How many hours can international students work in Europe? Part-time employment rules by country in 2026

Every European country allows international students to work part-time. No European country allows them to work enough to fully fund their degree. Understanding that distinction — and the specific rules that govern student employment in each destination — is essential to realistic financial planning.

Here is the part-time work framework for every major European study destination in 2026.

Germany: 140 full days or 280 half days

Germany takes an unusual approach: instead of a weekly hour limit, it caps student work by days per year.

The rule: International students from non-EU countries can work 140 full days (more than four hours per day) or 280 half days (up to four hours per day) per calendar year. Weekend and evening work counts toward the limit. University employment — research assistantships, tutoring, library work — is exempt from these limits and can be done without restriction.

Minimum wage: €12.82 per hour in 2026. A student working the maximum 140 full days at 8 hours per day earns approximately €14,360 per year before taxes. A student working 20 half-days per month at 4 hours each earns approximately €1,025 per month.

Tax treatment: Students earning below the basic tax-free allowance of €11,604 per year (2026 figure) pay no income tax. Above that threshold, progressive rates apply. Students can also work in a Minijob — earning up to €556 per month — which is exempt from income tax and most social security contributions. Minijob earnings do not count toward the 140/280 day limit in the same way as regular employment, but the legal framework is complex — check with the university’s international office before combining a Minijob with other employment.

Impact on post-study options: Any legal employment during studies contributes to building a professional network, German language skills, and a CV that appeals to German employers — all of which materially improve post-graduation job prospects. Student employment does not count toward the permanent residence timeline unless it transitions to full-time qualified employment after graduation.

Netherlands: 16 hours per week

The Netherlands has a simple weekly cap with a binary choice that affects health insurance.

The rule: Non-EU students can work up to 16 hours per week. During the summer months of June, July, and August, they can work full-time. They can also choose — but not alternate week to week — between working full-time only during the summer months or working 16 hours per week year-round.

The health insurance trigger: The moment a student takes any paid employment in the Netherlands, they lose the student exemption from Dutch public health insurance and must enrol in the national system at approximately €140 to €150 per month. This effectively functions as a tax on student employment — a student working 16 hours per week at the minimum wage of approximately €10 per hour earns about €640 per month, of which approximately €150 goes to health insurance. Net earnings after insurance: about €490 per month.

Work permit requirement: The employer must apply for a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning, TWV) on the student’s behalf. This is typically a formality for student employment within the 16-hour limit, but it adds one to two weeks of processing time and must be completed before the student starts working.

Minimum wage: The Dutch minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over is approximately €10 per hour in 2026. Workers under 21 are subject to a reduced youth minimum wage that can be as low as €4 per hour for 18-year-olds — a detail that disproportionately affects bachelor’s students.

Sweden: no fixed hour limit

Sweden is the most permissive European country on student work hours.

The rule: There is no statutory limit on the number of hours an international student can work. The only requirement is that the student makes satisfactory progress in their studies — if a student fails courses or falls behind, the university can report this to the Migration Agency, and the residence permit may be reviewed.

Work rights: Full. Students can work in any job, for any employer, without a separate work permit.

Minimum wage: Sweden does not have a statutory minimum wage. Wages are set by collective bargaining agreements between unions and employers. In practice, entry-level part-time jobs — retail, food service, delivery — pay approximately SEK 130 to 150 per hour (€12 to €13). University-affiliated jobs pay higher.

Tax treatment: Students are taxed on their income. The basic personal allowance and the standard deduction for employment income mean that students earning below approximately SEK 20,000 (€1,750) per year pay no income tax. Most student workers exceed this threshold and pay municipal tax at approximately 30 to 35 percent on income above the allowance.

France: 964 hours per year — 60 percent of the full-time annual working time

France translates its work limit into an annual hour cap.

The rule: International students with a valid residence permit (VLS-TS, visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) can work up to 964 hours per year — the equivalent of 60 percent of the full-time annual working time in France. This averages to approximately 20 hours per week over a 48-week year.

Minimum wage: The French gross minimum wage (SMIC) is €11.88 per hour in 2026. A student working the maximum 964 hours earns approximately €11,450 per year before social contributions. Net earnings after mandatory social security contributions are approximately €9,000 to €9,500 per year.

Tax treatment: Student earnings below approximately €11,300 per year are exempt from income tax. Social security contributions are still deducted from gross pay.

University employment: Student jobs at French universities — tutoring, administrative support, campus services — are common and offer more flexibility around exam periods. They are typically compensated at or slightly above SMIC.

Ireland: 20 hours during term, 40 hours during holidays

Ireland’s rules are the simplest in Europe.

The rule: Non-EU students with a Stamp 2 residence permission can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during standard holiday periods — June through September, and from 15 December to 15 January.

Minimum wage: Ireland’s national minimum wage is €12.70 per hour in 2026. A student working 20 hours per week during a 40-week academic year and 40 hours per week during a 12-week holiday period earns approximately €18,800 before taxes.

