Finding a job in Berlin
Once you’ve successfully enrolled with Arden University Berlin and you’ve secured your German Student Visa, you’ll be able to work up to 120 days a year in Germany while you study with us. You’ll also be eligible to apply for an 18-month post study residency permit after you graduate successfully form your course.
Currently, we offer all Arden University Berlin students access to our online Careers Portal - via your online learning platform, iLearn. This currently features around 7.000 job vacancies in the Berlin area (accurate as of March 2020). Additionally you could also request some support from us in writing your CV and some tips on where to look for jobs.
German language lessons at Arden Berlin
As an Arden University Berlin student, you’ll also have free A1 German language courses during your period of study with us. Having some German language skills under your belt will be a great help you if you are intending to stay and work in Germany after you graduate.
What are the eligibility criteria for working students in Germany?
Your eligibility to work in Germany during your studies may vary depending on the part of the world you’re from, and what kind of agreement your respective governments have regarding working visas. However, there are some general rules that are widely applicable. If you’re from any country in the European Union (or Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein), you'll have the same kind of access and entitlement to the job market as a German student would. Students from the EU/EEA can work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week while they are undertaking their studies in Germany.
Students from non-EU/EEA countries are limited to no more than 120 full days, or 240 half days per year. This rule doesn’t apply, however, if you take up a job at your university such as a student recruiter or a research assistant - although you will have to inform the Foreigners’ Registration Office if you plan to extend your working hours. The student employment rules can also vary depending on which course you’re studying. If, for example, you are studying a language course, or you’re a preparatory course student, you will be allowed to work only during periods where you have no lectures or classes, and you must gain the permission of the Federal Employment Agency and the German Immigration Office. Work placements as part of professional courses count as regular work — hence, the time you spend on your work placements will be deducted from your total limit.
The immigration regulations also mandate a compulsory work permit in Germany for international students. Therefore, you should contact the German consulate in your home country or the German Immigration Office to find out more about working with a student visa.
What kind of job opportunities in Germany can I apply for as a foreign student?
As an international student in a multicultural and diverse city, there are many opportunities if you want to study and work in Berlin, and indeed Germany.
Many international students here take up posts such as academic assistants, library assistants, production assistants, waiters and waitresses in restaurants and cafes, bartenders, and a variety of roles in the retail sector. With a growing competitive demand for part-time jobs for students in Germany, taking up online jobs is also becoming a convenient option for many international students.
If you’d like to know more about working regulations for international students in Berlin, you can contact the Foreigners Office Berlin for more information.