For an internship during studies, the type of placement decides whether the minimum wage applies. A compulsory internship that your study or examination regulations prescribe is exempt from the minimum wage, regardless of how long it lasts. A voluntary internship must be paid at least 13.90 euros per hour as soon as it lasts longer than three months.
The type also affects social insurance and child benefit. Timing matters too: an internship before or after your studies follows different rules than one during them.
Key points at a glance
- A compulsory internship has no minimum wage, regardless of its length. It is free of social insurance contributions, regardless of working hours and pay.
- A voluntary internship lasting longer than three months must be paid the minimum wage of 13.90 euros per hour. If it is extended, the minimum wage applies retroactively. From 1 January 2027 it rises to 14.60 euros (decided).
- A voluntary interim internship earning up to 603 euros a month follows the mini-job rules. Above that, the student-employee rule applies, with the limit of 20 hours per week.
- During your first degree, employment does not matter for child benefit. Between bachelor’s and master’s the entitlement continues for a transition period of up to four months.
- After graduation, the minimum wage also applies to an internship of up to three months.
Compulsory or voluntary internship during studies: what is the difference?
A compulsory internship is prescribed by your study or examination regulations. You need it for your degree, often as a separate module or as a practical semester. Everything else is a voluntary internship, for example during the semester break.
| Feature | Compulsory internship | Voluntary internship |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Study or examination regulations | Your own decision |
| Duration | Set by the study or examination regulations | Agreed with the employer. The three-month limit matters. |
| Minimum wage | No, regardless of duration | Yes, if it lasts longer than three months. If extended, it applies retroactively. |
| Social insurance | Free of social insurance contributions, regardless of working hours and pay | Up to 603 euros mini-job rules, above that the student-employee rule with the 20-hour limit |
In individual cases further conditions apply, for example regarding earlier employment with the same company. Clarify duration and pay in writing with the employer before the contract begins.
Does the minimum wage apply during an internship?
For a voluntary internship, yes, as soon as it lasts longer than three months. The minimum wage is 13.90 euros gross per hour in 2026. From 1 January 2027 it rises to 14.60 euros under the Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance. It does not apply to a prescribed compulsory internship.
Example: A voluntary internship lasts four months at 20 hours per week, and the employer pays the minimum wage. That is 20 × 13.90 euros = 278 euros gross per week, or around 1,200 euros a month (278 euros × 4.35). This is above 603 euros, so the student-employee rule applies, with the limit of 20 hours per week during teaching periods.
The University of Göttingen also explains how the minimum wage affects internships during and after studies, on its page about the minimum wage for internships.
How are you insured during an internship?
In a compulsory internship you are free of social insurance contributions, regardless of working hours and pay. Your student health insurance continues as long as you are enrolled.
For a voluntary interim internship, earnings matter. Up to 603 euros a month the mini-job rules apply, above that the student-employee rule. With no more than 20 hours a week during teaching periods, you remain free of health, long-term care and unemployment insurance; pension insurance remains compulsory. If you work only during semester breaks, you are not subject to compulsory health, long-term care and unemployment insurance.
Which combinations exist is set out in the guide on health insurance during an internship (in German). The Verbraucherzentrale, the German consumer advice centre, summarises the options for student health insurance.
How is a placement abroad insured?
In the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card helps. It covers medically necessary services under the rules of the country of stay, and local co-payments may apply. Statutory health insurance does not pay for transport back to Germany. Health insurers and consumer advice centres recommend private travel health insurance, as a long-term policy for stays of several months. Everything else on health insurance for an internship abroad (in German) is covered in a separate guide.
Is there child benefit during the internship?
That depends on where the internship falls. During your ongoing first degree, employment does not matter for child benefit. The limit of 20 hours per week only applies after completing a first training or first degree. Child benefit is 259 euros per child and month.
| Where does the internship fall? | What applies to child benefit |
|---|---|
| Practical semester or compulsory internship during the ongoing studies | Practical study semesters count as training, and the entitlement remains. |
| Voluntary internship in the semester break | Studies continue. During the first training, employment does not matter. |
| Internship between bachelor’s and master’s | The entitlement remains if the master’s starts within a maximum of four full calendar months and you have a place or have applied. |
| Internship in a second degree or second training | The entitlement only exists with regularly at most 20 hours of employment per week. A mini-job is harmless. |
| Voluntary internship during a leave semester | A leave of absence is generally an interruption of studies. Ask the family benefits office in advance. |
Between bachelor’s and master’s the transition period counts. If one training stage ends in July, the next must begin by December at the latest. If the internship lasts longer, the entitlement depends on whether bachelor’s and master’s are still closely linked in time and content and therefore count as a single first training. How the family benefits office classifies an internship in this case is decided individually.
