The BTU is temporarily suspending all cooperation with Russian universities and non-university research institutions. Therefore, applications for the PhD programme Power Engineering with its double degree at MPEI are currently not possible.
How to apply
Thank you for your interest in the Double Degree PhD Programme Power Engineering at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and MPEI – Russian National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute. Below you will find all information on your application and regarding the admission process.
Please note that the most important detail for a successful application is to find a supervising professor at BTU and also at MPEI. So please clarify these details before handing in your application. The related contacts you will find behind the link Chairs.
Application Step by Step
Applications to BTU can be submitted throughout the year. We do not have application deadlines, but note that the admission process might take several months. For enrolment in the summer semester (start in April) submission of your complete application is recommend no later than November 1st, for enrolment in winter semester (start in October) no later than May 1st.
All the required documents to be handed in are found in the section Application Documents.
Since this is a presence-based programme, enrolment is mandatory for PhD students at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, a semester fee including a public transportation ticket for Berlin and Brandenburg applies.
Within the programme curriculum at BTU, some of the mandatory courses for PhD students start in the summer semester, some in the winter semester (see section curriculum). These courses support you in your research, bring you in contact with staff and fellow students and help you develop valuable skills for your PhD thesis and academic career.
Please submit the complete application to BTU here via the online portal. All the required documents to be uploaded are to be found in the section "application documents".
Since this is a Double Degree Programme with MPEI, candidates for whom BTU is the home institution need to apply to MPEI at the same time: In order to be admitted to MPEI PhD programme on the intergovernmental agreements, the foreign citizen should contact the National Ministry of Education of his/her country or with representatives of Russian Organization “Rossotrudnichestvo” (through the Russian Embassy).
Admission to the PhD programme at MPEI is arranged on the basis of the Order issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation. In case of obtaining Russian State scholarship tuition fee will be waived totally. PhD students have exemptions for all transport in Moscow. For admission please contact phdcourse(at)mpei.ru
Your application will be processed after we received the complete required documents. Please do not forget to send a pdf-scan of your signed application form to phd-application[at]b-tu.de AFTER your have submitted your complete application online. We only start processing your application once we received the full online application AND the signed application form.
We will evaluate your eligibility for admission, the suitability of your former studies and your PhD proposal.
If you are eligible to pursue PhD studies at BTU Cottbus and you have a supervisor both from BTU and MPEI with the relevant research expertise and capacity to take on new PhD students, the PhD Committee of the BTU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Energy and Electrical Systems as well as the relevant bodies at MPEI will decide on your application and admission into the programme.
Once we have confirmation of supervision from a professor at BTU as well as at MPEI within the programme, the PhD Committee and the Faculty Council at BTU and the related councils at MPEI will decide on your admission into the programme.
Upon positive decision, the International Relations Office (for Non-EU applicants and EU applicants with Non-German university degree) or the Admissions and Registrar´s Office (for German applicants and EU applicants with German university degree) will issue the admission letter (electronic copy and hard copy via post).
The admission letter is valid to apply for scholarships and the study visa.
Our Welcome Centre offers more information on preparing your start in Cottbus. Please contact them before your arrival to plan for accommodation, health insurance etc. Please make an appointment with the Welcome Centre for enrolment and first steps at our university and in Cottbus.
For your part of studies and research at MPEI please contact the Department of Foreign Postgraduate Studies and Internships phdcourse(at)mpei.ru
Upon arrival, please make an appointment with the coordinator of the programme for a first meeting to welcome you into the PhD programme, to give you an introduction to the programme, inform you on the curriculum and to answer your questions.
For an overview of the different online services for PhD students (e.g. how to get to BTU Cottbus, enrolment, BTU mail account, module registration, learning platform “moodle”) please check our short tutorials here.
As a PhD student you are welcome to use the services of the BTU Graduate Research School offering a regular newsletter, a qualification programme as well as scholarships for doctoral students and PostDocs.
The Welcome Centre regularly offers events for doctoral students and PostDocs at BTU, in Cottbus and in the region.
For information on accommodation and living in Cottbus please check our video here.
After arriving at MPEI a PhD student receives an MPEI mail account and corporate network account. For this please contact the Department of Foreign Postgraduate Studies and Internships phdcourse(at)mpei.ru MPEI Campus provides common services: laundry, shops, sport places, repair offices, post-office, cultural facilities, cafes etc. Accommodation options and photos will be available soon https://mpei.ru/lang/en/for_entrants_and_guests/General_information/Accommodation_conditions/Pages/default.aspx