For students and graduates
Internships, traineeships and work
for students in the cross-border region.
Werkstudent, Praktikum, internship, doctorate — Brandenburg and the Lubuskie region are full of opportunities for students. Collegium Polonicum, Europa-Universität Viadrina, IHP — all within reach.
🗺️ What can you do as a student?
4 paths — from pocket money to a research career
POPULAR
Werkstudent
Work up to 20 hrs/week alongside your studies at a German company. Reduced social contributions.
Earnings
14–20€ /h
Praktikum
Student internship — mandatory or voluntary. The mandatory one is exempt from the Mindestlohn (minimum wage).
Earnings
0–13,90€ /h
🔬
Research internship / HiWi
Research assistant at a research institute. Great for your CV.
Earnings
14–17€ /h
TOP EARNINGS
Doktorat / PhD
Doctoral position (e.g. IHP). Full insurance, employment contract.
Earnings
2200–3500€ /mo.
As an EU citizen you have the full right to work in Germany — no visa, no permit. You need an ID card, a German tax ID (Steuer-ID) and a bank account. Working as a Werkstudent alongside your studies is a legal way to earn 1,200–1,700 € a month.
🏛️ Universities and institutes in the region
Universities and institutes on both sides of the border
🏛️
Europa-Universität Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder) | 🇩🇪
A German-Polish university with a strong focus on law, economics and cultural studies. Bilingual programmes; Polish students are one of the largest groups. It offers Werkstudent positions and internships in administration, think tanks and regional companies.
🇵🇱
Collegium Polonicum
Słubice | 🇵🇱🇩🇪
A joint unit of Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań and the Viadrina — literally on the border. Polish-German degree programmes, conferences and research projects. An ideal place to build a network of contacts in both countries.
🔬
IHP — Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik
Frankfurt (Oder) | 🇩🇪 | Science + Industry
A world-class research institute — microelectronics, semiconductors, quantum technologies. It regularly seeks students for internships, doctoral candidates and post-docs. Pay at the TV-L level (2200–3500 € gross). Publications, patents, an international team.
PhD
Post-Doc
Research internship
HiWi
Other universities within reach
— UAM Poznań — Adam Mickiewicz University (~170 km)
— UZ Zielona Góra — University of Zielona Góra (~110 km)
— BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg — Brandenburg University of Technology (~85 km)
— TH Wildau — Technische Hochschule (~80 km from FFO)
— UZ Zielona Góra — University of Zielona Góra (~110 km)
— BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg — Brandenburg University of Technology (~85 km)
— TH Wildau — Technische Hochschule (~80 km from FFO)
💰 How much will you earn as a student?
Real figures — Poland vs Germany
🇵🇱 POLSKA
Student work in Poland
University internship
Often 0 PLN
Contract / casual work
31,40–40 PLN /h
Internship (if paid)
2000-3500 PLN /mo.
🇩🇪 NIEMCY
Student work in Germany
Mini-Job (up to 603 €)
603€ /mo.
Werkstudent (20 hrs/week)
1200-1700€ /mo.
Doctorate (TV-L E13)
2200-3500€ /mo.
