What’s it about?

In our BTU Info Sessions, we will give you useful tips on how to prepare for your studies in Germany. In addition, you can ask your questions in the chat feature and these will all be answered individually ...
 

Questions such as ...

• How does enrolment at BTU work?
• Which documents do I have to submit?
• When do I get my Student ID Card?
• ... and much more!
   

What are the topics?

• Entry/Visa
• Housing
• Financing
• Arrival
• Enrolment
• Student Life
• Start of your Studies
   

Who are these sessions for?

These sessions are for all prospective BTU students, who have already received letter of admission from the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.
 

When and where?

• When:

28.06.2023

26.07.2023

30.08.2023

27.09.2023

• via Cisco WebEx
• Bilingual in English (3:30 PM) and German (4:30 PM)
• Information on how to gain access to these sessions will be forwarded to all admitted BTU students via e-mail, just a few days before

• Please click on request of enrolment in your myBTU-Portal, as soon as you received letter of admission
• Fill in the application of enrolment form and print it off
• Sign the application of enrolment form and scan it in or photograph it

If you are not sure how to fill out the online enrolment form in myBTU-Portal, watch the video using this link.

Upload the documents required for enrolment in your myBTU-Portal in the corresponding upload field (see below). This needs to be done no later than October 30, 2023!

Good to know: We will inform you by e-mail as soon as we have checked your uploaded documents. In case documents are missing or have not been submitted in the right form, you will have the possibility to submit them later.

Also Important: Your Health Insurance

You need a health insurance to enrol at the BTU. Information on the health insurance policies accepted for enrolment in Germany can be found here.

• Please pay the semester fee as soon as you have submitted your online enrolment application. You will also find all the relevant information on transferring the semester fee on your enrolment form.

Please note:

The university cannot cover any additional costs incurred by transferring the fees from abroad. Please also note the current exchange rate.

The semester fees do not necessarily have to be transferred from your account. There is for instance the possibility that someone else transfers your semester fee for you. The payment reference (the student code) is decisive so that we can assign the payment to the correct student. You can find your payment reference on your enrolment application form.

You need health insurance to enrol at the BTU. Information on health insurance accepted for studying in Germany as well as exemption options for private insurance can be found here.

Participate in the Online Info Sessions / Consultations of BTU's health partners

Apply early for a place in a hall of residence, as the "first come, first serve principle" applies -> you can find all further information here.

At our Welcome & Registration Point you can talk and chat with our international tutors. There we will welcome you on site in Cottbus and Senftenberg from 18th September 2023.

As soon as you are enroled, you will be informed by e-mail when and where you can pick up your Student ID (Chip Card). If you have any questions about your Student ID, please contact Admissions & Registrar's Office.

Please remember to enrol before you arrive in Cottbus or Senftenberg. This is the only way we can ensure that your student ID is ready when you arrive.

• Programme for the BTU introductory programme -> LINK
• German courses -> LINK
• Orientation week at the start of the semester -> www.otiwo.de
• Student Activities Offer from the International Relations Office -> LINK

After enrolment you will gain access to BTU's online portals:

1. The myBTU-Portal is BTU's platform for student self-management:

• View and download your certificates and notifications
• View information about the payment of your fees
• Submit applications for leave of absence, exmatriculation and view their processing
• Change your contact details

2. Students have to register on BTU's eLearning platform Moodle with the BTU-Account and password. The Moodle platform will be used for getting access to individual module related assignments, notes, lectures and updated information by the Professors. The Moodle application can be downloaded on mobile phones, tablets and accessed on desktops.
 

3. Students have to separately register for individual module examination on BTU Online Portal.

• Login into the online portal with BTU-Account.
• Open registration and deregistration section.
• Register or de-register for examinations.
• You will receive a confirmation e-mail to your BTU e-mail address.
• You can also download a transcript of results.

