Students - Internships and Working Student Positions at DEG

Our internships and student contracts are based on needs within the company and applicant demand. Possible placements include the Corporate Management, Programme Financing and Risk Management departments, as well as country-specific departments. You can view job advertisements in our current vacancies.

We offer internships at our Cologne office, and depending on capacity, also at DEG's representative offices. If you are interested in an internship at one of our representative offices, please send your application directly to the specific representative office.

Internships at DEG last a minimum of five months and a maximum of six months.

You have ideally passed three semesters of a degree course in business administration, economics, politics, business mathematics or a similar subject that is relevant to the internship or student placement. We are also interested in your personal qualities.

• You are enrolled in a full-time degree programme at an officially recognised university and have not yet taken your final exams.
• Students may not suspend their studies when in a student employee role at DEG.
• Interns may suspend their studies in exceptional cases only and with an explanation provided by the university – such as the internship falling in the same semester as a mandatory period abroad.

DEG does not generally stipulate fixed dates to begin internships and student jobs. If you have a particular date in mind, you should send in your application at least two to three months in advance of such date. Please be aware that you are only eligible to work while still enrolled as a student and before your final exams (or submission of your dissertation/thesis).

• Cover letter
• CV
• Letters of reference
• Certificate of enrolment

Please make sure that the documents you submit are complete and relevant.

You must have advanced English skills as DEG operates around the world in developing and emerging market countries. Depending on the department of your placement, a second foreign language such as French or Spanish may also be required.

The requirements of your degree programme will determine whether or not an internship at DEG qualifies as a mandatory internship. Before signing a contract with us, you must therefore provide confirmation from your university that the entire internship at DEG will be recognised as a mandatory internship in accordance with the applicable examination rules. Only when we receive such confirmation can you be exempted from the obligation to pay social security contributions. Please note that you will not be eligible for exemption if you suspend your studies for the duration of your internship.

You are required to pay social security contributions in the case of voluntary internships undertaken entirely or partially during a semester. In the case of internships that take place exclusively during holidays, you will be required to pay pension contributions only.

You will work a maximum of 20 hours a week during a semester, but can work up to 38 hours per week during the holidays. Contracts are offered for a maximum of two years and are subject to the German Act on Part-Time and Temporary Work (Teilzeitbefristungsgesetz, TzBfG).