Tax treatment: Ireland’s income tax system applies. The first €18,000 of income is taxed at 20 percent, with tax credits — the personal tax credit (€1,875) and the employee tax credit (€1,875) — reducing the effective tax burden. Most student workers pay minimal income tax and some USC (Universal Social Charge) on earnings.

Practical note: The Irish student job market is active and English-speaking, which makes it one of the most accessible in Europe for international students. Dublin’s high cost of living means that many international students work the maximum permitted hours out of necessity, not choice.

Italy: 20 hours per week, 1,040 hours per year

Italy sets both a weekly and an annual cap.

The rule: International students can work up to 20 hours per week and up to 1,040 hours per year. The annual cap is the binding constraint — a student who works 20 hours every week would reach the limit in 52 weeks, leaving no room for holiday or exam period variations.

Work permit: The employer must notify the local immigration office (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione) of the student’s employment. This is an administrative requirement, not a discretionary approval — if the student is within the hour limit and has a valid residence permit, the notification is processed routinely.

Minimum wage: Italy does not have a statutory national minimum wage. Wages are set by sector-level collective agreements. Student jobs in food service, retail, and hospitality typically pay €7 to €10 per hour. University-affiliated jobs — research assistantships, tutoring — may pay more.

Tax treatment: Student income is subject to Italian income tax (IRPEF). The no-tax area (no tax area) for employees is approximately €8,174 per year — income below this threshold is not taxed. Most student workers fall below this threshold.

Finland: 30 hours per week during term — extended in 2022

Finland expanded student work rights in 2022 and has maintained the expanded limits.

The rule: International students can work up to 30 hours per week, averaged over the calendar year, in any field. During holiday periods, there is no hour limit. The 30-hour average allows students to work more during less intensive academic periods and less during exam weeks, as long as the annual average does not exceed 30 hours.

Practical reality: The 30-hour limit is generous — higher than any other European country except Sweden (which has no limit). Combined with Finland’s low monthly living cost requirement of €560 for the residence permit, a student working even 15 hours per week at the typical student job rate of €10 to €12 per hour can cover a substantial portion of monthly living expenses.

Spain: 20 hours per week — with a work permit requirement

Spain’s student work rules include a bureaucratic step that other countries do not.

The rule: International students can work up to 20 hours per week, but the employer must obtain a work permit on the student’s behalf. This is not automatic — the employer must demonstrate that the job is compatible with the student’s study schedule and that the student is meeting academic requirements.

The practical bottleneck: The work permit requirement deters many Spanish employers from hiring international students, particularly in the informal sectors — food service, retail, hospitality — where student employment is most common. The result is a disconnect between the legal allowance (20 hours per week) and the practical availability of student jobs for non-EU students.

Minimum wage: Spain’s minimum wage (SMI) is €1,134 per month for full-time work in 2026, equivalent to approximately €7.50 per hour for a 37.5-hour work week.

What these rules mean in practice

The part-time work equation for international students across Europe resolves to a consistent pattern: student employment can cover part of living expenses, but it cannot cover tuition. The arithmetic is straightforward:

• Germany: A student working the maximum allowable days at minimum wage earns approximately €14,000 before taxes. Annual living costs are approximately €13,000. Theoretically, a student could cover living costs through work alone — but working the maximum allowable days leaves minimal time for study.
• Netherlands: A student working the maximum 16 hours per week at minimum wage earns approximately €8,000 per year. After mandatory health insurance (€1,800), net earnings are approximately €6,200. Annual living costs are approximately €14,000. Work covers less than half.
• Sweden: A student working 20 hours per week at the typical student job rate of SEK 140 per hour earns approximately SEK 135,000 (€12,000) per year. Annual living costs in Stockholm are approximately SEK 120,000 (€10,700). Work can cover living expenses.
• Ireland: A student working the maximum hours earns approximately €18,800 before taxes. Living costs in Dublin are approximately €15,000 to €18,000. A diligent worker can cover living expenses, but Dublin rent makes it tight.

The countries where student work can realistically cover the bulk of living expenses — Sweden, Ireland, Germany — are also the countries where student jobs are most accessible and where wages relative to living costs are most favourable. The countries where the formal rules are strict — Spain, Italy — are also the countries where practical job availability is lowest.

Every student should budget as if they will earn nothing from part-time work and treat any employment income as a buffer, not a funding source. The students who arrive expecting to work their way through a degree are the ones most likely to face financial stress in the first semester.

Source notes

Work hour limits, minimum wage rates, and tax thresholds are from the 2026 publications of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), the Swedish Migration Agency and Swedish Tax Agency, the French Ministry of Labour, the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), and the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. Minimum wage rates reflect 2026 adjustments where published and 2025 rates where 2026 figures were not yet available at the time of writing.