Career Guide

Dear international students, graduates and doctoral students,

Around 70% of international students plan to stay in Germany once they have finished their degree.

The German job market offers many opportunities for well-qualified international graduates like you. As a business and science hub, the Bonn / Rhein-Sieg district is constantly endeavouring to become still more attractive for international graduates and doctoral students; as a home to small, medium-sized and globally active companies, it offers excellent career opportunities.

Despite the numerous possibilities open to them, international students and graduates often find themselves facing various challenges when planning or starting a career in Germany. There is for  example a lack of experience and a shortage of networks which could make starting work for a German company easier. Questions relating to residence permits, insurance and opportunities for family members are also vitally important.

This guide was created for students and doctoral candidates and provides information about the services you can make use of when you are starting out on a career as well as the opportunities available to you after you graduate. It will also help you orient yourself when planning your career.

The following pages contain tips and links to institutions and services that can help students plan their careers in Germany. You will also find helpful sources and important information about tax and immigration legislation in Germany along with valuable information about looking for a job, the application process, residence permits, starting doctoral studies and setting up a company.