Many student assistants (studentische Hilfskräfte) wonder whether their pay continues during the semester break, when lectures pause and there is little to do. The answer depends less on the calendar than on the contract. If you are paid by the hour, the work you actually perform counts. If the contract sets fixed monthly hours, different rules apply.
Kurz beantwortet: Whether you receive pay during the lecture-free period depends on your contract. If you are paid by the hour, the work you perform counts. With fixed monthly hours, pay generally continues. Holiday pay follows the Federal Holiday Act, which uses the average earnings of the last thirteen weeks before the holiday (as of November 2026). At the University of Hamburg, the 20-hour weekly limit also applies in the break.
The most important points at a glance
- The semester break does not change the contract. The agreed hours and pay rule decide.
- Under an hourly rate, the work actually performed is paid. Without work, the contract generally provides no pay.
- With fixed monthly hours, pay generally remains in quiet phases, provided the hours are agreed in that way.
- Holiday taken during the break is paid with holiday pay, not with the hourly rate of a working period.
- The University of Hamburg applies the 20-hour limit during the lecture-free period as well.
Are you paid by the hour or by fixed monthly hours?
Most assistant contracts state an hourly rate and a number of hours per month or per week. With an hourly rate, you are paid only for the hours you actually work. With fixed monthly hours, you agree on a set number of hours regardless of how much work comes in during the month.
It is therefore important to read the contract before you plan the semester. If it sets out a number of hours per month, that figure continues in the holidays unless something else is agreed. If the contract is silent, ask the personnel department before the break begins.
What applies in the lecture-free period in concrete terms?
The University of Hamburg sets the upper limit of 20 hours per week for student employment and states that it also applies during the lecture-free period (University of Hamburg, as of 29 June 2026). The limit therefore covers more than the semester weeks. If you want to work more during the holidays, keep the limit in view so that pay and insurance remain consistent.
On social insurance, the handout from the Techniker Krankenkasse sets a clear line. Work performed only during the lecture-free period is generally exempt from insurance, while exceeding the 20-hour limit is allowed for no more than 26 weeks a year (TK handout, Versicherungsrecht kompakt 2026). Details on pension status appear in the English article on the 20-hour rule.
Worked example: a break month with fixed hours
Assumption: your contract provides fixed monthly hours of 40 at 14.60 euros gross per hour, and the minimum wage of 14.60 euros applies from January 2027. If the 40 hours fall in the break and must be worked, the gross pay is 584.00 euros, even when the month is quiet. Without a fixed number of hours and with only 20 hours worked, the gross pay would be 292.00 euros. The difference shows why the wording of the contract matters.
| Contract type | Assumption | Gross pay in the break month |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly hours | 40 hours at 14.60 euros | 584.00 euros |
| Hourly rate, work as planned | 40 hours at 14.60 euros | 584.00 euros |
| Hourly rate, only 20 hours worked | 20 hours at 14.60 euros | 292.00 euros |
The table shows the core question. Without fixed monthly hours, what you actually perform decides. With fixed hours, pay remains in a quiet phase. The figures are assumptions for illustration and say nothing about a particular contract. If you plan lecture periods and holidays together, set the monthly hours in advance and keep them in a short overview. You will then see early whether you stay within the limits and whether the pay fits your budget. Keep all contract amendments as well, since they often change the number of hours from a certain date.
How does holiday work during the break?
Student assistants are entitled to paid annual leave under the Federal Holiday Act. The University of Hamburg names an entitlement of 20 working days per year at a five-day week. The information sheet of the University of Saarland provides that leave should be granted during the lecture-free period and that carry-over into the next year is possible only until the end of March (information sheet on student assistants, undated).
Holiday pay is paid by the employer. Under section 11(1) of the Federal Holiday Act, it is based on the average earnings over the thirteen weeks before the holiday begins, excluding overtime (gesetze-im-internet.de). Reductions caused by absence for which you are not at fault are disregarded in this calculation. The related article on holiday and sickness for assistants covers the rest.
What about sickness during the break?
The information sheet from the University of Saarland sets out a clear rule for sickness. Sick pay is paid until the end of the sixth week of incapacity, but not beyond the end of the employment relationship. Illness must be reported without delay, and a medical certificate is required from more than three calendar days. Lost working time does not have to be made up. Whether these rules apply at your university is shown in your contract or in the personnel department’s guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get paid if I do not work during the break?
With a pure hourly rate, pay follows the work performed. With fixed monthly hours, pay can continue without extra work. What counts is the contract, so ask if you are unsure before you plan the semester.
Does the minimum wage apply during the break?
Yes. The statutory minimum wage applies to every hour worked, regardless of the semester. From 1 January 2027 it stands at 14.60 euros gross per hour.
Is a public holiday in the break paid?
That depends on the rule that applies to your post. The information sheet from the University of Saarland states that its holiday rule covers only holidays on fixed working days, not the lecture-free period. If a holiday falls on a day you normally work, the calculation can differ from a free day. Ask the personnel department about the rule for your post before you plan the break.
Can I work more hours during the break than in the semester?
Within the limits, yes, provided it fits your contract and your insurance. If overtime arises, the German article on overtime as a student assistant (in German) explains when it is paid.
How do I plan net pay across the break?
Plan with the gross pay of the months you actually work, not with your best month. The Hiwi calculator explains the steps from gross to net.
What to do next
- Check whether your contract sets an hourly rate or fixed monthly hours.
- Ask the personnel department how the lecture-free period is paid and whether hours are due.
- Plan your holiday together with your work schedule and register it in good time.
- Keep track of the 20-hour limit and the monthly hours, so you can see pay and insurance together.
Related articles
- Academic careers: contracts, collective agreements and fixed terms
- Student job 20-hour rule, pension and semester breaks
- Assistant on holiday and in sickness: what you are entitled to
- How many hours may a student assistant work?
- Hiwi calculator: net pay from the hourly wage
Sources: section 11 BUrlG (gesetze-im-internet.de), University of Hamburg, information for student employees (last updated 29 June 2026), TK, Versicherungsrecht kompakt 2026, handout (circular of 23 November 2016), information sheet on student assistants, University of Saarland (undated).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
