Working student: what does it mean?

Do you work alongside your studies? Then you might be a working student. But what does that actually mean? And when do you fall under this status? We explain it simply.

Working student vs. student worker: what is the difference?

Not every student who works is a student worker.

• Student worker: a student whose main activity is studying and who has a student job on the side. In most cases, this applies to students who work fewer than 650 hours per year. As a result, they pay reduced social security contributions. For more information, you can read our article about student workers.
• Working student: someone who benefits from an academic status, known as the working student status, which you must request from your university college or university. This status is intended for people who combine studies with a professional activity. Unlike a student worker, a working student may work more than 650 hours per year. However, from the 651st hour onwards, they pay the standard social security contributions.

👉 Do you work more than 650 hours per year as a student worker? From the 651st hour, you no longer benefit from the reduced contributions linked to a student contract, even if you have obtained working student status from your educational institution. The following hours are subject to standard contributions. You can always check how many hours you have left via Student@Work.

Good to know: some sources also use the term working student in a broader sense, to refer to a student who works more than 650 hours per year and therefore pays standard social security contributions. Be careful: in that case, it does not refer to the official status recognised by your educational institution.

Important: family allowances

If you work a lot during your studies, it can affect your parents’ family allowances. However, the rules are not the same everywhere in Belgium.

• In Brussels, you generally cannot work more than 240 hours per quarter if your parents want to keep receiving family allowances. Exception: this limit does not apply during the 3rd quarter ' July, August and September ' if you continue your studies after the summer.
• In Wallonia, the 650 hours worked under a student contract do not affect family allowances. Once you exceed this quota, you switch to employee status. In that case, you can still work up to 240 hours per quarter without affecting family allowances.
• In Flanders, the Groeipakket is the Flemish family allowance that parents receive for their child. If you work as a working student for more than 80 hours per month. Then you may lose your right to the Groeipakket for that month.To be sure, check the rules with the child benefit fund in your region.

To check your situation, contact the family allowance fund in your region:

• Famiris if you live in Brussels
• FAMIWAL if you live in Wallonia
• Groeipakket if you live in Flanders

Working student status at school: what are the benefits?

You can apply for the working student status if you meet your university college or university’s conditions. These rules may vary depending on your institution and region, especially regarding the number of hours you work.

This status gives you access to study facilities that make it easier to combine work and studies.

Facilities you may be able to request include:

• Exam flexibility: taking exams at another time if they are difficult to combine with your job.
• Flexible study path: depending on your programme, you may be able to benefit from extended deadlines or more flexible attendance rules.
• Adapted study path: taking fewer credits so you can study at your own pace.

Please note: these facilities may differ depending on your university college or university.

How do you apply for working student status?

1. First, check whether you meet the conditions depending on your regions
2. Then, submit your application through your institution’s student portal.
3. Add proof of employment, such as an employment contract or employer certificate. This document must usually be no more than one year old and must mention your working hours and contract duration.
4. Respect the deadline. This can vary depending on your faculty or institution.

💡 Tip: apply as early as possible so you can make the most of the support available.

Bekijk ook onze lijst van studentenjobs!

Please note: you must apply for this status again every year. It does not automatically continue into the next academic year.

Frequently asked questions about working students

Can I be both a student worker and a working student at the same time?

No, you cannot have both statuses at the same time.

However, you can switch status during the same year. For example, you can work your first 650 hours as a student worker and then switch to working student status afterwards.

Please note: you must request the working student status yourself from your educational institution. You do not receive it automatically.

Do my parents lose the right to family allowance if I have working student status?

It depends on your region and on how much you work. In general, working too many hours can affect your parents’ family allowance, especially if you exceed the limits set by your region. To be sure, check the rules with the family allowance fund in your region.

Do I have to file a tax return as a working student?

Yes. From the age of 18, you must always file a tax return, even if you have no income.

• If you only work as a student, you usually do not pay tax if you stay below €15,971.43 gross in 2026.
• If you also have other income, the tax-free threshold is €11,180 in net taxable income in 2026.

Has withholding tax still been deducted from your salary? Then you can often get it partially or fully refunded through your tax return.

👉 In short: always file your tax return, even if you earn very little.