Information for Student Employees

Undergraduate and graduate research / teaching assistants (SKH / WHK) provide support in research and teaching. They have temporary contracts not subject to the collective wage agreement for the public sectors of the German states (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder, TV-L).

A WHK position requires a bachelor’s degree or comparable. Employment as an SHK or WHK, however, depends on the tasks in question, i.e., students with a bachelor’s or comparable degree may be employed as a SHK.

They are paid by the hour. SHK receive €13.25 per working hour, while WHK receive €15.21. Starting on 1 April 2025, their wages will be raised to €13.98 and €16.05, respectively. These are gross sums.

Tutors support course instructors in teaching and help international students with disabilities or chronic diseases. There is a difference between student tutors and academic tutors when it comes to job requirements and remuneration. Academic tutors must prove that they have an undergraduate degree.

Both groups have temporary contracts not subject to the collective wage agreement for the public sectors of the German states (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder, TV-L). Remuneration is based on semester hours per week (SWS), with a single SWS amounting to 2.5 hours. This allows for preparation and review.

Student tutors earn a monthly salary of €149.52 per SWS; academic tutors earn a monthly salary of €233.60 per SWS. Starting on 1 April 2025, the salary will be raised to €157.74 and €246.45 respectively. These are gross sums.

Student employees perform support duties in technical, library, and administrative services and are employed on the basis of the collective wage agreement for the public sectors of the German states (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder, TV-L).

In contrast to undergraduate research and teaching assistants (SHK, WHK) and tutors, student employees generally have permanent contracts and are remunerated in salary group 2 (in German only).

The maximum weekly working time for all students in an employment relationship—undergraduate and graduate research / teaching assistants (SHK, WHK), tutors, and student employees—is 20 hours, including during reading periods. This limit also applies in case of multiple contracts within and outside the University of Hamburg.

The maximum monthly working time for SHK and WHK is 86 hours.

The salaries stated above are gross sums, meaning you may still need to pay income tax and social security.

Inform yourself about the amounts and requirements.

You can find more information on the following pages:

• Minijob on the Federal Employment Agency page (in German only)
• Minijob on the German social security pages (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) (in German only)
• Family benefits on the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth website

Note:

Social security

Part-time students and long-term students (starting from the 26th semester) must pay into social security.

Statutory pension insurance scheme

Employees with jobs that have a minimum number of hours (“mini-jobs”) are required to pay into social security.

See, for example, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung pages (in German only) for more information.

There are possible exemptions. Feel free to contact us about using the form from the mini-job headquarters.

Income tax

The University of Hamburg does not pay the flat-rate tax for mini-jobs.

The amount of income tax to be declared depends upon the income tax category. This is based primarily on family status. The tax office determines your tax category.

As a rule, people are assigned to tax category one (single, one job, no children). If you have another job, the job with the higher gross salary will be assigned to the lower tax category. If the University of Hamburg is the employer that pays the lower salary, your tax category is 6.

Notify the University of Hamburg’s HR as soon as possible if you pursue further employment while employed here.

Erroneous or false information about your tax ID number will result in your automatically being assigned to tax category 6.

You can find University of Hamburg jobs especially suited for students at Stellenwerk (in German only), the job ad portal for students.

You must submit the following documents:

• registration form, completed and signed
• current proof of enrollment
• if applicable, residence permit and work permit (additional page)
• for academic tutors and WHK: degree certificate and copy (e.g., of bachelor’s or master’s diploma)

SHK, WHK, and tutors are entitled to vacation pursuant to the Federal minimum vacation act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz, BUrlG). If they spread their work over the 5-day working week, they are entitled to 20 vacation days per annum.

It is not permissible to reduce vacation by reducing hours or minutes per working week.

The annual statutory minimum vacation entitlement, regardless of how working hours are distributed, is as follows:

• 5 workdays per week: 20 workdays
• 4 workdays per week: 16 workdays
• 3 workdays per week: 12 workdays
• 2 workdays per week: 8 workdays
• One workday per week: 4 workdays

The regulations for collective wage agreement staff also apply to student employees.

In case of illness, student employees are entitled to up to 6 weeks of continued remuneration pursuant to the German holiday and sick pay act (Gesetz über die Zahlung des Arbeitsentgelts an Feiertagen und im Krankheitsfall, EntgFG). 

You must inform your front office without delay if you are unable to work. SHK, WHK, and tutors must submit a doctor’s note starting on the first day of illness; student employees must submit a doctor’s note starting on the fourth calendar day.

Sick days do not need to be made up.

For students with public health insurance, HR can access the doctor’s note from the insurance provider digitally. Privately insured students must submit their doctor’s note directly to their unit or HR.

Remuneration is suspended after 6 weeks. Insurance providers pay the sick pay for employees required to contribute to social security. Even if the employer does not continue to provide remuneration, they must continue to be informed about the probable duration of the illness. This also requires a doctor’s note.

Student employees are generally hired permanently. Undergraduate and graduate research / teaching assistants (SHK, WHK) generally receive 12-month contracts. Acceptable reasons for an employment duration shorter than 12 months include, but are not limited to, the following:

• fixed-term funding (e.g., external funding; project end date must be included)
• a tutorial that does not span 2 consecutive semesters (the employment duration is generally be 6 months)
• special state funding
• involvement in orientation modules
• modules that are offered only once a year
• permitted maximum possible duration of the fixed term pursuant to Section 6 WissZeitVG reached before the expiration of 12 months
• transfer or period abroad planned before the expiration of 12 months (information from students is voluntary)
• degree program completed before the expiration of 12 months (semester must be named; information from students is voluntary)

Students talking about their work

If you have questions about your current job, contact the University of Hamburg’s HR Team 632.

Students employed by the University of Hamburg can also contact the Technical, Library and Administrative Staff Council (TVPR) (in German only).

University of Hamburg SHK, WHK, and tutors can contact the Staff Council for Academic Staff (WIPR).