The planned reform of the German Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG) also affects student assistants at German universities. If you work alongside your studies as a student assistant (Hilfskraft), you should know which fixed-term rules apply today and what the government bill intends to change. This guide keeps current law and the draft clearly apart.
Short answer: The government bill (Bundestag printed paper 21/8281, reported to the Bundestag on 5 October 2026) proposes raising the maximum fixed-term period for student assistants from six to eight years. The bill is in the legislative process and has not been adopted. Until then, the six-year limit in Section 6 WissZeitVG applies. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Under current law, student assistant contracts under Section 6 WissZeitVG may run for up to six years in total.
- The draft raises this limit to eight years. It is a bill and not current law.
- A part-time student job should, under the draft, no longer stand in the way of a later contract without an objective reason with the same employer.
- The reform also foresees minimum contract terms for first contracts, three years before and two years after the doctorate.
- Whether and when the law enters into force is still open. The bill leaves the entry-into-force date as a placeholder.
What applies to student assistants today?
Under Section 6 WissZeitVG, fixed-term contracts for academic or artistic auxiliary work are permitted with students who are enrolled at a German university for a course leading to a first or further professional qualification. The total period is up to six years, and extensions are possible within that frame. This rule is the reason for the planned amendment.
The provision requires that your enrolment continues. If you are employed after graduation, you are therefore not automatically covered by Section 6. Our guide on the transition from a student job to a permanent post covers the situation after your studies, Hilfskraft nach dem Studium: Vom Hiwi-Job in die Festanstellung (in German).
What the draft would change for student assistants
The draft changes the maximum period under Section 6 from six to eight years. This is set out in the government bill (Bundesrat printed paper 456/26, Article 1, number 2). For assistants who have already reached six years on fixed terms, this matters because a longer period would become possible. Whether universities make use of it depends on their own staffing decisions.
| Point | Current law | Government bill (not adopted) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum period for student assistants (Section 6) | six years in total | eight years in total |
| Part-time student work before a later contract | the chaining prohibition in Section 14 (2), second sentence, TzBfG applies without exception | new Section 2 (3a): should not stand in the way of a later contract without a reason with the same employer |
| Extension for parental leave and childcare | according to the bill, not applied to third-party funded fixed terms so far | applies in future also to third-party funded fixed terms |
| Entry into force | not applicable | first day of the sixth calendar month after promulgation |
The table summarises the main points. The parental leave extension and the third-party funding rule matter for student assistants only if your specific contract falls under these provisions. Your personnel department can confirm that.
How does the chaining prohibition affect the move into a permanent job?
One of the most important changes concerns the step from student assistant to a permanent position. Under Section 14 (2), second sentence, TzBfG, a fixed term without an objective reason is ruled out if an employment relationship with the same employer already existed. The draft creates an exception: studies-related auxiliary work should not stand in the way of a later contract without a reason. The explanatory memorandum refers to a new paragraph 3a for this purpose.
For you, this means that someone who worked as a student assistant during their studies could find it easier to get a fixed-term post at the same university after graduating. Whether the law passes in this form is open. Until then, the current legal position applies.
What is the procedural status?
The referral draft of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is dated 26 May 2026. The federal government then submitted the bill, which was sent to the Bundesrat. In its opinion, the Bundesrat asked that fixed terms that are too short should count as running for the minimum term. The federal government rejects this in its counter-statement.
According to the Bundestag, the first reading was planned for a Thursday evening. The report does not state the result of the first reading. The bill is therefore in the legislative process and has not been adopted. For practical purposes, what counts in the end is the wording that is actually promulgated, not the wording of the draft. Changes during the procedure are possible, and that is exactly what you should keep an eye on.
Frequently asked questions
Does the eight-year limit apply already?
No. The eight-year limit is in the bill. The six-year limit under Section 6 WissZeitVG is the one in force. Only the promulgation of an adopted law would change this.
What happens to contracts concluded before the law enters into force?
The draft contains a transitional rule. According to the draft, for employment contracts concluded at universities before the entry into force, the previous version of Section 2 continues to apply. The exact effect for student assistant contracts should be checked against the final statutory text.
Do I need to take action because of the draft?
No, there is no application and no obligation arising from the draft. It is sensible to check your contract, add up your earlier fixed-term periods and ask the personnel department or the works council of your university if anything is unclear.
Does the reform change the pay of student assistants?
According to the Bundestag report, the reform concerns fixed-term employment and not the amount of pay. Pay for student assistants is covered by separate rules, which we explain in our guide on the minimum wage for student assistants.
Why is the reform important for student assistants?
The reform creates room for student assistants who want to stay at the same university after their studies. How much room actually arises depends on whether the Bundestag adopts the bill without changes. The Bundesrat has demanded amendments, and the federal government has rejected them in its counter-statement. Until a decision is taken, the existing legal position remains decisive, even though the bill has reached the Bundestag.
What you can do now
- Read your employment contract and check whether it names the reason for the fixed term and its duration.
- Add up all fixed-term periods at the university, including earlier contracts.
- Follow the progress of the bill through the Bundestag documentation before making long-term decisions.
- Ask the personnel department or the works council of your university if anything is unclear.
Related guides
- Academic careers: contracts, collective agreements and fixed terms overview
- What is the WissZeitVG? Fixed terms in academia explained (in German)
- Postdoc fixed terms: what the WissZeitVG reform plans after the doctorate (in German)
- Do student assistant contracts have to be fixed-term?
- How many hours may a student assistant work?
Sources: Bundestag, hib 771/2026: government bill on reform of fixed-term rules in academia (05.10.2026), Bundesrat printed paper 456/26: draft act modernising fixed-term rules in academia (14.08.2026), WissZeitVG Section 6, version in force (gesetze-im-internet.de), Section 14 TzBfG, version in force (gesetze-im-internet.de).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
