The funding scheme »Conference Travel Grant« enables all young researchers at BTU to apply for mobility grants in the context of their doctoral dissertation or postdoctoral research project. This funding scheme supports your active contribution to relevant conferences and symposia in Germany and abroad. We also support your active participation in online conferences. Through their networking with the respective scientific community young researchers will contribute at the same time to position BTU as a research-oriented university in Brandenburg (e.g., preparation of peer-reviewed publications).

Generally, all young researchers may apply for a mobility grant, regardless of their respective status (i.e., academic assistants employed at BTU, or enrolled doctoral/PhD candidates). Funding is only provided for doctoral candidates or postdoctoral researchers in the eraly stage after their doctorate. Furthermore, postdoctoral researchers in the early stage after their doctorate (=< 3 years) are only eligible for funding if they are employed as academic staff at BTU (i.e., »akademische*r Mitarbeiter*in«) or receive special postdoctoral funding for their research at our university (e.g. Fritz Thyssen Postdoctoral Fellowship). In exceptional cases, funding can be provided for habilitation candidates up to 6 years after completing the doctorate (usually a »Qualifikationsstelle« at the BTU). Proof must be provided. The GRS supports the participation at relevant scientific events under the condition of your active contribution.

Information regarding mobility grants of the BTU Equal Opportunity Officer: 

Generally, the GRS does not co-funding for mobility grants of the Equal Opportunity Officer. As young female researcher you may choose to apply for a mobilty grant of the GRS or the Equal Opportunity Officer. 

• Quality of your application documents (if your application is not complete, the GRS will not process it)
• Profile of the event and type of your contribution
• Contribution to BTU’s internationalization (if applicable)

You have to submit your application documents either in German or English if you submit documents in any other language, you are expected to provide a convenience translation (i.e., rough translation by yourself).

Application documents:

• Application form (in case your conference is online, enter »Online Event« in the country field)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Confirmation of your contribution by the organizer (e.g., printed copy of the email); if you have not received any confirmation yet, please add a short explanation.
• Valid enrolment certificate (if you are a doctoral or PhD student at BTU)

Please submit your complete application in a single PDF file via email until the respective deadline to researchschool+mobility(at)b-tu.de.

Please note that the GRS won’t accept applications that are not submitted accordingly in a single PDF file. Furthermore, we kindly ask you to fill out the application form on your computer and scan it subsequently. Be kindly informed that we won’t accept handwritten or photographed applications forms.

Application deadlines:

Applications for conference participation in 2026 can be submitted by the following deadlines:

• 2 February 2026
• 27 April 2026
• 29 June 2026
• 28 September 2026

Travel grant:

• As a basic principle mobility grants are awarded under the usual reserve concerning the university’s budget.
• The Conference Travel Grant covers travel expenses up to the country-specific travel allowances specified by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). If you travel to Germany, the GRS will award up to 150 EUR.
• If you have to pay accommodation, the Conference Travel Grant covers the costs up to the country-specific lump sums specified by the DAAD for the duration of the event. If you travel to Germany, the Conference Travel Grant may cover your accommodation costs up to 60 EUR per night for the duration of the event.
• The Conference Travel Grant covers conference fees up to 250 EUR. If your conference is online we will cover up to 80 % of the overall amount of the fee. 
• If you also have other sources to finance your activity (e.g., DAAD, conference organizer), they will be offset against the financial support by the GRS. You have to specify any additional support in your application or reimbursement form.
• In case the lump sums for travel expenses, accommodation and conference fees mentioned above exceed the costs of your activity the amount of your mobility grant will be reduced accordingly. In this instance, the grant can only cover the actual costs.

Important information – trip cancellations:

Please note that the mobility grant will only be disbursed if you have undertaken the trip or participated in the conference. In the event of trip cancellation or non-attendance at a conference (e.g., due to illness), if costs have already been incurred that cannot be canceled (such as booked transportation, flights, accommodations, or registration fees), it is not possible to receive a grant from GRS for these expenses.

After receiving your application, the GRS management office will make the first check for completeness. If your application is complete, you will receive a short confirmation from the GRS. Subsequently, the application will be reviewed internally by the GRS management, who will approve the projects. Shortlisted candidates will be informed in due time.

Information for Employees of BTU

If you are an employee of BTU, you have to claim the reimbursement of your business travel via your chair or department. There is an official procedure for business travel, and you may ask the secretary at your chair or department for further information. After the reimbursement of your business travel, the HR Department will send you a final balance sheet of the costs. It’s a white sheet called »Reisekostenbeleg« in German.

Please send us the final balance sheet as scanned copy together with your abstract or conference paper via email: researchschool+mobility(at)b-tu.de.

The GRS will make an internal payment of the mobility grant to your chair’s or department’s account. 

Also, we need you to send us your abstract or full paper by email: researchschool+mobility(at)b-tu.de

In case of trip cancellation, please refer to the information provided under »Application, deadlines and amount of the grant« for further guidance.

Information for Students (PhD) at BTU

If you are not employed at BTU but enrolled as PhD or doctoral student, then the GRS will transfer the mobility grant directly to your account after your return. You have to provide the required documents either in person or send them by postal mail. Documents sent to us by email won’t be accepted.  

Please submit only complete documents:

• Final Reimbursement Form Mobility Grant; please fill in on your computer, print it and sign it
• Original receipts and invoices (train, flight, boarding passes, hotel, conference fee, etc.)*
• Copies of bank statements or credit card bills that specify the payment of your expenses (no print-outs from your online-banking service, only official bank statements or credit card bills with account/card holder and account/card number)

*You have to provide only receipts like travel expenses, accommodation and registration fee. You have to provide original invoices and receipts that are issued to your private address. Documents should not specify the VAT ID of the BTU.

Please request an appointment by email: researchschool+mobility(at)b-tu.de

Alternatively, you can send the documents by postal mail. Nevertheless, we are not responsible for the delivery of the items, and we will not send you a confirmation of receipt. Send the documents to:

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
Graduate Research School
Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1
03046 Cottbus

Also, we need you to send us your abstract or full paper by email: researchschool+mobility(at)b-tu.de

In case of trip cancellation, please refer to the information provided under »Application, deadlines and amount of the grant« for further guidance.