German YearGuide for GJU students
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Practical training & internship hub

One semester of study.
One semester of work.

Every GJU German Year has an academic semester and an internship semester. Find companies near your campus, plan your applications and catch the right career fairs.

Browse 124 employers

Working days per year

Limited

Non-EU students have a yearly cap on working days outside the mandatory internship.

Minimum wage

Set by law

Applies to voluntary jobs and changes regularly; mandatory internships can be unpaid.

Minijob

Monthly cap

Simple jobs have a monthly income cap that is mostly tax-free.

Mandatory internship

Usually exempt

A Pflichtpraktikum usually does not use up your allowed working days.

Timeline

How to land your internship

Start in your first month in Germany. Treat the search like a course you take alongside your semester.
  1. 01Month 1

    Get your documents ready

    A German-style CV (Lebenslauf, 1–2 pages, with a photo and dates), a one-page cover letter (Anschreiben) for each company, your GJU transcript in English or German, and the GJU letter confirming the internship is mandatory.

  2. 02Months 1–2

    Search and shortlist

    Search "Pflichtpraktikum" plus your field and city on StepStone, Indeed, LinkedIn and company career pages. Mid-sized firms near your campus reply more often than big brands.

  3. 03Months 2–4

    Apply widely

    Send 30–60 tailored applications. Companies often plan 3–6 months ahead. Use the company fairs to talk to recruiters in person.

  4. 04Interviews

    Prepare in German and English

    Expect a phone or video interview, sometimes a technical test. Explain clearly that the internship is mandatory for your degree and give exact dates.

  5. 05Offer

    Get GJU approval first

    Send the offer to GJU for approval before you sign. Check working hours, pay, the start date and the location.

  6. 06Before you start

    Sort the paperwork

    Check your residence permit wording, give notice on your room if you move, de-register (Abmeldung), and register in the new city within the legal deadline days.

Employers by region

Companies in Bavaria

Large employers that take interns in engineering, business and computer science. Click a company to search its current internship openings.

BMW Group

Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg

Car development (FIZ Munich) and plants near Landshut and Regensburg.

Engineering

AUDI

Ingolstadt

Headquarters and main plant, next to TH Ingolstadt.

Engineering

Siemens

Munich, Erlangen, Amberg

The Amberg electronics plant is a showcase smart factory.

Engineering

Schaeffler

Herzogenaurach

Bearings, e-mobility and industrial drives.

Engineering

Continental

Regensburg

Automotive electronics and software.

Engineering

Krones

Neutraubling (Regensburg)

Filling and packaging machines.

Engineering

ZF & SKF

Schweinfurt

Drivetrain and bearing plants next to THWS Schweinfurt.

Engineering

Brose

Coburg

Automotive mechatronics supplier.

Engineering

adidas & PUMA

Herzogenaurach

Global sports brands: marketing, sourcing, digital.

Business

Allianz & Munich Re

Munich

Insurance, finance and risk.

Business

Siemens Healthineers

Erlangen

Medical technology, with business and engineering roles.

Business

Infineon

Neubiberg (Munich), Regensburg

Semiconductors, embedded software and chip design.

Computer Science

DATEV

Nuremberg

Software for tax advisers and accounting.

Computer Science

Celonis

Munich

Process-mining software.

Computer Science

Rohde & Schwarz

Munich

Test equipment, secure communications and software.

Computer Science

Companies confirmed by the GJU German Year office or past students get a green “Hosted GJU interns” badge and move to the top. Mid-sized local firms near your campus are often easier to get into than big brands.

More about Bavaria

Career fairs

Where to meet recruiters in Bavaria

Dates change every year. Each card opens a search for the next date.

Tips

Applying in Germany

  • Write "Pflichtpraktikum im Rahmen meines Studiums" (mandatory internship as part of my degree) in your subject line. Mandatory internships are easier for companies to offer.
  • German companies read CVs closely: no gaps, exact months, and a short skills section with your German level (e.g. "Deutsch – B2").
  • A simple, professional photo is still common on German CVs.
  • Tailor each cover letter to the company. Name the department and say why its products matter to you.
  • Follow up politely after 1–2 weeks if you hear nothing.
  • Ask GJU students from previous years where they did their internships. Companies that took a GJU student before are often happy to take another.
  • Pay: mandatory internships may be unpaid by law, but many engineering and IT companies pay a monthly stipend. Ask about it in the interview.

Search

Job portals

StepStoneGermany's biggest job portalIndeedSearch "Pflichtpraktikum"LinkedIn JobsGood for English-speaking teamsXING JobsGerman professional networkPraktikum.infoInternship-only listingsMake it in GermanyOfficial portal for working in Germany

Watch

How other international students did it

Before you sign anything. Get the internship approved by GJU first, check that your residence permit allows it, and keep a copy of the contract. A mandatory internship (Pflichtpraktikum) does not count toward your 140 working days.