Short answer: The permitted number of hours is set by each university, usually in the contract and in a guide for student assistants. The guide of the University of Marburg (last updated: 30 June 2026) names an upper limit of 82 hours per month and recommends a lower limit of 40 hours per month. The figure that applies to you is the one in your employment contract.
How many hours a student research assistant (in German: studentische Hilfskraft) may work is one of the most frequent questions in this area. It matters because it affects pay, the length of your studies and sometimes your insurance status. This guide explains who sets the limit, what a university guide looks like and what to check in the contract.
The most important points
- The upper limit for student assistants is set by the university and the contract. There is no single figure for all universities.
- The Marburg guide names an upper limit of 82 hours per month.
- As a lower limit, the Marburg guide names 40 hours per month. Deviations are only permitted for a corresponding activity or funding.
- The total duration of employment is limited. The guide refers to six years under the WissZeitVG (in German: Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz).
- Hours beyond what is agreed need a written basis, otherwise the pay remains unclear.
Who sets the upper limit?
The university decides on the scope of a post within the framework of the applicable collective agreement, state rules and its own guidelines. There is often an additional guide that summarises practice, as well as a staff council that can answer questions. The contract then specifies the number of hours for your post.
For you this means that the figure in your contract is decisive. A guide helps with understanding, but it does not replace the signed contract. If the two differ, ask in writing.
What a university guide actually regulates
The guide of the University of Marburg is a useful example because it bundles several rules in one document. It applies to student assistants and carries the date 30 June 2026. The table below summarises the points it names explicitly.
| Rule | Content according to the guide |
|---|---|
| Upper limit | 82 hours per month |
| Lower limit | The monthly scope should not fall below 40 hours; deviations only for the type of activity or funding |
| Contract term | A minimum contract term of twelve months is the aim |
| Total duration | Up to 6 years under section 6 WissZeitVG |
| Holiday | An entitlement exists; offsetting through reduced working time is recommended |
The table shows the rules of the Marburg guide, not universal requirements. Other universities may set different values, so it is worth looking at their own documents.
Minijob limit and hours
The guide also links the number of hours to the rules for minijobs. According to its presentation, employment of up to roughly 42 or 39 hours per month, depending on the hourly rate, generally falls under the minijob rules. From 1 January 2027 it names 41 or 38 hours. The money limit for minijobs is explained in the guide on the minijob limit 2027 for students (in German).
Assumption: 82 hours per month at EUR 15.90 gross per hour results in EUR 1,303.80 gross. At 40 hours per month and EUR 15.90 gross per hour, the result is EUR 636.00 gross. The calculation shows how strongly the number of hours determines the monthly pay, even when the hourly rate stays the same.
How the hourly rate develops in 2027 is described in the guide on student assistant pay in 2027. Both figures together determine the monthly pay.
Does the limit also apply during the lecture-free period?
The Marburg guide does not regulate weekly or lecture-period hours separately and works with monthly values. For the lecture-free period, this means that hours can be distributed, as long as the monthly scope fits. Whether your contract contains further rules can be checked in the contract itself.
If you would like to work more during the semester break, agree this in advance with the post that employs you. Moving hours into months with fewer lectures is not automatically permitted, so written agreement is the safe route.
When additional hours become overtime
If you work beyond the agreed number of hours, pay depends on the agreement. Without a written basis it remains unclear whether and how that time is paid. The guide on overtime for student assistants (in German) explains how overtime is treated.
Record the hours you actually work each month. In a dispute, this documents what you did, and the university can adjust the scope in good time.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours may I work alongside my studies?
There is no fixed number for students. It follows from the contract and the guide. The Marburg guide names an upper limit of 82 hours per month, which only applies to you if your contract adopts it. Several jobs can interact, so the overview of side jobs and tax (in German) is worth reading as well.
Can I decide the number of hours myself?
Not alone. The scope is agreed between you and the post and must match the contract. A request for more or fewer hours should be sent in writing to the HR department.
How long may an assistant post run in total?
The Marburg guide names six years in total under section 6 of the WissZeitVG. A draft bill foresees an increase to eight years for student assistants, as explained in the guide on the minimum contract term for doctoral candidates. The draft is not yet law.
What if my hours do not fit my studies?
Then talk to the post before the contract is extended. An adjustment of hours is more likely if it is raised early. Record the result in writing.
What to do now
- Check in your contract how many hours per month are agreed.
- Find the guide of your university and compare it with the contract.
- Record the hours you actually work every month.
- Clarify any deviation or extra work in writing before it happens.
What to check before you sign
The number of hours is often stated in a place that is easy to overlook. A short check before signing prevents later disputes about pay and scope. The points below belong in every review.
- The number of hours per month should be named explicitly, not only a percentage of a full-time post.
- The hourly rate and the collective agreement referred to in the contract should be recognisable.
- The term of the contract and the legal basis of the fixed term should appear in the contract.
- Rules on holiday and sickness should fit the agreed hours. The guide on holiday and sickness for research assistants explains this.
If something is missing, ask before you sign. A later addition is much harder than a term that is in the contract from the start.
Related guides
- Student assistant pay 2027
- Research assistants on holiday and sick: what you are entitled to
- Overtime as a student assistant: when it is paid (in German)
- Becoming a student assistant: tasks, pay and application (in German)
- Academic careers: contracts, collective pay and fixed terms overview
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
