Once you have decided on a study programme, you must submit your application online. Prospective students with a German higher education entrance qualification should use the myBTU portal. International prospective students should submit their applications via the uni-assist application portal.

Once your application has been successful, you will receive confirmation of your place at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. This forms the basis for your enrolment, which you can complete yourself online in three simple steps. You can find all the relevant information here.

Once you have successfully enrolled, you are officially registered for the study programme and granted admission to study at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

You can find out whether the study programme you are interested in has an N.C. on the relevant study programme page on the BTU website. Study programmes with an N.C. are marked there as ‘courses with admission restrictions’ and have only a limited number of places available. The N.C. is determined through a selection process.

Currently, the Bachelor’s degree study programme in Primary School Teaching is the only study programme with admission limits. The admission limits for this study programme depend on the subject combination.

Every study programme at BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg has its own website, where you can find lots of additional information about the study programme. You can find the full range of study programmes here.

Part-time studies are a version of the standard full-time study spread out over a longer period. Students attend the same seminars as those on the relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s study programme, but complete them over an extended period. This reduces the workload per semester arising from the course. The total duration of study is longer for part-time studies.

An extra-occupational Master’s study programme is designed to be completed whilst working full-time. Seminars are then mainly held in the evenings, at weekends or in intensive block sessions. BTU Cottbus Senftenberg currently offers two extra-occupational Master’s study programmes: Public Administration (M.P.A.) and Business Law for Technology Companies (M.B.L.)

You can find information on health insurance for students on the Admissions and Registrar’s Office information page and in the article on enrolment. The procedure for providing proof of insurance for prospective students with private health insurance is also explained there. The contact details for applications from Germany and for international applications are also listed there.

You can find another information page on health insurance, with specific details for international applicants, via the ‘Studienstart International’ page.

Important: Make sure you submit some form of notification regarding health insurance so that you do not miss the deadline. This applies even if you are not entirely sure.

In order for you to continue your studies in the coming semester, you must re-enrol during the re-enrolment period for the current semester. You will receive an email containing all the important information well in advance of the start of the re-enrolment period. Registering for the following semester is only considered complete once the semester fee stated in the fee notice has been paid in full. Registering for the following semester is carried out via the myBTU portal. Further information, including the registration period, can be found here.

We have provided links to the various campus maps for the different locations below:
- Cottbus main campus
- Cottbus Sachsendorf
- Senftenberg

There are several ways to find out where and when the introductory session for your study programme is taking place:

1. Via the faculty website:
Go to the website of the faculty to which your study programme belongs. Under ‘Study and Teaching’, you’ll find the ‘Start of Term’ section – all current orientation sessions are listed there. 

Tip: Not sure which faculty your study programme belongs to? Then check your study programme’s website – the faculty it’s assigned to is listed right at the top.

2. Via the ‘Start of Studies’ page:
On the general ‘Start of Studies’ page, under ‘Events at a Glance’, you can also view all the introductory sessions for the various study programmes. You’ll also find important dates there that are of interest to all first-year students.

Cottbus Main Campus: The canteen is located next to the main building. You can find the menu here.
Cottbus-Sachsendorf Campus: The canteen is located in Building 13; you can find the address and the menu here.
Campus Senftenberg: The canteen is in Building 20; you can find the address and the menu here. 

Most study programmes have WhatsApp groups, which can be particularly helpful at the start of your studies. You can usually find out whether your study programme has such a group or uses other channels at the study programme’s introductory sessions.

You can view and download certificates and notifications – such as your current Transcript of Records, a certificate of study progress or a proof of enrolment – directly from the myBTU portal.
If you cannot find the documents you need there, please feel free to book an appointment with the relevant team at the Admissions and Registrar’s Office.

Our Central University Sports Service offers a wide range of sports courses every semester at our Cottbus and Senftenberg campuses.

At BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, you have the opportunity to get involved in various groups. From focusing on social engagement to representing the student body on the Student Council, the Student Parliament or your study programme’s Departmental Committee – the choice is yours. You’ll find a list of existing student groups on our CampusLife website.

Yes, there are parking spaces available on every campus. You can find their exact locations on your campus map.

Yes, it is generally possible to undergo Exmatriculation – even before the start of your degree programme. In certain cases (e.g. if you have not started your degree programme), the fees may be partially refunded. You can find detailed information and the necessary form here.

German Students

Once you have successfully completed your enrolment, you will receive your Student Identification Card – in the form of a chip card – by post. This card has a number of functions relating to your studies, which we explain in more detail here.

International Students

Internationals students will be notified when their Student Identification Card ist available to be picked up at the university.

Your Student Identification Card allows you to borrow items from the university library and, if topped up with cash, can also be used as a photocopying card. The Student Identification Card cannot be used as a semester ticket.

You will receive your semester ticket in digital form. You can find all the information about the ticket here.

After your first semester, you must register for the following semester. Once you have registered, you can renew the validity stamp on your Student Identification Card. You can do this at the validation points on the various campuses.

To create your timetable, you will need:

1. the Examination and Study Regulations (PTSO) for your study programme (available on the Teaching Information Portal or on your study programme’s website) and
2. the Teaching Information Portal. 

In the PTSO, you will find all the modules you must take (mandatory modules) and those you can take (optional modules) as part of your study programme. It also includes a standard programme plan with a recommended course of study. 

In the Teaching Information Portal, under ‘Modules’, you will find the module descriptions, which contain all the relevant information on each individual module (e.g. learning objectives, content, workload, performance verification, etc.). Under ‘Courses’, you will find a timetable for the first semester of your study programme. The standard programme plan for a study programme serves as the starting point for creating a personalised timetable that suits your own study and personal circumstances. 

