Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 7,500
- International
- 45%
- Programmes
- 85
- Taught in English
- 16
About Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg) is a research-driven technical university in the federal state of Brandenburg, in the Lusatia region of eastern Germany. It is a campus university with three locations: the Cottbus main campus, the Cottbus-Sachsendorf campus, and the Campus Senftenberg.
The university has around 7,500 students, of whom roughly 45 percent come from abroad, representing some 130 countries. It is organised into six faculties spanning engineering, natural sciences, mathematics and computer science, architecture and civil engineering, business and law, and human sciences.
BTU defines itself as a research-driven university, with focus areas including energy efficiency and sustainability, smart regions and heritage, biotechnology for environment and health, and cognitive and dependable cyber-physical systems. It offers Bachelor's, Master's, doctoral, and cooperative study programmes, including a number of English-taught degree programmes.
Research-driven technical university in Brandenburg / the Lusatia region
Highly international student body: around 45% of students come from abroad, from roughly 130 countries
Campus university across three locations: Cottbus, Cottbus-Sachsendorf, and Senftenberg
Around 20 English-language degree programmes available
Research focus areas include energy efficiency and sustainability, biotechnology for environment and health, and cyber-physical systems
No tuition fees for regular degree programmes; only a semester contribution (373.80 euro for summer semester 2026)
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 7,500
- International
- ~45% (students from around 130 countries)
- Faculties
- 6
- Programmes
- 85
Study programmes
85 accredited degrees at Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, 16 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–48 of 85 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
BTU does not charge tuition fees for its regular research-oriented degree programmes; as a public university in Brandenburg, non-EU international students are not charged tuition. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution; for the summer semester 2026 this was 373.80 euro, broken down into a student services contribution (100.00 euro), a semester-ticket contribution for local public transport (208.80 euro), a student body contribution (14.00 euro), and enrolment/registration fees (51.00 euro). Some continuing-education (non-consecutive) Master's programmes charge additional fees.
Admission requirements
For Bachelor's programmes a recognised German university entrance qualification is generally required; for Master's programmes a suitable first degree qualifying for a profession is needed. Applicants with foreign qualifications apply via uni-assist, while applicants with German qualifications use the myBTU portal. The required language level (German for German-taught programmes, English for English-taught programmes) must be proven. Note: applicants whose prior qualification is from India, China, or Vietnam must additionally obtain an APS certificate, which is a general German-embassy requirement for these nationalities and a precondition for the student visa. Applicants should confirm exact entry and language requirements with BTU's International Admission office ([email protected]).
Application deadlines
Most study programmes at BTU start in the winter semester. BTU publishes specific dates and deadlines per intake (e.g. for winter semester 2026/27) in downloadable schedules on its application pages; applicants should check the current official deadline document, as exact dates vary by programme and intake.
How international applicants apply
uni-assist (full application processing, not VPD-only): all applicants whose higher education entrance qualification or bachelor/higher degree comes from a foreign school/university must apply through the uni-assist portal (my.uni-assist.de); applicants with German qualifications apply via the myBTU portal for bachelor and master programmes.
Languages of instruction
Programmes are taught in German and English. BTU offers around 20 English-language degree programmes alongside its German-taught programmes; for German-taught programmes the required German language level must be proven.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
9 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Abschlussstipendien für BTU-Wissenschaftlerinnen in Qualifizierungsphasen
Completion scholarships for female BTU researchers (doctoral candidates and habilitation candidates) in final phase. Doctorate: EU...
Amount: Doctorate: EUR 1,500/month; Habilitation: EUR 1,800/month
Deadline: 31 August 2026 (check page)
doctorate, habilitation
BIDS-Motivationsstipendien for PASCH/DSD graduates
Up to 3 motivation scholarships per winter semester for graduates of German schools abroad (PASCH/DSD) starting a Bachelor's or 'B...
Amount: not specified
bachelor
Deutschlandstipendium
BTU awards Deutschlandstipendien to high-achieving and socially committed students; income-independent, not counted against BAföG,...
Amount: EUR 300/month
Deadline: Application phase starts each October (award in following summer semes...
bachelor, master
InterFEMStip - Teilstipendien für internationale Studentinnen und Promovendinnen
Equal-opportunity scholarship for international female students and doctoral candidates at BTU. EUR 400/month for 4 months (Sep-De...
Amount: EUR 400/month
Deadline: 31 August 2026
bachelor, master, doctorate
MINT-Frauen-Stipendium
Scholarship for female school leavers and professionally qualified women starting a Bachelor's in MINT subjects at BTU. EUR 250/mo...
Amount: EUR 250/month
Deadline: 3 August 2025 (annual, check page)
bachelor
Preis "Beste MINT-Studentin der BTU"
Award for particularly gifted, high-performing, and engaged female students in MINT Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Bachelor:...
Amount: Bachelor: EUR 500; Master: EUR 1,000 (one-time)
bachelor, master
STIBET I - support and completion scholarships for international students
The International Relations Office awards STIBET-I scholarships to enrolled international students at BTU: (1) Study completion gr...
Amount: DAAD STIBET rates
Deadline: WS: 1-31 July; SS: 1-31 January
bachelor, master
Stiftung Lausitzer Braunkohle Stipendium
One-time EUR 6,000 scholarship for Master's students at BTU with connection to Lusatia region. Priority for technical programmes (...
Amount: EUR 6,000 (one-time)
Deadline: 29 May 2026
master
Stipendium für technische Studiengänge (various external foundations)
BTU lists numerous external foundation scholarships for technical studies (e.g., HEIDENHAIN, B. Braun, Friedrich Jungheinrich, IT...
Amount: varies by foundation
Deadline: varies by foundation
bachelor, master
Student accommodation
What Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
Accommodation information for international students is provided, and the university's Language Centre offers opportunities to improve German language skills during studies.
Campuses & locations
Main campus in Cottbus
Second campus location in Cottbus
Campus in Senftenberg
Living in Cottbus
BTU is located in Cottbus and Senftenberg in the Lusatia (Lausitz) region of the federal state of Brandenburg, in eastern Germany. Cottbus is the larger of the two university towns and hosts the main campus, while Senftenberg hosts a further campus.
Student life & support
The International Relations Office supports international students through a Welcome and Registration Point on arrival, a guide for new international students, and a "Welcome to BTU" pre-departure brochure, plus help with registration, visas, health insurance, and financing. Accommodation information for international students is provided, and the university's Language Centre offers opportunities to improve German language skills during studies.
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