Lionel Hasse

How much educational leave can you claim in your first job in Germany? Lower Saxony as an example, with waiting periods, deadlines and a worked example.

How to classify pay, health insurance and disability cover after a nursing degree in Germany, with collective agreements, a contribution example and next steps.

Women are clearly in the minority in German STEM subjects. How to find scholarships, check conditions and apply, with a real example.

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation names no fixed minimum grade but expects good results and commitment. Requirements, application and funding as of October 2026.

Students usually have no claim to the German basic income benefit (Bürgergeld). We explain the rule in Book II of the Social Code, the exceptions and the position during leave semesters.

Splitting your first salary starts with net pay, not gross pay. This guide shows the order: fixed costs, an emergency fund and retirement provision, with 2026 contribution rates and an example.

The 2026 compulsory insurance threshold in Germany is €77,400 a year. Learn when you lose the duty to be insured in statutory health insurance, with a worked example.

If illness or pregnancy stops your studies, BAföG continues only for a limited time. Here are the rules on funding periods, extensions and the evidence you need.

Pay, probation, notice periods and leave: which clauses to check before you sign your first German employment contract, measured against statutory rules.

A credit card for students can be useful. Here you learn which fees are typical, how liability works if the card is lost and what applies abroad.