Internship in Germany: FAQ

The level of German must be at least Upper Intermediate.

Such an opportunity exists if the language level is no lower than Upper Intermediate. However, it all depends on the internship placement and employer’s conditions.

Yes! For professional internships, it is very important to have sufficient knowledge and skills in the German language and/or English. Participants in the program with a good command of the German language have a better chance of getting a more interesting internship placement.

One of the steps for applying to the Internship in Germany program is a Skype interview with the program sponsor. The interview takes place in an informal manner, on general and simple topics — where you study or which university you graduated from, why you want to go on the program, your hobbies, etc.

After signing the contract, the IEC will charge an enrollment fee of €300 within 7 calendar days. The second part of the program cost is paid within 14 calendar days after the sponsor finds an internship placement and the participant confirms it.

Within the framework of the internship program in Germany, participants travel around the country only on weekends. Therefore, it is advisable to agree with the employer in advance (at least 2 weeks before). They may give more days off or arrange the internship schedule differently.

Currently, internships are offered in the tourism and hospitality sector.

It is necessary. Upon arrival in Germany, participants are recommended to have with them at least 900-1150 euros. Participants may expect expenses for food, accommodation, and public transport.

The optimal arrival date is set by the program sponsor 2-4 weeks before departure. Participants must purchase tickets only after the sponsor sends the arrival dates.

Many employers offer accommodation, but not always for free — the employer may deduct the rental cost from the salary.
Participants’ accommodation is arranged before their arrival in Germany. The sponsor or employer can help in finding accommodation. The approximate cost is 250-450 euros (depending on the employer’s location).

This option is possible but not guaranteed. When applying for the arrangement, you will need to provide the name and surname of the friend you are going with.

Program participants need to be sufficiently “flexible” regarding location — the internship can be in any city in Germany.

The salary is set individually by the employer. Usually, in the first three months, participants receive up to 800 euros a month or a little less. After 3 months, the salary increases to the minimum wage (around 9.19 euros per hour) or a little more.

All work permits will be issued only for one specific employer, so it will not be possible to intern with two employers.

Usually, salaries are paid at the beginning of the month. That is, participants receive their first salary at the beginning of the second working month.

Most employers pay salaries to a credit card, but opening a bank account in Germany for program participants is quite challenging. There is no need to worry — the IEC office will provide information on how to proceed in this situation.

The employer pays taxes for employees, which are deducted from their salary. These taxes can be refunded the following year.