Student and Research Assistants

Are you enrolled at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) or another German university and would like to work as a student or research assistant? We appreciate your interest! Find out everything about the requirements, tasks, your application and the remuneration.

wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte


What are student and research assistants, and what tasks do they undertake?

Student and research assistants work at universities in the areas of research, teaching and administration. They always take on supportive tasks and do not conduct courses themselves.

If you are enrolled but do not yet hold a university degree, you can be employed as a student assistant (SHK). Students with a university degree, such as a bachelor's degree, can work as research assistants (WHK).

The tasks of assistants are diverse and vary depending on the university and department. Many assistants support professors in conducting courses. They take attendance, coordinate office hours or compile literature for students in consultation with the professors.

In research, student and research assistants prepare research results, support in the lab, or collect scientific data.

In university administration, assistants can, for example, support in the library or in IT. They sort returned books, distribute reserved titles or advise students on how to use certain databases.

You can also read about the tasks that student and research assistants can generally perform at HSBI in the guidelines for the employment and remuneration of student and research assistants.

  • Guidelines for student and research assistants

How do I become a student or research assistant?

There are various paths to a job as an assistant. In general, keep your eyes and ears open and feel free to take the initiative – our faculty members appreciate motivated staff..

Option 1: You find out about the position through a newsletter or a bulletin board 

Many faculty members at HSBI look for staff by sending out email newsletters from their respective department. Be sure to also check the bulletin board and Ilias regularly – you might soon come across your job as an assistant this way. 

Option 2: You take the initiative

Are you enthusiastic about working at the university and particularly interested in the focus areas of a specific professor? Feel free to ask directly if there is currently or will be a need for student or research assistants. Our professors and faculty members appreciate your interest. 

Option 3: You are approached

Many professors address engaged students directly in their courses and ask if they are interested in a job as a student or research assistant. So, feel free to demonstrate your interest in a particular subject area or topic through active participation.

Option 4: The position is published on our careers website

Often, faculty members also publish job openings for student and research assistants on our  careers website. Feel free to check there for current vacancies.

Option 5: You contact the departmental administration.

You are not enrolled at HSBI, but you are interested in working with us as an assistant? Feel free to get in touch with the administration of the department where you would like to work. You can find the relevant contacts on our overview page.

What qualifications should I bring?

In general, you should of course be enthusiastic about working in an academic environment. Which specific qualifications are important depends mainly on the position.

As a rule, most student assistants have already been enrolled at the university for several semesters. Some have already chosen their focus areas and want to deepen these through their work as student assistants. Others, on the other hand, work in areas such as the library, which have a more overarching significance for their studies.

Research assistants often take on tasks in teaching as well as in research. Here, it can be helpful to have experience in certain methods or areas. Feel free to ask in the departments or  the faculty members you would like to work with.. 

What is the salary of assistants and how many hours do they work?

Student assistants earn €14.00 per hour (as of January 2025). The salary is determined for all assistants by the university where they are employed. Research assistants earn €15.40 per hour (as of October 2024). Assistants work a minimum of two and a maximum of 17 hours per week.

Can I continue working at the university after my studies?

As a student assistant, you can only work as long as you are enrolled. With a first university degree (e.g., bachelor’s), you can then work as a research assistant. After your university degree (e.g., master’s), you can generally be employed as a research associate. This always depends on whether there is a vacancy in this area.

Are you looking for general information on career orientation and job entry after your studies? At Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI), students and alumni can take advantage of many offerings for career orientation and job entry. This also includes start-up consulting. Find out about your options now!

More information

Would you like to learn more about your career options at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences? You are about to complete your studies and now wish to teach and conduct research at the university? In addition to a position as a research associate, you have other interesting opportunities.

Would you like to find out about HSBI and your benefits as an employee?