How to earn money as a student
Looking for a job at TU Darmstadt – where to begin

Working alongside studying – for many students this is not just an option to gain work experience but essential to finance their studies. Even though there are no tuition fees at German state universities, living expenses need to be covered. Moreover, working alongside studying is the perfect opportunity to get to know potential work areas. Our ambassadors from the #studentsofTUdarmstadt have collected different personal experiences how to earn money at TU Darmstadt.

Published: 23rd February 2022

Masha,
Data and Discourse Studies M.A.

At this point, you need to know two beneficial factors about finding work as a TU Darmstadt student: Firstly, TU is located in an economically strong region, thus, there are multiple possibilities for employment. Secondly, TU has a very good reputation in the job market and employers from Darmstadt and the region are usually interested in employing our students.

Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Masha
Picture: Britta Hüning

When choosing a study programme, for many students future prospects on the job market after graduation are important criteria. We are lucky; TU alumni show that our employment prospects are looking good! Also, the majority of (prospective) students find it crucial to be able to work and support themselves while studying. Can I work while studying? How do I look for a job? What are the options? What to expect from the German labour market? Those questions inevitably keep spinning around one's head at the beginning of studies. We report how it went for us.

Stellenwerk: job portal for students

Stellenwerk is a job portal for students and there you can find jobs not only advertised by TU Darmstadt and the Studierendenwerk (student association), but also from enterprises, companies and industries in Darmstadt and in the region who are interested in hiring students.

However, there are many other possibilities to get yourself employed. Here we go with our insider tips!

Ravan,
Civil Engineering

Working as a tutor helps me to get in touch with students, to learn how to lead groups and to prepare myself for writing my thesis.

Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Ravan
Picture: Britta Hüning

Working as a tutor

For several years now, I have been working as a tutor for the module ‚Einführung in wissenschaftliches Arbeiten und Schreiben‘ (eng. ‚Introduction to Scientific Work and Writing’). A fellow student called my attention to the job opening. My job is to lead groups and give feedback on texts and presentations. In case of questions and problems, I am available for help. Working as a tutor for this module helps me to get in touch with students, to learn how to lead groups and to prepare myself for writing my thesis. In addition, I have learned to give feedback on a pedagogical level and also to lead exercises online. I do not only get the chance to help students, but also to motivate them as far as possible.

Student assistants and "Hiwis”

If you work as a student at the university, you are usually employed as a student assistant (studentische Hilfskraft, SHK). You are paid according to an internal university scale on an hourly basis. If you already have a university degree, you can also work as a research assistant (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, WHK). The term “Hiwi” is often used colloquially for both jobs.

If you are looking for more of a studies-related job where you can directly apply the practice skills you have just acquired in the process of studying, Moiz will show you what to do.

Moiz,
Material Science M.Sc.

The maximum you would get is rejection, but remember that rejection is merely a redirection. Keep applying!

Portrait Moiz
Picture: Britta Hüning

How to find a job at your department

The job searching certainly does not end with Stellenwerk, because not all the jobs are listed there. What if you want to work for your department? Then you would need to modify your job search strategy slightly. But how? Some departments have their own job portals, like Materials Science. So look for the job portal of the department you wish to work at. Apart from other positions, there you might also find an opportunity to work as a tutor for lab courses and exercises. This is usually advertised before the start of each semester. An unconventional way to find a job is to find people on the university or department’s website who are working in your area(s) of interest and email them directly to ask for any positions available. The maximum you would get is rejection, but remember that rejection is merely a redirection. Keep applying!

Indeed, be brave and do not hesitate to ask around. Laura explains how it worked for her.

Laura,
Data and Discourse Studies M.A.

If you want to work as a student assistant, then make an effort in your studies! Often assistants are selected based on good grades or positive impressions in seminars and lectures.

Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Laura
Picture: Privat

Working as a student assistant for an institute at TU Darmstadt

I got the job at the Institute for Linguistics and Literature on my own initiative. When a new professorship came to our institute, I applied there immediately because I assumed they too would be looking for new student assistants – and luckily it worked out! My main task was to support the research projects of the professorship. You learn a lot about scientific work and the structures of a research project. Furthermore, it is especially cool to be a staff member at the same institute where you study, as you get to know many of the lecturers on a different level and get insights behind the scenes of research. Especially if you want to work in science later on, experience as an assistant is valuable, because you gain your first real work experience in science. It also looks very good on your CV. If this sounds good to you and you too want to work as a student assistant, then make an effort in your studies! Often assistants are selected based on good grades or positive impressions in seminars and lectures. Of course, this is not a guarantee and it is also possible to get a job by simply applying for it. You can usually find announcements on the website of the institute or the chair.

You can definitely learn a lot from working at an institute – same as working in central administration. Diego speaks about his experience.