In Germany, all persons who rent an accommodation, as well as all persons who will be residing in Germany for more than three months are obligated to register their address. Normally within two weeks after your arrival in Cottbus or Senftenberg, you and your family members must register your address at the City Administration Office (Stadtbüro). After registering your address, you will receive an official proof of residence (Meldebescheinigung), which is needed before you can open a bank account.

City Administration Office Cottbus (Stadtbüro)

Karl-Marx-Str. 67
03044 Cottbus
Homepage

You can easily book an appointment online. Therefore click here and choose „Stadtbüro allgemein / Beantragung Ausweise und Reisepässe – Erdgeschoss“. Choose number 1 in the field „Stadtbüro“ and click on „Weiter“. Then click on „Stadtbüro auswählen“ and choose a day and time. Afterwards click on „Ja“, add your personal details, accept the data policy und click on „Reservieren“. You will then automatically receive an e-mail with a confirmation link (Bestätigungs-Link) that you must click on within an hour to book the appointment. Hint: Often Monday and Thursday mornings (approx. 8-9 a.m.) prompt appointments are available.

Registration Office Senftenberg (Einwohnermeldeamt Senftenberg)

Rathausstraße 8
01968 Senftenberg
Homepage

After city registration, you will receive your Tax Identification Number via post to your German address. The post box should have their full name (Vorname und Nachname) written on it.

If you plan to live and work in Germany for an extended period of time, receive a salary or scholarship, or need to pay rent, it makes sense for you to open a German bank account. 

For your convenience, there are several types of bank accounts. We recommend a checking account, which means that you will receive a Euro Cheque-card (EC-Card) to use. With an EC-Card, you can withdraw money from ATMs and also use it to pay in supermarkets, stores, Deutsche Bahn ticket machines and most restaurants.

If you want to open a new checking account, you will need to bring the following documents:

• Passport or equivalent ID
• Visa
• Proof of residence (Meldebescheinigung) (from the City Adminstration Office)
• Current certificate of enrolment
• Tax identification number (can be submitted later)

In Germany, there are many different state-run (Sparkasse, Volksbank) and private banks for you to choose from. The services offered by these banks are very similar, but there are also some differences. For example, each bank might have different account management fees, offer additional services and either have more or fewer ATMs located throughout Germany.

For technical reasons, you must wait at least one two days after registering your address at the city office before you are allowed to apply for a residence or work permit. At least six weeks before your visa expires, you should make an appointment to apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Foreigners‘ Registration Office Cottbus (Ausländerbehörde Cottbus)
Karl-Marx-Str. 67
03044 Cottbus
Homepage

You can easily book an appointment online. Therefore click here and choose „Allgemeine Ausländerangelegenheiten ((u.a. Studierende …))“. Choose number 1 in the field „Beantragung von Dokumenten“, and click on „Weiter“. Then click on „Ausländerbehörde auswählen“, and choose a day and time. Afterwards click on „Ja“, add your personal details, answer the security question (Sicherheitsfrage), accept the data policy und click on „Reservieren“. You will then automatically receive an e-mail with a confirmation link (Bestätigungs-Link) that you must click on within an hour to book the appointment. Hint: If no appointment is available, please try again later or write an e-mail to auslaenderbehoerde(at)cottbus.de with your personal data (family name, first name and date of birth) and the reason for your request (e.g. issuance of a residence permit).

Foreigners‘ Registration Office Senftenberg (Ausländerbehörde Senftenberg)
Dubinaweg 1
01968 Senftenberg
Homepage

When applying for a residence permit for the first time, you should bring the following items:

• Completed application form for a residence permit (for the Foreigners' Registration Office in Cottbus you can obtain this from the International Relations Office, Main Campus, Main Building, 4th floor, on the shelf in front of room 4.15)
• 1 copy and original: "Meldebescheinigung" from the city office
• 1 copy and original: passport
• 1 biometric passport photo (35 x 45 mm)
• Proof of health insurance (e.g. insurance policy, copy of health insurance card)
• Certificate of enrolment
• Proof of financing your stay (e.g. blocked account, letter of award)
• 1 copy and original: rental contract