Careers

Questions for students

Please scroll down to find answers:

on your application and the general application procedure
on your internship at BASF
on your internship abroad (with Explore Together)
on the Talent Pool of BASF
on the Germany scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium)

Your question has not been answered? Contact us directly - for example via Chat! We are looking forward to receiving your message.

Are the positions advertised online up-to-date?

Yes. All positions advertised on our career pages are current vacancies. The job postings are only removed once the positions have been filled.

How do I apply?

If you have found an interesting position via the job search, please apply directly online via the "Apply now" link in the job advertisement. You will then be automatically redirected to the appropriate regional online application portal.

In your applicant profile, you can update your data and view the status of your application at any time. In addition, we can access your application immediately and provide you with feedback more quickly.

Please note: Please only apply using a single e-mail address.

What elements are involved in the application process? Will I have to attend an assessment center?

BASF assesses candidates’ applications to decide which of the open positions they are best suited to.  The business unit in question then decides whether or not to invite the candidate to an interview day.

The invited candidates then take part in several interviews with representatives of the technical unit and BASF recruitment staff. BASF has found this approach to be extremely worthwhile – as one-on-one interviews offer an excellent opportunity to really get to know the applicant, and we consider personal impressions to be very important. Over the course of the skills-focused interviews, we establish whether the candidate’s specialist knowledge and abilities tally with the requirements of the post. The applicant also has the opportunity to meet future managers and colleagues. As a result of the success we have had with personal interviews, BASF does not include assessment centers in its recruitment process.

How many months in advance should I apply to a position?

The application deadlines vary for the individual positions. You can apply to a job posting as long as it is still advertised. If you are actively looking for an internship in a specific time period, you may start looking three months in advance.

Who is my contact partner at BASF for my application?

Several BASF employees are involved in the application process and process your application which means we cannot name one specific contact. Please address your cover letter with "Dear Sir or Madam".

How can I find out about the status of my application?

You can see the current status of your application at any time in your online application profile.

How generous are salaries?

The monthly remuneration for BASF SE for university interns, thesis writers, doctoral students and postdoctoral researcher depends on the level of study:

Type of activity	Monthly remuneration gross (Euro)	Explanations / Prerequisites
Internship during your studies Bachelor's / Master's / Diploma program	1.000,00 €	You are studying and are enrolled for the entire duration of the internship.
Thesis: Bachelor	1.000,00 €	You are at the end of your bachelor's degree and are writing your thesis at BASF SE and are enrolled for the entire duration.
Thesis: Master	1.200,00 €	You are at the end of your master's degree and are writing your thesis at BASF SE and are enrolled for the entire duration.
Doctoral student	2.500,00 €	You have successfully completed your master's degree and are writing your doctoral thesis at BASF SE.
Internship during PhD (doctorate)	2.220,00 €	We need proof that you are currently doing your doctorate.
Postdoctoral researcher	4.900,00 €	You have successfully completed your doctorate and are taking up your postdoctoral research.
Gap Year internship	2.220,00 €	You are between two courses of study and are not enrolled for the entire duration of the internship. There must be a declaration of intent to take up an advanced study program.
Please note: The remuneration applicable to you can only be made after your documents have been fully examined.

Remuneration at other BASF companies may differ and will be communicated in the job posting or in the recruitment process.

Which other documents should I attach to my application?

You can find more information on which documents are required for the application process here.

Can I use data that I have already provided BASF for another application?

You can use any data you have already saved in our online application system for other applications.

Can I apply to several locations or for several positions at the same time?

You are welcome to apply to several locations or for different positions.

Will my applications be processed at the same time?

All applications are processed irrespective of when they were received.

How can I apply for a thesis placement/student research project?

You can find all the information you need on thesis placements/student research projects on our career pages.

You can find current job postings in our global job search and apply via our online application system. If you cannot find an interesting position you can send us an unsolicited application.

Can I apply for a doctorate at BASF?

You can find all of our open positions worldwide via our global job search. If you don't find an interesting position you can send us your unsolicited application via this link. Please specify the area you wish to focus on in your cover letter. All information on the application process can be found on our career sites.

Does BASF also offer temporary and casual jobs?

You can apply for a temporary or casual job on our online application system.

Am I sent a notification once I have sent my application?

As soon as you have applied for a position, you will receive immediately confirmation that we have received your application. Please ensure to complete your online application successfully by clicking "Send application".

