Student Jobs in Berlin
Thousands upon thousands of students arrive in Berlin each year to study at some of the world’s leading universities. And while studying at a German public university is technically free, life in Berlin as a student still comes at a cost, with rent, bills, food, books, transport and partying all needing to be paid for.
The solution for most is to get a student job in Berlin, of which there are a number of great options. In this post, we’ve listed some of the most popular workplaces for students living in Berlin. Ranging from bars and cafes to retail and tourism, our suggestions will hopefully help you land a student job in Berlin to help fund your studies (or partying!) in the German capital.
Our list contains student and entry-level jobs for English speakers in Berlin.
Documents required to start a job in Berlin
Before we look at some good options for student jobs in Berlin, it’s useful to lay out exactly what paperwork you’ll need to be able to start working in Germany.
Even as a student, it’s not simply a case of getting a job and starting right away – you’ll generally need to provide the same level of documentation as if you were a regular employee. In short, your new employer will need:
Your German tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer)
To get a tax ID in Germany, you must first officially register at an address, a process that is known as Anmeldung. Your tax ID will be automatically mailed to your address 2 to 4 weeks after you register your address.
If you need a place to complete your Anmeldung quickly, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.
Confirmation of your health insurance
As a student in Germany, it’s mandatory that you have health insurance. We have listed a few different scenarios below that we recommend using for reference when choosing which health insurance to sign up for.
In short, you are limited in the number of hours you can work as a student before you are obligated to pay fully into the German social security system.
Student working less than 20 hours a week, a mini-job or a short-term job (maximum of 70 days) = TK’s statutory student policy
Student working more than 20 hours a week = TK’s statutory employee insurance. Due to the number of hours worked, you are no longer eligible for TK’s student policy and are obligated to pay fully into the German social security system.
German social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer)
This can be provided by your German health insurance provider (TK).
German bank account
In order to be paid by a German employer, you generally need a German bank account. For this, our favourite banking option for students in Germany is N26. For a comparison of some of Berlin’s best banking options, see our banking page.
Rote Karte (Red Card)
The Rote Karte is a safety and sanitation certificate that you’ll need to apply for if you intend to work in hospitality in Germany (i.e. in bars, restaurants, kitchens, etc.). Details on how to apply for one in Berlin can be found here.
Bar jobs for students in Berlin
If you are looking for a student job in Berlin in a bar, then here are some places to apply at:
Cafe jobs for students in Berlin
Cafes in Berlin also provide some great job opportunities for students in Berlin. To start you off, I would recommend applying to the following cafes:
Restaurant jobs for students in Berlin
Restaurants also offer up a host of job openings for students in Berlin. These are some popular workplaces:
Job Boards for Students
Burger joints in Berlin
Brewery jobs for students in Berlin
Catering companies in Berlin that hire students
Call centre jobs in Berlin
Retail jobs for students in Berlin
Tourism jobs for students in Berlin
Hostel jobs for students in Berlin
Hotel jobs for students in Berlin
Cleaning jobs for students in Berlin
Bike courier jobs for students in Berlin
We hope this page helps you with your job hunt. For further information and tips on moving to Berlin, check out our relocation guides and resources on our homepage.