Mini-job and student job holders are also entitled to paid leave. The question is usually not whether you get leave, but how many days you are due at your working pattern and when the full entitlement starts. This guide explains the rules under the German Federal Leave Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz, BUrlG), converts the days for different working patterns and explains partial leave.
Short answer: Statutory minimum leave is at least 24 working days a year (section 3(1) BUrlG). If you work on fewer than six days a week, this entitlement is reduced pro rata. The full entitlement arises only after six months of employment (section 4 BUrlG). Assumption: at two working days a week this gives 8 days of leave. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The statutory minimum leave is 24 working days a year, based on a six-day week.
- With fewer working days, the leave is reduced pro rata.
- The full waiting period is six months.
- If you leave earlier, you receive partial leave of one twelfth for each full month.
- Collective agreements or the employment contract can provide more leave.
How many leave days do you get?
The law counts working days, meaning Monday to Saturday. If you only work on some days a week, the entitlement is converted. The conversion follows the ratio of your working days to six working days. The table shows the figures for the statutory minimum of 24 working days.
| Working days per week | Leave days per year (assumption, converted) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 24 |
| 5 | 20 |
| 4 | 16 |
| 3 | 12 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 1 | 4 |
The formula is: 24 working days divided by 6 working days a week, multiplied by your working days a week. With two working days, that is 4 times 2, which gives 8 days of leave.
When does the full entitlement arise?
The full leave entitlement first arises after six months of employment (section 4 BUrlG). Before this waiting period is over, only a partial entitlement exists. For each full month of employment, one twelfth of the annual leave is due if the waiting period is not yet met or you leave before it is completed (section 5(1) BUrlG).
Fractions of leave days are rounded up if they amount to at least half a day (section 5(2) BUrlG). In this way small remainders do not get lost.
What applies in a student job?
Student workers are also employees where they work under an employment contract. The Federal Leave Act then applies to them in the same way. The 20-hour weekly limit of the student privilege governs insurance, not leave. Leave is calculated by working days, not by hours.
The employment contract or an applicable collective agreement can provide more leave than the law requires. The proof of working conditions states the length of leave (no. 11). Check it before you plan your days.
Working days or working days of the week: what the difference means
The law counts working days in the sense of Werktage, meaning calendar days other than Sundays and public holidays, which in practice means Monday to Saturday. Your own working days are the days on which you are actually rostered. The conversion links both figures: someone who only works on Mondays and Wednesdays has one working day in two out of six Werktage.
It follows that a leave day in a part-time post does not necessarily match a day you would otherwise have worked. A leave day is a unit of the entitlement that follows the conversion key. Keeping this in mind makes planning leave easier.
Planning leave during the exam period
Many students want to take leave in the semester break. This works well if the employer plans more shifts in that period anyway. At the same time, leave can clash with exam dates. Place exam dates and submission deadlines next to the rota and enter leave requests early.
A short overview with dates, the days you want and a note on whether exams are affected helps. It lets you be specific in the conversation with your employer instead of asking for understanding in general terms.
Worked example: start date and partial leave
- Assumption: you work on three days a week, so your annual leave is 12 days.
- You start on 1 January. The six-month waiting period is completed on 30 June, so the full entitlement arises in July.
- If you leave on 31 March, the waiting period is not yet complete. You receive partial leave for three full months.
- Result: three months times one twelfth of 12 days gives 3 days of partial leave.
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer refuse a leave request?
Your wish is taken into account as far as operational needs do not stand in the way. Make the request early and in writing, so that rotas and exam periods can be matched.
Do I have to take leave during probation?
During probation the full entitlement has not yet arisen. You do accrue partial leave for each full month. The probation article covers notice, leave and health insurance together.
What happens to leave not taken when employment ends?
Leave that cannot be taken before the end of employment must, in principle, be paid out. Check your final pay statement and note your open days before your last working day.
Does the leave calculation change if my days vary?
The conversion follows the agreed working days. If the days vary a lot, it helps to record the arrangement in the contract and to check regularly how many days you actually work.
What the employer must observe for leave
The employer must grant leave and take the employee’s wishes into account, as far as urgent operational reasons do not stand in the way. In mini-jobs and student jobs, leave is often linked to the rota. Ask how your leave is recorded and confirmed in your post.
Leave that is not on the rota can later lead to dispute. A written confirmation protects both sides and makes the final pay calculation traceable.
What to do next
- Note your working days per week from the contract or the rota.
- Divide 24 by 6 and multiply the result by your working days.
- Check whether the employment contract or a collective agreement grants more leave.
- Request leave in writing and early enough.
Do public holidays count as leave days?
Under general interpretation, public holidays do not count as working days of leave. If a public holiday falls within your leave period, it therefore does not extend the leave. Check the calendar for planned dates so that your leave request is calculated correctly.
Related articles
- Minijob or Student Job: Limits in Figures Compared
- Probation: notice, holiday and health insurance
- Several mini-jobs and a student job: how the pay is added up
- Student job or research assistant: which position fits
- Sick leave in a mini-job and student job
Sources: Federal Leave Act, sections 3, 4 and 5 (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German, accessed November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
