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Professional Orientation and Career
  • If possible, concentrate on your studies during the first semester and start a student job once you have a better orientation at university!
  • Ideally, work longer hours during the semester break and no more than 15 hours per week during the semester!
  • Preferably, look for student jobs and internships that somehow relate to your course contents or complement your studies!
  • Find out about residence requirements when looking for jobs or internship!
  • Well-structured application documets that meet formal standards are very important. Applications and CVs might look different in Germany than the application documents in your home country.
  • Do not be afraid to apply for a job!
  • Carry out internships in different areas in order to get to know different companies and fields of work!
  • Look for study-related student jobs in order to attain relevant skills and practical experience!
  • Engage in social activites in order to show commitment, acquire skills and create a social network!
  • Acquire interdisciplinary skills and knowledge from other fields of study!
  • Create professional networks - read more in our guide!
  • Take advantage of networking opportunities with professionals (Job-Shadowing, Goethe Alumni international)!

Professional orientation - Offers of the Career Service

Online self-study courses for professional orientation for students in DSH courses and international students 

The e-Career-Service offers students of Goethe University various digital information on career planning, internships, applying for jobs, job search and profissional orientation.

Career opportunities after graduating

You successfully completed your studies or are about to graduate soon and you are aiming for a career in Germany afterwards? If so, we have listed imprtant contacts in addition to the Career Service of the Goethe-University.

It is important that you clarify your residence status at the end fo your studies. If you would like to remain in Germany to look for a job, please contact the Ausländerbehörde.

If you would like to find out more about the German labour market and its requirements and special features just have a look at the website of the Ausländerbehörde. You will find a lot of information about current trends and developments there.

The Career Service offers information events on finding a job after graduating in cooperation with the Ausländerbehörde on regular basis. Please check out the programme  here.

Ausländerbehörde

Please contact your local Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) for information on the legal conditions for finding a job after graduating!

Arbeitsagentur / Employment Agency

The Federal Employment Agency is the first governmental contact point for all jobseekers in Germany. It offers numerous services and provides advice on finding a job.

Perhaps you are not aiming for a career in Germany, but you would like to return to your home country and apply the knowledge you have gained at Goethe University there. Various organisations can help you to prepare your return and find a job in your home country. These organisations usually pursue development policy goals, so their programmes are usually limited to nationals from certain countries living in Germany

Diaspora2030

Diaspora2030 is the German development cooperation website for people with a migration history in Germany who are committed to sustainable development.

World University Service

The World University Service advises international students on starting a career and returning to their home country. Within this context, the WUS offers reintegration seminars and has a broad returnee network at its disposal.

Brot für die Welt

"With its reintegration programme, Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) supports highly trained professionals from Africa, Asia and Latin America who are returning to their home countries."

Anyone who intends to do a doctorate in Germany should inform themselves well about the requirements and opportunities. There are no uniform regulations on how a doctorate is completed and financed in Germany.

General information on doing a doctorate in Germany are available on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service and at "Research in Germany". 


Information for doctoral studies at Goethe University are available on the websides for  doctoral studies and at the Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers GRADE. GRADE offers workshops and additional services ranging from general information on doctoral studies to the final stage of a doctoral thesis and the post-doc phase.