What is your data protection policy regarding the online application system?

All data provided to BASF is handled strictly in accordance with German data protection legislation. All candidate information obtained via our online application system, is treated in the strictest confidence and is used exclusively for staffing, recruiting marketing or talent relationship activities.

Am I sent correspondence by e-mail?

We prefer to send all correspondence by e-mail that you have provided during the online application process.

Can I postpone the date for my selection interview?

If you cannot take part in a selection interview, please contact our application hotline as soon as possible to arrange a new date, if possible.

Will my travel costs be reimbursed?

You will receive more information on the BASF travel cost guidelines when you are invited to an interview.

How do I get my travel costs reimbursed?

You will receive more information on the BASF travel cost guidelines when you are invited to an interview.

How can I send an unsolicited application?

You can send an unsolicited application here.

Will I receive information on finding accommodation?

Yes, BASF SE will support university interns, thesis writers, doctoral candidates and postdocs in their search for their own, self-organized accomodation by providing a list of apartments as a starting point ahead of a possible assignment.

Questions on internships

For how long are internships offered at BASF?

An internship usually lasts between two and six months. In Germany can mandatory internships be offered for a maximum duration of six months, depending on study regulations, while voluntary internships can only be offered for a maximum of three months. Gap year internships can be offered for a maximum duration of six months.

What is a voluntary internship?

Voluntary internships are any internships which are not required by a university regulation. You may only do one voluntary internship for a maximum of three months per legal entity of BASF. If you have already completed an internship at BASF SE, you are not permitted to do another one at BASF SE. If this is the case, you can for example do a voluntary internship at a BASF Group company instead.

What is a mandatory internship?

Mandatory internships are internships which are required during studies due to a university regulation.

How do I prove a requirement for a mandatory internship?

You can submit the study regulations, which stipulate that you are required to complete a mandatory internship with your application documents.
Alternatively, you can also complete the form “certificate for a mandatory internship” provided by BASF and have the university administration to attest that the internship is mandatory.

Do I need to be enrolled at a university for the internship?

You need to be enrolled at a university for the whole duration of the study-related internship if you wish to complete an internship at BASF. For a Gap-Year internship, we do not need an enrollment certificate.

Is an internship at BASF paid?

It goes without saying that all internships are paid!

What documents do I need to submit with my application for an internship?

We require the following documents from you for an application:

résumé
cover letter
valid certificate of enrollment for the duration of the internship
references
certificates
current grade transcript
the completed form “internship questionnaire”

If you wish to complete a mandatory internship, please also submit your study regulations or, alternatively, complete this form “certificate for a mandatory internship” and have it attested by your university administration. For thesis applications, the forms are not required.

How are final theses handled?

Final theses are obligatory to finish the studies, therefore they are handled as mandatory internships.

Is it possible to do an internship between a bachelor and master's or a master's and doctorate? (Gap-Year internship)?

An internship between your bachelor and master or your master and doctorate is perfectly possible. However, a statement of intent is required which stipulates that you plan to commence a master degree or a doctorate.

Questions on internships abroad (Explore Together program)

Is it possible to do an intership abroad?

The Explore Together program is currently paused, therefore an internship abroad is not possible at the moment.

How many Explore Together internship positions are there per year?

Every year, we offer about 30 Explore Together internship positions, distributed over the areas of Business, Engineering and Research & Development. You can find the current vacancies in the BASF Job portal.

In which countries are Explore Together internships available?

Explore Together internships are offered in countries with a BASF subsidiary – except of Germany. At the German BASF sites, there is a great number of internships in various fields of expertise on offer. Just have look at the BASF Job Portal

How can I apply for Explore Together?

You can apply via the Job Portal on BASF’s career pages. Enter “Explore Together” into the Keyword Search. Then, select the Explore Together Posting that fits you best in terms of your expertise from the appearing postings and apply for it.

Can I also do an internship abroad with BASF apart from the Explore Together program? And how can I apply?

In the global BASF Job Portal you can search for all current internships vacancies at BASF sites worldwide. Alternatively, you can also send an unsolicited application to BASF subsidiaries where you would like to do an internship. Here is an overview of the subsidiaries and contacts.

It can also be helpful to do an internship at a BASF subsidiary in your own country before applying for an internship abroad. By getting in contact with many different BASF employees during such an internship could result in a chance for a subsequent internship abroad.

