The WissZeitVG is the German Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG), and it sets the limits on how long universities may employ academic staff on fixed-term contracts. If you do a doctorate, work as a student assistant or sign a postdoc contract at a German university or research institution, you will meet this Act in your employment contract sooner or later. This guide explains the basic rules and the current legislative status.
Short answer: The WissZeitVG allows German universities and certain research institutions to employ academic staff on fixed-term contracts. Under the law currently in force (Section 2 (1)), the maximum fixed-term period for qualification both before and after a doctorate is six years. The federal government introduced a reform bill in autumn 2026. It has not been passed. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The WissZeitVG governs fixed-term contracts for academic and artistic staff at universities and research institutions.
- Under current law, a fixed-term qualification period may last up to six years before and six years after the doctorate.
- For each child under 18, the maximum period is extended by two years.
- Student assistants who are enrolled at a German university may be employed on fixed-term contracts under Section 6, for up to six years in total.
- The reform is still in the legislative process. The government bill is Bundestag printed paper 21/8281 and has not been adopted.
Who does the WissZeitVG apply to?
The Act covers employment at universities and at research institutions within the meaning of Section 5. Section 2 (3) explicitly refers to fixed-term employment at a German university or a research institution, to comparable civil-service appointments for a fixed term and to private service contracts under Section 3. Staff financed through third-party funds are therefore not automatically excluded. What matters is whether the position serves scientific qualification or academic work.
The Act does not replace your employment contract. The contract states the reason for the fixed term, the duration, the working hours and the pay. The WissZeitVG only sets the framework within which a fixed term is permitted. It does not specify a salary.
How long can a qualification contract last?
The maximum period is the core of the Act. Under Section 2 (1), second sentence, up to six years are permitted after the doctorate, as far as earlier periods before the doctorate and doctoral periods together amount to less than six years. Before the doctorate, a comparable maximum applies. In medicine, a longer limit of nine years applied so far, as the explanatory memorandum to the government bill states.
| Situation | Maximum period under current law | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification before the doctorate | up to six years | Section 2 (1) WissZeitVG |
| Qualification after the doctorate | up to six years | Section 2 (1), second sentence, WissZeitVG |
| Medicine (so far) | up to nine years | Explanatory memorandum, BR-Drs. 456/26 |
| Per child under 18 | two additional years per child | Section 2 (1), fifth sentence, no. 1, WissZeitVG |
Last updated: November 2026. The figures follow the statutory text as published on gesetze-im-internet.de. The bill would abolish the special medical rule, but it has not been passed.
Which extensions does the law provide for?
Not every fixed term ends when the maximum period is reached. Section 2 (5) allows an extension if the employee agrees and certain absence periods apply. These include caring for children, caring for relatives, parental leave, maternity protection, military or civilian service and periods of illness without continued pay. In some of these cases the extension should not exceed two years, and the law names them explicitly.
Extension periods do not count towards the permitted duration. How this works in practice depends on your contract and on when the absence occurs. Before you apply, it is worth asking the personnel department of your university.
What applies to student assistants?
Student assistants fall under a separate provision. 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 limit.
The 2026 government bill would raise this limit from six to eight years. That is a draft and not current law. More detail is in our guide on the WissZeitVG reform for student assistants.
How does the WissZeitVG differ from a fixed-term contract without a reason?
Many contracts at universities are not based on the WissZeitVG but on the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG). The TzBfG permits a fixed term without an objective reason for up to two years, which may be extended at most three times. The so-called chaining prohibition also applies: a contract without a reason is ruled out if an employment relationship with the same employer already existed before. This rule is found in Section 14 (2) TzBfG.
| Feature | WissZeitVG | Fixed term without reason under TzBfG |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | scientific qualification and auxiliary work | fixed term without an objective reason |
| Maximum duration | six years (student assistants under Section 6 also six years) | two years in calendar terms |
| Extensions | up to the maximum period, possible for childcare, parental leave and illness | at most three times within the two years |
| Prior employment with same employer | bill proposes an exception to the TzBfG rule for part-time student work | generally excluded |
The table shows the basic lines. Whether a specific contract is permitted is best checked by the personnel department or a legal adviser. This guide does not assess individual contracts.
What does the reform propose?
The federal government’s bill (Bundestag printed paper 21/8281, reported on 5 October 2026) proposes minimum contract terms for the first contract, namely three years before and two years after the doctorate. In addition, a qualification-based fixed term should only be permitted where at least a quarter of the regular working time is involved. The Bundesrat asked in its opinion that contracts that are too short should be deemed to run for the minimum term. The federal government rejects this in its counter-statement. The bill is therefore in the legislative process and has not been adopted.
Frequently asked questions
Is the WissZeitVG still in its current form?
Yes. The reform is a government bill that has been submitted to the Bundesrat and reported to the Bundestag. As long as no law has been promulgated, the existing wording applies. You can follow the status of the procedure on the Bundestag website and on the pages of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
How long can I work as a student assistant on fixed-term contracts?
Under Section 6 WissZeitVG, up to six years in total, as long as you are enrolled at a German university. The bill would raise this to eight years, but that figure does not apply yet.
Does a child extend my fixed-term contract?
Under current law, yes, by two years per child under 18. In addition, Section 2 (5) can apply to periods of parental leave. Whether it covers your specific contract type depends on the contract.
Where can I find the exact statutory text?
The text is published on gesetze-im-internet.de, run by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Office of Justice. The current version is available there. The government bill is available as a Bundesrat printed paper.
What happens once the maximum period has been reached?
Then the qualification fixed term under the WissZeitVG cannot continue, unless an extension ground applies. For any follow-on employment the general rules apply, for example permanent employment or another contract model. Which option fits is best clarified with the personnel department.
What you can do now
- Read your employment contract and check whether it states the reason for the fixed term and the duration.
- Add up all fixed-term periods at the university, including earlier contracts.
- Report absence periods such as parental leave or illness to the personnel department early.
- Follow the reform before you make long-term decisions.
Related guides
- Academic careers: contracts, collective agreements and fixed terms overview
- WissZeitVG reform: what the bill plans for student assistants
- Postdoc fixed terms: what the WissZeitVG reform plans after the doctorate
- How many hours may a student assistant work?
- Becoming a student assistant: tasks, pay and application (in German)
Sources: WissZeitVG Section 2, gesetze-im-internet.de (version in force), Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia, full text (gesetze-im-internet.de), WissZeitVG Section 6, student assistants (gesetze-im-internet.de), Federal government bill, Bundesrat printed paper 456/26, dated 14 August 2026, Section 14 TzBfG, fixed term without reason (gesetze-im-internet.de).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