You can perform the registration for the exam via the ‘Teaching Information Portal’. You must perform the registration within the first three weeks of the start of the semester; for courses with a limited number of places, you must perform the registration within the first two weeks.

Once you have taken your exam, the responsible staff member will calculate your final grade. You can view your grades on the Online-Portal. Further information can be found here. 

The Admissions and Registrar’s Office will be happy to help you with the recognition of modules. It’s best to book a consultation with your designated team during their office hours. The Admissions and Registrar’s Office has already summarised some information here.

The Central Student Guidance and Counselling Service offers workshops covering topics related to effective exam preparation. There, you’ll receive practical tips on learning strategies, maximising productivity and time management. You can find the latest workshop dates and registration details here.

If you fall ill before an exam, you can consult a doctor, who must determine and certify your incapacity to take the examination. A certificate of incapacity for work (‘yellow slip’) is not a medical certificate confirming your incapacity to take an examination and is therefore not sufficient grounds for withdrawing from an examination on medical grounds. You must use the so-called ‘Medical Certificate on the Incapability to Take an  Examination’, which must be submitted after the onset of the illness, but no later than five working days after the scheduled exam date. You can find further information here.

Finding somewhere to live can be a challenge for many students at the start of the semester. However, as well as halls of residence, there are plenty of other options: shared flats, short-term lets, housing cooperatives or private accommodation. You can find our overview, including links to accommodation options in Cottbus and Senftenberg, here.

As students, you have various options for finding accommodation at the BTU campuses.

Conveniently, there are several halls of residence on campus – so it’s a short walk to your lectures. The halls of residence are run by the Studierendenwerk Ostbrandenburg and by private providers. Of course, you can also look on the open housing market or find suitable rooms in shared flats via well-known platforms.

You can find an overview of all accommodation options and the approximate cost of living on our relevant information pages.

As the halls of residence are run by different providers, we’re afraid we can’t make a general statement. It’s best to enquire directly with the hall of residence in question.
However, here’s one tip that applies to everyone: don’t wait too long to submit your application. The sooner you apply, the better your chances – it’s first come, first served!

Depending on the hall of residence, the minimum tenancy period can vary between one and three months. The maximum tenancy period is not set at a fixed length either and depends on the specific hall of residence. You can find further information here.

The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) provides state financial support for school pupils, students and apprentices in Germany.
Using the BAföG calculator, you can find out, without obligation and without registering, whether you are eligible for support.
You can find further information on our information page or via the official BAföG website.

As well as having their studies funded by their parents or through BAföG, many students take on part-time jobs to become more financially independent.
During term time, students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week in order to retain their social security benefits and avoid having to pay higher insurance contributions. During the holidays, students have more flexibility.

However, it also depends on the total income over the calendar year: if the regular total income exceeds a monthly threshold set annually, students must take out their own health insurance and pay contributions towards long-term care insurance. BAföG recipients who exceed the monthly threshold must offset part of their income against their grant. 

Our university’s own job board features numerous job vacancies specifically for students and graduates. Students can also complete registration for our in-house job newsletter to receive the latest vacancies by email every week. You can find further tips on job hunting here.

You can find tips and advice on applications, as well as themed workshops and seminars, at the BTU Career Centre.

Students and prospective students usually consider scholarships as a way of funding their studies without financial worries. Please feel free to arrange a personal consultation with the Central Student Guidance and Counselling Service by email or telephone during our office hours.

You can find more information on scholarships and funding options here.

You can find further information on scholarships specifically for women on the website of the Equal Opportunities Officer.

International students can gather information on suitable scholarships from the information page of the International Relations Office.

Once you have completed your Bachelor’s degree, you can, of course, go on to study a Master’s study programme at BTU. To do so, you must submit your application via the MyBTU portal within the application deadline for your chosen Master’s study programme. Even if you haven’t yet received your Bachelor’s degree (but are due to graduate before the start of the new semester), you can submit an application using your current Transcript of Records and will then need to submit your degree certificate at a later date.

International Students use uniassist for their application.

Successfully completing a degree at a German university opens up a wide range of opportunities for you on the German and international job markets.

BTU graduates from non-EU countries can obtain a residence permit for 18 months after completing their studies to look for a suitable job. During this time, you are permitted to take on any work to support yourself.

Students from EU member states, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland may work in Germany without restriction both during and after their studies.

“Make it in Germany” online portal:
This welcome portal, available in German and English, brings together advice and support services for international skilled workers. Here you can find out which sectors are looking for skilled workers and what the requirements are for taking up a job in Germany.

Job boards and regional platforms
Federal Employment Agency: The official job board of the Federal Employment Agency offers an extensive selection of job vacancies across all sectors and regions.
Boomtown Cottbus: This regional platform lists current job vacancies and internships in Cottbus and the surrounding area.
Career pages of major employers: Many companies publish their current job vacancies on their own careers pages. Examples of regional companies that are regularly worth checking include LEAG, Deutsche Bahn and the Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem.
Interamt: The official platform for searching for German job vacancies in the public sector

Career Centre at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
You can find further job vacancies, internships and working student positions via our job board. The Career Centre at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg also offers you the opportunity to develop your skills further through workshops. In addition, we can assist you with any questions you may have about working in Germany, finding graduate roles and preparing your application documents. Please feel free to arrange a personal consultation by email or telephone during our office hours.