An academic career moves between student assistant contracts, collective agreement rules and fixed-term posts. This overview sorts the topics and points you to the guides that explore each question.
Short answer: Student assistants, academic staff and doctoral candidates often work on fixed-term contracts. The term is mainly governed by the German Act on Fixed-Term Employment in Academia (WissZeitVG). Pay follows the collective agreement for the German states (TV-L) or rules set by the university. The statutory minimum wage rises to 14.60 euros gross per hour in 2027. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- Fixed terms at universities and research institutions follow the WissZeitVG. A reform is in the legislative process and has not been adopted.
- Staff employed by the German states fall under the collective agreement for the states (TV-L). The 2026 agreement provides for stepwise increases, and the pay tables are set out in the agreement itself.
- Student assistants and academic staff often have different contract terms. The distinction affects pay, holiday and fixed terms.
- The statutory minimum wage has been 13.90 euros gross per hour since 1 January 2026 and rises to 14.60 euros gross per hour from 1 January 2027.
- Whether a fixed term is permissible depends on the individual case. Several consecutive fixed terms can be impermissible.
The key figures with validity and source:
| Figure | Amount | Valid from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum wage | 13.90 euros gross per hour | 1 Jan 2026 | BMAS, MiLoV5 (in German) |
| Statutory minimum wage | 14.60 euros gross per hour | 1 Jan 2027 | BMAS, MiLoV5 (in German) |
| WissZeitVG | Current version | ongoing | gesetze-im-internet.de (in German) |
Example (assumption): You work 10 hours a week as a student assistant at the statutory minimum wage of 14.60 euros from 2027. At 4.33 weeks per month, that gives 14.60 × 10 × 4.33, roughly 632 euros gross per month. Your contract sets the binding hours and pay, so treat this only as a rough model and confirm the figures with your personnel office.
Guides by topic
Student assistants: pay, collective agreement and hourly rate
Pay and collective agreements for student assistants, from the hourly rate to the net calculator.
- Hourly pay for student assistants 2027: what minimum wage and collective agreement change (in German)
- TV-L 2026: what the collective agreement brings and what is still open (in German)
- Does the minimum wage apply to student assistants at university? (in German)
- Student assistant pay calculator: net pay from the hourly rate (in German)
- Semester break as a student assistant: is pay still paid? (in German)
Contract, working time and entitlements
Working hours, holiday, sick leave and maternity protection during your work as a student assistant.
- How many hours may a student assistant work? (in German)
- Student assistant on holiday and sick leave: what you are entitled to (in German)
- Academic or student assistant: the difference (in German)
- Must student assistant contracts be fixed-term? (in German)
- Parental leave as a student assistant: contract and pay (in German)
- Work reference for a student assistant: entitlement and wording (in German)
- Assistants’ council at the university: what it does and who elects it (in German)
- Maternity protection for student assistants: pay and deadlines (in German)
- Overtime as a student assistant: when it is paid (in German)
- Reading a job advert for assistants: what the requirements mean (in German)
Fixed terms and the WissZeitVG
What the WissZeitVG permits, where the reform starts and when fixed terms may be impermissible.
- Minimum contract term for doctoral candidates: what the reform plans (in German)
- Chain fixed-term contracts in academia: when they are not permitted (in German)
- WissZeitVG amendment: what the draft bill plans for assistants (in German)
- Postdoc fixed terms: what the WissZeitVG reform plans after the doctorate (in German)
- What is the WissZeitVG? Fixed-term contracts in academia explained (in German)
- Re-employment ban under the WissZeitVG: what applies after the contract (in German)
Career paths after studies and the doctorate
Routes from student assistant to permanent post, and the pitfalls along the way.
- Tenure track after the doctorate: how the path to a permanent post works (in German)
- Assistant after graduation: from student job to permanent employment (in German)
- Student assistant post on the CV: how to phrase it correctly (in German)
- Lecturer for special tasks: pay and fixed terms at a glance (in German)
Frequently asked questions
What is the WissZeitVG?
The Act on Fixed-Term Employment in Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz) regulates how posts at universities and research institutions may be fixed-term. The current version is available in the statute book, and amendments are currently in the legislative process.
Has the WissZeitVG reform been adopted?
No. The planned reform is in the legislative process and has not been adopted. You can find the current status on the websites of the Bundestag and the responsible federal ministry.
How much does a student assistant earn from 2027?
From 1 January 2027 the statutory minimum wage is 14.60 euros gross per hour. Whether a collective agreement or a university rule sets a higher figure is shown in your contract.
Can a fixed term be extended as often as desired?
No. Consecutive fixed terms are not permissible without further ado. Whether a chain of fixed terms is allowed in the individual case depends on the requirements of the WissZeitVG and the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG).
Does the student assistant post belong on your CV?
Yes. A student assistant post shows experience and responsibility. The guide on how to phrase it on your CV (in German) shows how to word it.
What should I document if something is unclear?
Keep records of working hours, contract details and correspondence with the personnel office. These documents help with questions on fixed terms, pay, holiday and overtime compensation.
What to do now
- Read your contract and note the end date of the fixed term, weekly hours, pay grade and notice rules.
- Check whether the fixed term is compatible with the WissZeitVG, and note open questions.
- Compare your pay and hours with the applicable collective agreement or your university’s rule.
- If something is unclear, contact the staff council, the assistants’ council or a trade union.
Related guides
- Financing a doctorate: position, scholarship or own funds compared (in German)
- Doctorate in Germany: routes, duration, funding and the doctoral title (in German)
- Becoming a student assistant: tasks, pay and application (in German)
- Health insurance during a doctorate (in German)
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (status 2026 and 2027, in German), Act on Fixed-Term Employment in Academia, gesetze-im-internet.de (current version, status November 2026, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
