed the 26-week limit over the rolling 12-month period.

Student Health Insurance: Approx. 120 € per Month

Working students are not covered by health insurance through their employer. You must insure yourself via student health insurance (KVdS). The contribution in 2025 is approximately 120 € per month (including long-term care insurance, approx. 140 € for childless persons over 23). This contribution is independent of income – a major advantage compared to income-based statutory health insurance for regular employees.

Age limits: Student health insurance applies until age 30 or the 14th semester. After that, voluntary insurance is required, which is significantly more expensive.

Further Requirements at a Glance

• Enrollment: You must be enrolled at a state-recognized university (no distance learning at unaccredited institutions).
• No leave of absence: During a leave of absence (Urlaubssemester), the Werkstudentenprivileg does not apply.
• No income limit: Unlike the Minijob, there is no income cap for working students – only the number of hours matters.
• Wage tax: Applies normally according to your tax class. Many working students get most of it back through their tax return (work-related expenses, special deductions).

Sources: § 6 Para. 1 No. 3 SGB V, § 27 Para. 4 SGB III, § 172 Para. 3 SGB VI, German Pension Insurance – Working Student Information Sheet.

Calculate your working student net pay: How much of your gross salary do you keep as a working student? Calculate it precisely: Go to Working Student Calculator.