How does the selection process look like?

The selection process is carried out in several steps. First, we check your application documents (your motivation letter, your CV and your references). If your profile meets the criteria, there are two telephone interviews. A person from our Recruiting department conducts the first interview, and an expert from the regarding area of expertise does the other one. If you pass both of these interviews, we suggest you to the internship supervisor as a candidate for the internship position.

Can I already apply for Explore Together while studying for my Bachelor’s?

While working on a BASF site as an Explore Together intern you will be involved in technically demanding projects. That means that you will need to have already achieved a certain level of university education. This is the reason why it makes sense to apply towards the end of your studies for your Bachelor’s or during your Master’s.

What are the specific selection criteria?

Explore Together candidates should meet the following requirements:

advanced bachelor’s or master’s degree
initial experience in the area you would like to do your internship in, e.g. from your course of study and/or previous internships
initial experience abroad, e.g. from internships, semester abroad, or language courses
excellent knowledge of English and ideally knowledge of the national language
extracurricular activities

Is it necessary to already have done another internship with BASF?

It is not a prerequisite, even though we recommend it. You learn a lot about the company, its structure and its culture during a previous internship with BASF.

What is the minimum or maximum duration of the Explore Together internship?

The internship duration ranges between three and six months.

Can I write my final thesis via the Explore Together program?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to write your final thesis in the Explore Together program. A final thesis would require a higher level of supervision than the local BASF colleagues can offer.

What support do I get with the internship abroad?

There are many ways how we support you in the Explore Together program, starting with personal support with organizational issues. We also put you into contact with other Explore Together interns who will give you excellent practical tips. In addition, we pay for your visa and flight and you receive local internship salary. The salary amount depends on the specific country where you are working. Please note: In some countries, it is possible that the internship salary does not cover all your living costs.

Finally, we invite you to a seminar on intercultural topics where you also meet fellow Explore Together interns along with various persons who work for BASF. This helps you to reflect on your own intercultural experience and learn from one another.

What happens after I finished the Explore Together internship?

After your internship, we will have a final talk with you where you can give us detailed feedback on different aspects of your internship. We use this feedback to further develop our Explore Together program.

And of course we want to further stay in touch with you - which is why we invite our Explore Together interns to BASF’s European Talent Pool. This offers you a wide range of options for staying in contact after your internship abroad. You will be invited to events, get a regular newsletter with news from BASF and have a direct line to the European Talent Pool team as your direct contact persons.

Questions on a scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium)

What is the “Deutschlandstipendium“?

The “Deutschlandstipendium”, or German Scholarship, was initiated by the German government in 2011 to support talented students. It is intended to reward outstanding achievements and includes financial support during studies in the amount of 300 € per month. Half of this amount is paid by the federal government and half by sponsors, such as BASF.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to students from German universities of all nationalities who are expected to achieve above-average results during their studies. However, not only academic achievements are decisive for the selection, but also other factors such as social commitment or overcoming challenges in the personal CV.

First-year students can also apply. Moreover, the scholarship is not limited to the first degree, but also includes a master's degree, a second or supplementary degree as well as a part-time or dual degree. There are no restrictions on the content of the degree programmes.

Where can I apply?

The application process for the German Scholarship is solely in the hands of the universities, which is why it is not possible to apply directly to BASF.

The universities anoounce the number of scholarships and provide information about the desired application documents and deadlines. After a successful application, the university assigns the new German Scholarship holders to a sponsor, considering their interests and the field of study, so that personal contact can be established.

How is BASF involved in the German Scholarship?

BASF has been a proud supporter of the Germany Scholarship since its launch in 2011, as it is very important to the company to contribute to the promotion of students with exceptionally good performance. In the current funding period, BASF is supporting more than 130 students at more than 20 universities and colleges for a period of one year. Each BASF site in Germany independently sponsors scholarships at universities and colleges.

How does BASF support scholarship holders?

In addition to financial support, our scholarship holders benefit from a wide range of opportunities to support their personal and academic development in the best possible way. All scholarship holders have a dedicated contact person for all topics and questions relating to the scholarship at BASF or entry opportunities and benefits from the extensive network in the company. In addition, BASF regularly organizes participation in internal and external events.

Internships at BASF: The foundation for your career

Documents for your internship in Germany