Employment before the master’s generally argues against a single first training; then the master’s counts as a second training. In a second training, a temporary increase to more than 20 hours per week may last at most two months, and the average over the calendar year must remain at 20 hours. Parents entitled to child benefit should promptly inform the family benefits office of changes such as a new internship or the end of studies. Further rules are in the guide child benefit during studies (in German).
How can an internship be credited as credit points?
Whether and how many credit points an internship earns is set by the study and examination regulations of your degree programme. A compulsory internship is usually built into a module, for which duration, supervision and proof are defined.
If you want a voluntary internship credited, clarify this before it begins. Ask the examination office or the internship coordinator of your department about the conditions, such as minimum duration, internship report and supervision, and get the confirmation in writing.
Internship after your studies: what applies?
After graduation the minimum wage also applies to an internship of up to three months. A pre- or post-graduation internship for which you are no longer enrolled is subject to social insurance contributions; the mini-job rules do not apply to it. If you are covered as a family member, you must arrange your own insurance for a paid internship earning more than 603 euros a month.
Child benefit generally ends without further training when the examination result is announced. How application, insurance and deadlines fit together is described in the guide on entry into working life after your studies (in German).
How do you find an internship that moves you forward?
An internship shows you how your study knowledge applies in real projects, and whether a field suits you. It can bring contacts and sometimes leads to a thesis in the company or a student-employee position. Set yourself a goal beforehand: what do you want to learn, and in which industry?
You can search through your university’s career centre, job boards and directly at companies that interest you, including by speculative application. Start-ups, non-profit organisations and smaller firms often offer a personal environment. Tips on the internship search (in German) and on applications are in a separate guide.
Also use the internship to build a professional network (in German). After the internship, connect with colleagues and supervisors. A well-kept profile helps, as the guide on LinkedIn for students (in German) shows.
Frequently asked questions
Does a compulsory internship have to be paid the minimum wage?
No. A compulsory internship prescribed by your study or examination regulations is exempt from the minimum wage, regardless of its length. Whether the company pays anything is agreed with it. Such an internship is also free of social insurance contributions, regardless of working hours and pay.
From when does the minimum wage apply to a voluntary internship?
When the internship lasts longer than three months. Currently that is 13.90 euros per hour, and from 1 January 2027 14.60 euros according to the ordinance. If a shorter internship is extended beyond three months, the minimum wage applies retroactively. After graduation it also applies to internships of up to three months.
Do I receive child benefit if I do an internship between bachelor’s and master’s?
As a rule, yes, if the master’s starts within the transition period of a maximum of four full calendar months and you have a place or have applied. If the internship lasts longer, it depends on whether bachelor’s and master’s still count as a single first training. In case of doubt, ask the family benefits office.
How many credit points does an internship earn?
The study and examination regulations of your degree programme set this. For compulsory internships the credit is usually regulated, because the internship is part of a module with defined credit points. You can only have a voluntary internship credited if your department agrees. Clarify this with the examination office in advance.
Am I covered by health insurance during an internship?
In a compulsory internship you are free of social insurance contributions, and your student health insurance continues as long as you are enrolled. For a voluntary internship, earnings decide: up to 603 euros a month the mini-job rules apply, above that the student-employee rule with a maximum of 20 hours per week during teaching periods. Calculate your monthly earnings before the contract begins.
What to do now
- Check in your study or examination regulations whether a compulsory internship is required and how long it must be.
- Decide whether you also want a voluntary internship, and agree its duration and pay in writing before it begins.
- Clarify how you are insured during the internship, especially if you earn more than 603 euros a month.
- Ask the family benefits office if the internship falls into a leave semester or into the gap between bachelor’s and master’s.
- Talk to the examination office or internship coordinator if you want to have credit points credited.
Related guides
- Health insurance during an internship for students (in German)
- Child benefit during studies (in German)
- Applying as a student: tips for your success (in German)
- Planning your career during your studies (in German)
- Medical studies: clinical placement, practical year and health insurance (in German)
- Internship during studies: minimum wage and social contributions (in German)
- Internship after your studies: minimum wage, social contributions and exceptions (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
