Student assistants

1. how can I be employed as a student assistant?
In accordance with Section 82 of the Hessian Higher Education Act, students who are matriculated at a university in a study programme that manages a first or further qualifying degree for a profession can be employed on a part-time basis for up to a total of six years. Student assistants support students in their university studies through tutorials and provide services in research and teaching as well as study-related services that also serve their own continuing university education. Student status must be evidenced by a current enrolment certificate.

1 Where can I find the job advertisements?
The call for proposals for student assistant positions is published on the Fulda University of Applied Sciences homepage and on noticeboards in the respective departments/divisions.

2. how is my appointment organised?
The selection of personnel and the degree of the employment contract takes place in the respective department or division. A written employment contract must be concluded prior to employment; this must be submitted to the Humans Resources Management division with all the necessary documents before the date of employment so that remuneration can be paid in the relevant month.

3 What documents do I need to submit?
For an appointment or re-entry (from one day of interruption of employment):

• Employment contract
• Personnel form(German, English)
• Residence permit for non-EU citizens, if applicable
• Enrolment certificate
• Questionnaire to assess the subject to social insurance contributions(German, English)
• Self-disclosure for the electronic wage tax deduction characteristics procedure (ELStAM) -(German, English)
• University certificate, if applicable

In the case of a contract extension:

• Employment contract
• Enrolment certificate
• Questionnaire to assess the subject to social insurance contributions - (German, English)

Changes to personal data must be reported immediately to the Humans Resources Management division. Changes of address must also be reported after termination of the employment relationship so that documents, e.g. payslips, can be forwarded.

4 What do I have to consider as a student assistant with foreign nationality?
Students from non-EU countries (except Switzerland and the EEA) may only be employed with a valid residence permit. Contracts can only be concluded for a period in which a valid residence permit is available.

5. can I have several jobs at the same time?
Every student assistant is free to enter into several employment relationships. If you pass other jobs outside the Fulda University of Applied Sciences, you must inform the human resources management so that social security and tax issues can be clarified. You can find more information here.
If there are several contracts with Fulda University of Applied Sciences, this counts as one employment relationship. Please note that the maximum number of 82 hours at Fulda University of Applied Sciences may not be exceeded.

1. how should my contract term be structured?
As a rule, the employment relationship should be concluded for 1 year; in justified cases, shorter or longer periods can be agreed.

2 How long can I be employed as a student assistant?
According to § 82 of the Hessian Higher Education Act, student assistants can be employed for up to 6 years. Only the actual periods of employment are taken into account.

1. how many hours can I be employed as a student assistant?
From 1 February 2025, the minimum scope of employment is 10 hours per week; in justified cases, shorter or longer hours per week can be agreed.

2 When and where do I have to submit my working time documentation?
The working time documentation must be submitted to the relevant department or division at the end of each month.

1. what remuneration do I receive per hour as a student assistant?

2 When will my salary be paid?
Remuneration is paid on the last day of the month for the current calendar month by the university pay office in Kassel.

3 Where do I get my salary statement?
The remuneration statement will be sent by post by the remuneration office. Please note that the salary statement is only issued upon registration or when the salary changes.

1. which social insurances may apply to me when I take out a student assistantship agreement?
Social insurance includes health, pension, unemployment and nursing care insurance.
Student assistants are generally exempt from health, nursing and unemployment insurance in mini and working student jobs. Only pension insurance is compulsory.
If you have any further questions about social insurance, please contact your health insurance provider in charge.

2. can I be released from the pension insurance obligation?
As part of small-scale employment (556 euros), you pass the option of being released from pension insurance. The advantages and consequences of exemption can be found here.

3. can I apply for exemption from pension insurance with one employer and not with another?
No. The application for exemption from pension insurance can only be made uniformly in the case of several small-scale employment and is binding for the duration of the employment
. The application for exemption is then valid for the duration of all small-scale employment taken up at the time and thereafter. It only loses its effect when small-scale employment is no longer pursued.

4 What should I bear in mind if I have not submitted an application for exemption from pension insurance and my pay is less than €175?
The full pension insurance contribution rate is 18.6% of gross pay, which is made up of 15% employer's contribution and 3.6% employee's contribution. Please note that the full pension insurance contribution must be paid on earnings of at least €175.00. However, the employer's contribution share of 15% is only to be calculated on the basis of the salary actually earned - the employee bears the difference. Further information can be found here.

Example: monthly earnings of €100.
The minimum pension insurance contribution applies here: € 32.55 (18.6% of the minimum contribution assessment base of € 175)

This means that each month

• the employer pays €15 (15% of the actual earnings) and
• the mini-jobber pays € 17.55 (total contribution € 32.55 minus € 15 employer's contribution).

5 When is my employment small-scale?
Small-scale employment is divided into short-term employment and low-paid employment (minijob):

Short-termemployment
Short-term employment may not last more than three months or 70 working days in the course of a calendar year. The periods of previous employment are taken into account in the current calendar year. The amount of earnings does not matter. The job is therefore not permanent or regular, but only occasional. No social security contributions are due.

Small-scale employment (minijob)
Low-paid jobs are known as minijobs. Here, earnings may not exceed 556 euros per month. The weekly working hours and the number of monthly working days are irrelevant.

