Internship Tips for Bachelor's Degrees in Germany 2026: A Career Guide

A bachelor's internship (Praktikum) in Germany is 1-3 months of paid work experience and the key to a job guarantee. Short answer: interns find a job 30% faster than non-interns (time to find a job of 2 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks), the internship salary is around €1,500-2,500 a month, and 30% of internship companies make a direct job offer. In this guide you will find the importance of internships in Germany, internship options by degree, the internship search process, the top internship companies, salary, networking and the internship → job transition — all based on the experience-based tips of real students (Edurs) doing an internship in Germany with Toedur.

The Importance of Internships: The Gateway to a Job in Germany

In Germany, an internship is not just experience but a gateway to a job. Most companies prefer an intern before hiring a permanent employee — because an intern = a test worker = low risk.

The Benefits of an Internship:

• ✅ Gaining work experience
• ✅ Getting to know the company (culture, team)
• ✅ Networking (mentorship, references)
• ✅ Building a portfolio (projects, achievements)
• ✅ The chance to get a job offer (30%)
• ✅ Strengthening your CV

An observation from a Toedur Edur doing a software internship in Berlin:

If I had applied for jobs directly without an internship, I would probably still be sending out CVs now. But during the internship I completed 5 projects in 3 months, my mentor got to know me and became a reference for me. At the end of the internship they said, "would you like to make this position permanent?" An internship = a job-guarantee ticket.

Types of Internship: Mandatory vs. Optional

In Germany, an internship is mandatory or optional depending on the degree.

Degrees with a Mandatory Internship:

• Engineering (most 1-3 months)
• Construction (2-3 months)
• Teaching (Praktikum = mandatory)
• Social Work (3-6 months)
• Tourism (1-2 months)

Degrees with an Optional Internship (recommended):

• Computer Science (internship = +30% job-finding speed)
• Business (internship = +20% salary)
• Marketing (internship = portfolio)
• Media (internship = news value)
• Economics (internship = network)

Even when optional, doing an internship is strongly recommended. A Computer Science graduate who did an internship = a guaranteed job. One who didn't = a long CV but a hard job search.

Internship Tips by Degree: Where to Intern

The choice of internship affects your career. Each degree's internship strategy is different.

The Internship Search Process: From Application to Start

Finding an internship is easier than usual but still strategic.

Steps to Find an Internship:

• Choose a Field (1-2 weeks): Decide on your internship field (tech, automotive, finance); identify your top 5-10 companies
• Prepare Your CV & Motivation (1-2 weeks): Write your CV in German (internship-focused); prepare a motivation letter (why this company, why you)
• Apply (1 month): Look for the application portal on company websites; apply to 10-20 companies; check LinkedIn, Indeed and stepstone.de
• Interviews (1-2 months): Phone call (German test); in-person interview (technical test + personality)
• Acceptance & Start (1-2 weeks): Sign the contract; set the start date

Total Time: 3-4 months (from application to start).

Top Internship Companies: The Best by Degree

Which companies should you intern at? Large companies = good mentorship + network + a job offer.

Internship Salary: The Monthly Budget

An internship salary means earning money while gaining work experience.

A 3-month internship = €3,000-6,000 in earnings (gross). This is enough for housing and food.

Networking During the Internship: The Gateway to a Job

An internship is done not just for the salary but for the network. If you build good relationships during the internship, you can get a job offer or a reference.

Networking Strategy:

• Find a Mentor: At the start of the internship, choose a senior as a mentor; a coffee/chat once a week (30 minutes); ask questions, learn, leave an impression
• Project Success: Finish assigned projects on time; make them high-quality with few errors; write the results report well
• Social: Attend office events; chat with employees; connect on LinkedIn
• CV & Content: Share your projects on LinkedIn; share code on GitHub; get to know people who can be references
• End of the Internship: Ask your mentor for a reference letter; ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn; make a connection for the future

An experience from a Toedur Edur doing a software internship in Berlin:

During the internship my mentor was very helpful — a chat once a week, reviewed my projects, answered my technical questions. At the end of the internship he said, "my company wants to make you permanent." But another company was also interested, because they had his reference. Network = job.

Checklist: Finding an Internship and Succeeding

Steps to find an internship and succeed in it:

PREPARATION (4-6 MONTHS BEFORE):

• I identified my internship field (tech, automotive, finance)
• I identified my top 10 companies
• I prepared my CV in German (internship-focused)
• I drafted my motivation letter
• I opened a LinkedIn profile
• I prepared a GitHub/portfolio

APPLICATION (3-4 MONTHS BEFORE):

• I found the application portals on company websites
• I applied to 15-20 companies
• I searched on Indeed and stepstone.de
• I set up an application tracking system

INTERVIEWS (1-2 MONTHS LATER):

• I attended phone interviews
• I prepared for technical questions
• I attended in-person interviews
• I received feedback (acceptance/rejection)

INTERNSHIP START:

• I signed the contract
• I made a housing/moving plan
• I attended the onboarding/safety training
• I did the office tour
• I met my mentor

DURING THE INTERNSHIP (1-3 MONTHS):

• I started the assigned projects
• I started the mentorship process
• I made updates on LinkedIn
• I prepared the results report
• I asked for a reference letter

END OF THE INTERNSHIP:

• I gave feedback to the company
• I evaluated the job offer (if any)
• I collected the references
• I planned my next step after the internship

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: An Internship = The Secret to a Job Guarantee

In Germany, a career starts with an internship. A graduate who did an internship = a guaranteed job. One who didn't = a strong CV but tough competition.

Internship Advice:

• Computer Science: Internship (effectively) MANDATORY. Prefer a tech company.
• Engineering: Internship MANDATORY. Prefer automotive.
• Medicine: Internship MANDATORY. Prefer a clinic.
• Business: Internship RECOMMENDED. Prefer consulting.
• Marketing: Internship RECOMMENDED. Prefer a digital agency.
• Media: Internship RECOMMENDED. Prefer news.

If you do an internship, a job is close to guaranteed. If you don't, even a strong CV makes finding a job harder.

An experience from a Toedur Edur doing an automotive internship in Stuttgart:

During the internship I worked at Daimler for 3 months and did an engine design project. At the end of the internship the company said, "would you like to become permanent?" The salary was high and the mentorship was good. I couldn't have found a job without an internship, because there are so many graduates without experience.

Verified by Edurs

Our Toedur Edurs have done internships and found jobs in Germany. If you want consultancy on finding an internship, succeeding during the internship, networking and the job transition, you can review Toedur's internship consultancy.