Approximate gross amounts. Calculate net in the calculator →
💼 Student offers
Internships, Werkstudent, traineeships, PhD
🇩🇪
Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem
Werkstudent (m/w/d) für Englischtraining im Personalbereich, Thiemstrasse 111
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Deutsches Institut für Zell- und Gewebeersatz gGmbH
Praktika / Studenten (m/w/d) in der Forschung und Entwicklung / Sommer-Semester
Berlin
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem
Studentischer Mitarbeiter (m/w/d) an der Professur für Versorgungsforschung mit..., Thiemstrasse 111
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem
Werkstudent (m/w/d) Personalmarketing / Recruiting, Thiemstrasse 111
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
Werkstudent Videoproduktion (m/w/d), Cottbus
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
Werkstudent (m/w/d) Bauingenieurwesen / Verkehrsinfrastruktur - Planung, Bau & Erhaltung
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Bonava Deutschland Gmbh
Dualer Student (m/w/d) Bauingenieurwesen an der HWR in Berlin
Fürstenwalde/Spree
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Bonava Deutschland Gmbh
Dualer Student (m/w/d) BWL/Immobilienwirtschaft an der HWR in Berlin
Fürstenwalde/Spree
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes Niederlassung Nordost Stolpe
Werkstudent (m/w/d) Bauingenieurwesen / Verkehrsinfrastruktur - Planung, Bau & Erhaltung
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇩🇪
Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG
Werkstudent Rechnungswesen (m/w/d), Cottbus
Cottbus
🇩🇪 Bundesagentur für Arbeit
🇵🇱
contact via the job centre (PUP)
staż /EFS+/- Fryzjer męski (barber) (kobieta/mężczyzna)
Gorzów Wielkopolski
🇵🇱 CBOP (Polish job centre)
🇵🇱
contact via the job centre (PUP)
staż /EFS+/-Księgowy (kobieta/mężczyzna)
Gorzów Wielkopolski
🇵🇱 CBOP (Polish job centre)
Looking for vocational training (Ausbildung)?
Vocational training (Ausbildung) →📝 Practical tips
How do I find a Werkstudent position?
Search on DuoRegio, StepStone.de, Indeed.de, LinkedIn — filter by "Werkstudent" + city. Many companies in Frankfurt (Oder) and the surrounding area are looking for students with Polish/German. You can also write directly to companies in our catalogue — even if they have no listing, they may create a position.
Werkstudent — how much can I work?
During the semester: max. 20 hrs/week. During the holidays (vorlesungsfreie Zeit): full-time for up to 3 months. Contributions: pension insurance only (~9.3%). No health insurance contributions (you keep your student KV), no Arbeitslosenversicherung. This is far more advantageous than a Mini-Job.
Can I live in Poland and work in Germany?
Yes — as an EU citizen you have the full right. Only the Oder bridge separates Słubice and Frankfurt (Oder). Many Collegium Polonicum students work on the other side. Important: if you work in Germany, you pay your taxes in Germany (Finanzamt Frankfurt (Oder)). A residential address in Poland is fine.
What is an internship at IHP like?
IHP (Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik) in Frankfurt (Oder) is a world-class research institute. It regularly posts openings for students (HiWi), interns and doctoral candidates. Topics: semiconductors, 5G/6G, quantum sensors, AI in electronics. You apply via their website or directly to the research groups. Pay at the TV-L level.
I don’t speak German well — is it still possible?
Polish is spoken at many companies in the region — especially in the service sectors. IHP and the universities often work in English. For Werkstudent positions you usually need German at B1/B2 level. For research internships, English is enough. Check the requirements in each listing.
Does DuoRegio charge any fees?
No. Browsing offers and applying is completely free.
🇵🇱 Opportunities on the Polish side
You don’t have to go to Germany — Lubuskie region has offers too
🏭
Polish companies near the border
Słubice, Gorzów, Zielona Góra, Nowa Sól — manufacturing, logistics and IT companies are looking for staff. German skills are your asset — many employers serve customers from Germany.
Employment contract — what’s worth knowing
National minimum wage 2026: 4,666 PLN gross (~3,400 net). Students under 26 pay no income tax (zero-rate relief up to 85,528 PLN/year). Contributions are lower on a contract of mandate.
Calculate net →
Cross-border work
You can live in Poland and work in Germany (or vice versa). Important: you pay taxes in the country where you work. The DuoRegio calculator works out your net pay in both countries — compare which is more worthwhile.
Where to look in Poland?
— DuoRegio — offers from both sides of the border
— PUP Słubice/Gorzów — Employment Office, subsidised internships
— UAM/UZ Career Office — offers for students
— Lubuskie Marshal’s Office — cross-border programmes
— PUP Słubice/Gorzów — Employment Office, subsidised internships
— UAM/UZ Career Office — offers for students
— Lubuskie Marshal’s Office — cross-border programmes
Your career starts here.
Browse offers, use the calculator or write to us — we’ll help you find the perfect position.