6. can I have several minijobs with different employers?
If you do not have a main job that is subject to compulsory insurance, you can work in two or more minijobs for different employers at the same time. The condition is that the total earnings do not exceed €556 per month. If the earnings exceed this limit, all jobs become subject to compulsory insurance and are therefore no longer minijobs. You can find more information here.

7 Where do I get my insurance number (formerly national insurance number)?
The insurance number can be found on the insurance number certificate, formerly known as the social security card, or on your last payslip.
If the insurance number is not known, it will be generated automatically after appointment by Deutsche Rentenversicherung.

8. do I grade a membership certificate from the health insurance provider?
A membership certificate from the health insurance provider is no longer required. It is sufficient to state the name, registered office of the health insurance provider and the type of insurance in the questionnaire to assess the subject to social insurance contributions.

9. can I remain covered by family insurance if I have a minijob?
If your earnings from a minijob do not exceed €556 per month, you can generally continue to be covered by family insurance. No further income subject to contributions may be earned as a family member. Further information can be obtained from the health insurance providers in charge.

10 When is my employment a so-called working student job?
A working student job is an activity that is carried out alongside university studies. In a working student job, the earnings regularly exceed €556 per month and the employment is not only short-term up to three months or 70 working days per calendar year. The advantage: Working student jobs are only subject to compulsory pension insurance and insurance exemption for health, nursing and unemployment insurance. If you have family insurance, you must clarify in advance with the health insurance provider in charge whether the working student job will change your health insurance. Further information can be found here.

1 Where do I get the tax identification number?
You receive your tax ID number at birth. It can also be found on your income tax assessment notice or income tax statement. If this is not known, the tax ID can be requested from the Federal Central Tax Office.

2. how do I obtain a tax identification number if I am a foreign national?
After registering with the residents' registration office, the tax ID is awarded by the BZSt. Persons who are not registered in Germany but receive income in Germany must contact the tax office in charge of them.

3. is my minijob taxable?
Yes, even a minijob is taxable. The employer decides which type of taxation is to be used. Taxation at the Fulda University of Applied Sciences is based on the employee's individual tax class.

Further information can be found here.

4 Who is my main employer?
If no other employment relationship with another employer passes, the Fulda University of Applied Sciences is the main employer (university studies do not count as main employment).

5. what do I enter in the self-declaration for the electronic wage tax deduction characteristics procedure (ELStAM) if I have another employment relationship with another employer?

This must be clarified in advance: Is the employment relationship with the other employer flat-rate? The information can be obtained from the respective employer or can be seen on the payslip.
If the other employer uses a flat rate, you can choose the main employment relationship (wage tax class I-V) at Fulda University of Applied Sciences.
If the other employer does not apply a flat rate, it is advisable to choose the employment relationship with the higher remuneration as the main employment relationship and the other employment relationship as the secondary employment relationship (wage tax class VI).

Further information can be found here.

6 What happens if I tick neither the main nor the secondary employment relationship on the self-disclosure form for the electronic wage tax deduction characteristics procedure (ELStAM)?
The fee claim form will be processed by the payroll office as a secondary employment relationship with tax class VI.

1 When does my employment relationship end?
The employment relationship ends with the deadline specified in the employment contract without the need for termination.
The employment relationship as a student assistant ends automatically upon exmatriculation. The certificate of exmatriculation must be submitted to human resources management as evidence.

2. can I or Fulda University of Applied Sciences terminate the employment relationship prematurely?
Both contracting parties are entitled to terminate the employment relationship. The termination of the contract must be in writing.

Period of notice for student assistants:

• 4 weeks to the fifteenth or to the end of a calendar month

Period of notice employer, if the employment relationship with the employer

• has been in stock for two years, one month to the end of a calendar month
• has passed for five years, two months to the end of a calendar month

If both parties agree, the employment contract can be terminated without observing a period of notice. Retroactive resolutions are not possible.

1. am I entitled to holiday and how much holiday am I entitled to?
Holiday entitlement for auxiliary staff is based on the Federal Paid Leave Act. An annual holiday entitlement of 24 working days per year passes for a 6-day week. This is automatically calculated in the monthly working time documentation and deducted from the working time to be worked.

2 Where and what do I have to report if I am ill?
Incapacity for work must be registered with the line manager* before the start of working hours.
In the event of incapacity for work, a certificate of incapacity for work is requiredfrom the first day.
The exact period (from DD:MM:YYYY to DD:MM:YYYY, initial or follow-up certificate) that the doctor sends to the health insurance provider must be communicated immediately by e-mail/telephone to the persons in charge in the (subject) department.
In the case of privately insured persons, an additional medical certificate must be submitted.

Notification of re-entry after incapacity for work must be registered with the persons in charge in the (subject) area.

3 What do I have to bear in mind if I am pregnant?
According to § 15 MuSchG, expectant mothers should inform the employer of their pregnancy and the presumed date of delivery. A photocopier of the maternity pass is sufficient evidence of the pregnancy; a separate certificate from the doctor is no longer required. The statutory periods of protection are generally 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth. Further steps will be discussed individually with the student assistant. (Risk assessment)

4 What do I have to consider if I have a severe disability?
The human resources management must be informed of the severe disability and the degree of disability (from 50 degrees). Evidence of this must be provided in the form of a disabled person's ID card or notice of equality. Further steps will be discussed individually with the student assistant.