The hourly wage for student employees at Freie Universität Berlin is set to increase from January 1, 2026. The university management has decided that the hourly rate for all student employees will be raised to 15.08 euros. 

This voluntary increase of 5.3 percent from 14.32 euros to 15.08 euros takes the Collective Agreement for Student Employees from July 17, 2024, as its legal basis. This has been put in place in anticipation of further collective wage negotiations for the TV Stud. III-KAV collective bargaining agreement in 2026. The amount of 14.32 euros as set out in the collective agreement will, however, remain the basis for implementing the outcomes of any future agreements. 

The reasons for the university management’s decision include the increase to the minimum wage that will be enacted on a federal level from January 1, 2026, and the accompanying adjustment of the low income threshold as well as the increase to the minimum wage in the State of Berlin from January 1, 2026.