A working student position and a student assistant position (Hiwi, studentische Hilfskraft) are both jobs held alongside studies. They differ in employer, contract, collective agreement and field of work. Anyone choosing between the two should therefore look beyond the hourly pay. This guide sets the rules side by side and shows what to check on social insurance, leave and pay.
Short answer: Working students and student assistants differ mainly in employer and collective agreement. For social insurance, the weekly hours count for students: up to 20 hours a week the student privilege applies, and the amount of pay does not matter for it. Leave is governed by the Federal Leave Act with at least 24 working days. Pay follows the contract and collective agreement of each post. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- Working students often work for companies, while student assistants usually work for a university or research institute.
- For insurance, the weekly hours count. Up to 20 hours a week the student privilege applies.
- The amount of pay is irrelevant for the student privilege.
- Statutory leave is the same for both forms, and collective agreements can provide more.
- Pay depends on the specific contract or collective agreement, and the employer states the amount.
What separates a working student from a student assistant?
Both are jobs you hold next to your studies. The table compares the main features. For student assistant posts, it matters who the employer is and which rules apply at the university.
| Feature | Working student position | Student assistant (Hiwi) |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | company, organisation or institution | usually the university or a research institute |
| Contract and rules | employment contract, rules from contract and law | employment contract, rules depend on university and state |
| Collective agreement | depends on sector and employer | collective agreements for student employees, which differ by state |
| Leave | at least 24 working days for a six-day week | same statutory basis, a collective agreement may give more |
| Social insurance | student privilege up to 20 hours a week | same hour limit, assessed as for students in employment |
| Pay | according to the contract, stated by the employer | according to contract or collective agreement, stated by the university |
The table gives the basic lines. Individual posts can have different arrangements, so the contract is the place to check.
How does the 20-hour limit work?
Students who work no more than 20 hours a week during the semester are exempt from compulsory health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. They remain subject to pension insurance. Several jobs are added together for the hour limit. The amount of pay plays no role in this rule.
The lecture-free period follows its own rules set out in the joint circular on the social insurance treatment of students (German). In practice, two posts of 10 hours each add up to 20 hours and remain within the limit. One more hour exceeds it. Under the principles described there, the privilege ends if more than 20 hours are worked over more than 26 weeks in a year. An overview of the 20-hour limit is in the article on the 20-hour rule (in German).
Worked example: hours instead of pay
For the student privilege, hours count, while the pay is set by the contract. The example below shows this.
- Assumption: you work as a student assistant for 12 hours a week and hold a working student position for 9 hours a week.
- Total: 12 plus 9 makes 21 hours a week.
- Comparison: 21 hours is above the limit of 20 hours a week.
- Result: the combination exceeds the student privilege, even though each post is below 20 hours on its own.
Assumption for pay: EUR 15 gross per hour. At 12 hours a week, this would be about EUR 180 a week. The figure is only for the calculation and is not a statement about any specific post.
Leave and pay compared
Employees receive the statutory minimum leave of 24 working days for a six-day week, whether they work as a student assistant or as a working student. If they work fewer days, the leave is converted, as explained in the article on holiday entitlement.
On pay, it is worth looking closely at the contract. Student assistant posts are often paid under collective rules that differ by state. Working student posts in companies usually follow the employment contract and the sector. The personnel department of the university or company will state the applicable rule.
What to clarify before you accept
- Weekly working time and possible variation during the semester
- Pay under the collective agreement or contract, and payment dates
- Length of any fixed term, for example until the end of the semester
- Leave arrangements and cover during exam periods
- Classification for social insurance, confirmed by the employer
In university assistant posts, working times may be tied to teaching sessions. Working student posts in companies can also set project times that clash with exams. A short overview of exam dates helps in both cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is a student assistant post automatically exempt from insurance?
Not automatically. What matters is working time and the rules for students in employment. Before you accept, ask the university or your health insurance fund how the post is classified.
Can I hold a student assistant post and a working student post at the same time?
Yes, several jobs are possible. The hours are added together for the 20-hour limit. Keep an eye on the total of all working hours, including during the semester break.
Where do I find the collective agreement of my university?
Collective agreements for student employees exist in several states, each with its own rules. The personnel department of the university knows which version applies and can name the rule for your post.
Does the subject area matter?
Legally, the subject area is not the deciding point for either form. In practice, a student assistant post may be closer to your studies, while a working student post can offer work experience. Which weighting matters more to you is your decision.
What to do next
- Put working time, pay and employer of both posts side by side.
- Check whether the contract names leave, a collective agreement and notice periods.
- Add up the weekly hours of all jobs and compare them with 20 hours.
- Clarify the classification with the university or employer before you accept.
Related articles
- Minijob or Student Job: Limits in Figures Compared
- Student job: 20-hour rule, pension insurance and semester breaks (in German)
- Student privilege (glossary, in German)
- Several mini-jobs and a student job
- Holiday entitlement in a mini-job and student job
Sources: Joint circular on the social insurance treatment of students, 23 Nov 2016 (PDF by Techniker Krankenkasse, in German); Federal Leave Act, section 3 (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German, accessed November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
