Living in Germany
Student life in Germany
Beyond lectures and paperwork, Germany has a lot to enjoy — and easy ways to earn on the side while you study.
🎈 Things to do & entertainment
Festivals & seasons
There's something all year: Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) in winter, Karneval/Fasching in February, open-air festivals and city fests in summer, and of course Oktoberfest-style Volksfeste. Many are free to wander.
Culture on a budget
Most cities have a museum Sunday or reduced student entry — bring your student ID. University cities also run cheap cinema nights, theatre and concerts. The Studierendenwerk often lists student deals.
Outdoors & day trips
Lakes (Baggersee), parks, beer gardens, hiking and cycling are a huge part of life. With the Deutschland-Ticket you can take regional trains across the country for a flat monthly fee — perfect for weekend trips.
Nightlife & meeting people
Clubs, bars and student parties vary by city (Berlin and Leipzig for techno, Cologne for Kölsch and Karneval). Join a Verein (club) or a university group — sports, language tandems, hobbies — it's the easiest way to make friends.
Sports & clubs
University sport (Hochschulsport) is cheap and open to all levels, and local Vereine cover everything from football to climbing. A great way to stay active and meet locals.
Student discounts
Your student status unlocks discounts on transport, software, museums, gyms, streaming and more. Always ask 'gibt es Studentenrabatt?' and carry your ID.
🛵 Gig jobs & earning on the side
Small, flexible jobs are a great way to fund student life. From food delivery to mini-jobs, here’s what’s common — pick what fits your schedule, German level and work permission.
Food & grocery delivery
Apps like Lieferando, Wolt, Uber Eats and grocery services (Flink, Gorillas-style) hire riders and drivers. Flexible hours, you usually need a bike/e-bike and the right work permission. Pay is hourly plus tips.
Werkstudent (working student)
A working-student contract is the gold standard: relevant to your field, decent pay, and reduced social contributions while you study. Up to ~20 hours/week during term.
Mini-jobs (Minijob)
A mini-job pays up to around €556/month (2025) and is largely tax-free. Think cafés, retail, warehouses, reception, or campus jobs (HiWi). Simple to start and very common for students.
Event & promotion work
Trade fairs (Messe), promotions, hostessing/host work, festivals and catering hire short-term staff — often well-paid for a few intense days. Look on student job boards and Messe agencies.
Tutoring & babysitting
Nachhilfe (tutoring), language lessons (especially English/Chinese), and babysitting are easy to find via notice boards and apps, and pay well per hour.
Warehouse, retail & seasonal
Logistics, supermarkets and the Christmas-market season hire lots of casual staff. No German? Some warehouse and delivery roles are doable with basic German.
Looking for something more career-relevant?
Working-student roles and graduate jobs build your CV for after studies.