Will I still have health insurance after graduation?
In any case, please contact your health insurance company to clarify how your membership will continue.
a) Students with statutory health insurance
You can continue to be insured voluntarily. The contribution for voluntary insurance is generally calculated from the actual income. If your gross income is up to 1096.67 euros, the minimum monthly contribution is approximately 201 euros. If you earn more than 450 euros during this period and are employed for more than two months, health insurance may be covered by your employer. During the job search, it may also be possible for non-employed EU citizens to be insured in their home country - for example, through their parents.
b) Privately insured students
Privately insured students have exempted themselves from compulsory health insurance or are foreign students who did not start their studies until after their 30th birthday. You must clarify the continued insurance directly with the private insurance company. Statutory insurance is only possible if you start working after graduation. Your earnings must then be at least 451 euros per month. The contributions are calculated from the salary.
What do I have to consider for the residence permit?
As a non-EU citizen, you can apply for a residence permit to look for a job for a period of 18 months after successfully completing your studies. After these 18 months, you must prove that you have found a job that corresponds to your degree or qualification.
Please note: The 18-month period begins with the written notification that you have passed your last examination.
If you are resident in Stuttgart, make an appointment with the Foreigners' Registration Office by e-mail.
Please bring the following documents with you to this appointment:
- Passport
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof that you are able to support yourself
- Proof of successful completion of your studies
If you have permission to look for a job, you may pursue any gainful employment without restriction, including internships and trainee positions. During these 18 months, you can also work on a self-employed or freelance basis. Please note that the residence permit expires if you stay abroad for longer than six months. Students from EU countries can take up any employment without consulting the immigration authorities.
More information:
How is the job search and application process going?
If you have any questions about applying for a job, looking for a job or registering as unemployed, please contact the "Academic Professions" team at the Stuttgart Employment Agency. Here you will receive advice on these topics during and after your studies.
In Stuttgart, you can arrange a consultation appointment at:
Federal Employment Agency
Stuttgart Employment Agency
Academic Professions Team
Nordbahnhofstr 30-34
70191 Stuttgart
Tel: 0800 4 5555 00 (free of charge)
E-mail: stuttgart.172-beratungarbeitsagenturde
Further online services relating to work, careers, applications and the job market can be found at
www.arbeitsagentur.de (opens in a new tab)
I want to start my own business - who can advise me?
Anyone who wants to set up their own business needs not only innovative ideas, staying power and secure financing, but one thing above all: good advice. The business development department of the state capital Stuttgart (opens in a new tab)and its partners advise prospective company founders on all aspects of setting up a business.
Where can I improve my German for the job?
In most companies, the working language is German. This means that good written and spoken German is required on the job. German language skills are not only important for your everyday and professional life, but also to participate in social life. In addition to the many opportunities to learn German during your studies, there is also the possibility to attend job-related German courses after graduation.
Where can I live after graduation?
Once you have completed your studies, you may also no longer live in the student dormitory. The maximum period of residence in the student dormitories is 36 months. In justified cases, an exception of a few months can be made. For example, if you still have to finish your thesis.
Finding apartments on the private market in Stuttgart is not easy. Private offers for rooms can usually be found on the notice boards in the university buildings as well as in the Studierendenwerke.
Classified ads for shared apartments as well as private single apartments and rooms can be found in local newspapers as well as on the Internet on real estate portals. Living in a shared apartment, a so-called WG, is popular among students. Here, several students share an apartment, each having their own room.