Diego,
Mechatronics B.Sc.

Working and studying simultaneously is (at least in my experience) not the easiest task, it is crucial to maintain really strict time management and be as efficient as possible.

Portrait Diego
Picture: Britta Hüning

Working in central administration

I study and work at TU Darmstadt, in my case specifically, for International Student Services (ISS) in central administration. The job was offered to me after working as one of the first #studentsofTUDarmstadt at a university fair in Darmstadt. Our main task at ISS is to support international degree seeking students, exchange students and prospective students with a refugee background in all non-academic areas. Working and studying simultaneously is (at least in my experience) not the easiest task, it is crucial to maintain really strict time management and be as efficient as possible. However, it is also an amazing learning experience, and I really enjoy working with such an awesome team.

If you do not have time regularly to earn extra money, Moritz has an unusual yet exciting possibility.

Moritz,
Digital Philology B.A.

You do not have to be afraid! All experiments that are held at the TU must be reviewed and approved by an ethics committee beforehand.

Portraitfoto Moritz
Picture: Britta Hüning

Participating in Experiments

So far you have learned about many different possibilities to get a job at TU Darmstadt. But it is also possible to earn money at the university without a fixed job, and that is by participating in experiments! How exactly this works, I will explain to you now. I came into contact with participating in experiments early on during my studies because, at the Institute of Linguistics and Literature, where I study, there are eye-tracking experiments frequently taking place. Participation is usually quite simple: you sit down in front of a screen, read one or more texts, and receive five to twenty euros afterwards, depending on the duration of the experiment. Of course, it is not much, but it indeed is a nice bonus and you get to help science! There are also experiments that run over a longer period of time and therefore pay more money. Now you are probably wondering where you can find out whether an experiment is coming up. This can work in different ways. Often there are flyers in the cafeteria or in other central university buildings and there is a bulletin board in the old main building, which is worth a glance! Also, check the social media accounts and websites of the respected institutes. By the way, you don't have to be afraid! All experiments that are held at the TU must be reviewed and approved by an ethics committee beforehand and before an experiment, you will always be informed in detail about the complete procedure, so nothing can happen to you.

Of course, it's not the world, but it's a nice bonus and you help science!
Of course, it's not the world, but it's a nice bonus and you help science!

With all this information, you now have a good first overview!

We hope this is helpful for you as you begin your job search. You will surely find something suitable. Good luck!

Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Masha
Picture: Britta Hüning

Masha

Hey! My name is Masha and I’m doing my master’s in Data and Discourse Studies. It always takes long to explain what exactly I am studying. My program is a kaleidoscope of disciplines and methods, which are weirdly and fruitfully intertwined together. For me it is a fusion of hobby and profession: languages, history, programming, philosophy! I love it how we mix approaches trying to gain this voluminous image of our world.

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Portrait Moiz
Picture: Britta Hüning

Moiz

Hey, human! I’m Moiz and I hail from Karachi, Pakistan. I study Materials Science. I had always had a dream of studying and living abroad, mainly because of my previous travels to several countries around the world for the game of Scrabble. Out of all, I chose TU Darmstadt because of its research profile and rankings. So, either you are already living your dream of studying abroad or about to live it, I hope that I can help you in your journey with my experiences.

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Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Ravan
Picture: Britta Hüning

Ravan

Hello, my name is Ravan and I study civil engineering. Even though the study program was challenging for me from time to time, I took home several senses of achievement that helped me to develop personally. With a lot of patience, discipline and ambition, I finally learned the right way of studying. Originally, my plan was to graduate much earlier until I learned something important: If something doesn't go according to plan, you don't know the plan.

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Portrait TU Darmstadt Ambassador Laura
Picture: Privat

Laura

Hello, my name is Laura and I study Data and Discourse Studies. I chose this degree programme because I am very interested in combining computer science tools with research in the humanities. Moreover, the degree programme is the only one of its kind in the world.

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Portrait Diego
Picture: Britta Hüning

Diego

¡Hola, my name is Diego and I’m studying mechatronics at TU Darmstadt. I came here from my hometown of Caracas, Venezuela to this metropolis in southern Hessen specifically because of TU Darmstadt's reputation as a top university, and I feel very comfortable here. And I can already say: I can definitely imagine staying on in Darmstadt after I graduate!!

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Portraitfoto Moritz
Picture: Britta Hüning

Moritz

Hey, my name is Moritz and I’m studying Digital Philology at the TU Darmstadt. You can find out here why I chose such a specialty degree programme and why I especially profit from and enjoy working together with other departments. Maybe we’ll run into each other at TU Darmstadt on Campus Stadtmitte or we’ll get to know each other through my work on the faculty’s council and as a member of the university student council. If you see me around, please feel free to say hi!

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