Can I do paid internships in Germany during my degree to help with my living expenses and course fees? How much can I typically earn per month?

Whether an internship counts against your working day limit depends on one detail students often miss: whether it is mandatory for your degree or optional. That distinction changes the math on how much of your living cost you can realistically cover through work.

The Work Day Limit

• Non-EU students: up to 140 full working days, or 280 half days, a year without approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
• Alternative rule: up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period.
• Mandatory internships: internships required by your degree program generally do not count against the 140 day allowance, unlike voluntary ones.

What You Can Realistically Earn

At Germany's 2026 statutory minimum wage of EUR 13.90 an hour, 10 hours a week comes to roughly EUR 600 a month, 15 hours to about EUR 900, and 20 hours to around EUR 1,200. A full time internship at close to 40 hours a week can reach EUR 2,200 to 2,400 or more, and technical fields such as computer science and engineering commonly pay above the statutory minimum through Werkstudent, or working student, positions.

Do Not Rely on This for Your Visa Proof of Funds

The blocked account requirement for the student visa currently stands at EUR 11,904 a year, and this needs to be demonstrated before or at the point of applying, not assumed from future earnings. Treat internship income as a way to reduce your ongoing living costs after arrival, not as a substitute for the upfront financial proof.

My Advice

Start job hunting for a Werkstudent role in your first semester rather than waiting, since these positions are competitive and often require decent German for non-technical roles even in an English taught program. Budget conservatively using your initial funds for at least the first six months, and treat internship or part-time income as a bonus that shortens how long your savings need to last, not as your baseline plan.

This Information Is Also Available On

Make it in Germany, the Federal Government's official portal for skilled workers and students.