Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that the application process can be confusing at times. If you are looking for some quick answers to questions you have about the application process, our FAQ page is here to help. Below you can find answers to some of our most common questions.
Admissions Requirements
A: Ideally, applicants to the M.Sc. Urban Design - Revitalization of Historic City Districts should have one year of work experience or more. Nonetheless, applicants without formal work experience are also very welcome to submit an application! Your application will be assessed individually and possiblities for exemptions can be considered (e.g. internships, practical modules during studies).
A: There is no fixed GPA or NC required for admission to this study programme. All applications are assessed individually to ensure that applicants meet the academic requirements necessary to succeed in the study programme. This assessment looks not only at the degree and the grades, but at the entire application (incl. letter of motivation, CV, portfolio, etc.).
A: Only the exemptions listed in the Information Sheet "Language Certificate English" are possible. No other exemptions will be granted. No other proofs of English language proficiency are admissible.
Please understand that, since our university receives hundreds of applications from around the world, we are forced to limit the admissible proofs of English language proficiency in order to ensure the fair and efficient evaluation of all applications. The current rules are the result of many years of experience in the admission of international students at our university.
In the information sheet, you can also find a section "I will receive my test results only after the application deadline".
A: Yes, you are welcome to apply for a Master's degree at our university, even if you have already completed one. There are no restrictions on applying for a second Master's degree.
Application Documents
A: Yes. If you do not have your graduation documents yet, you can apply by submitting your current transcript of records instead. (If it is not in English or German, you also have to provide a translation by a certified translator.) If you are admitted to the programme, you will then be asked to submit your graduation documents upon enrolment.
A: There are no formal requirements for the motivation letter. The letter should be in English. It is recommended that the letter be about one page long.
A: The “higher education entrance qualification” is the qualification that allowed you to enter a university, e.g. the German Abitur, A-Levels or a high school entrance examination. What documents exactly have to be submitted for the higher education entrance qualification varies from country to country, sometimes even from one region to another. Uni assist provides more specific information for almost all countries on their website.
A: No, you do not have to send documents by post - neither to our university, nor to uni assist. You only need to upload your documents in the online application process.
Applicants to our university are no longer required to submit certified copies. The upload of scans in the online application process is sufficient. (Our university reserves the right to request certified copies from individual applicants in exceptional cases.)
A: Only the documents listed under “Documents" and the documents required by uni assist are necessary for your application to our study programme. The board of examiners that evaluates your application does not need or expect any additional documents.
Nonetheless, if you have additional documents that you feel will strengthen your application (e.g. certificates from workshops, employment records), you are welcome to add them voluntarily. You can upload them as an additional document in the uni assist online application portal. Please select only the documents most pertinent to your application and try to keep your application concise.
Application Process
A: Applications are evaluated as they are received. The sooner you apply, the sooner you will receive information regarding your admission status.
Please note that the review process can easily take two months after the submission of your complete application. This is because uni assist requires about six weeks for their pre-check. Additionally, our university needs two weeks for our review and to issue the letter of admission or rejection. During the busiest time of the application period (about mid-July to mid-August), this may increase. Generally, we advise all applicants to apply as soon as possible and not wait until right before the deadline.
A: No, it is not possible to apply for summer semester start dates. Applications for the winter semester typically open via uni assist in March.
A: No. Our university has no way of influencing the way your local German embassy operates. Our university can do no more than issue the letter of admission. Therefore, we strongly advise applicants from countries with long visa waiting times to apply as early as possible.
(If you receive a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), their local office may be able to assist you.)
Curriculum
A: All students receive information on how to prepare for their studies in Egypt well ahead of time. You will be given checklists, tipps and support for your preparations. Additionally, students profit from the tipps shared by their Egyptian colleagues and from the experiences of returning students from previous years.
While you must apply for your Egyptian visa individually, our university does provide background information and supporting documents. It is not necessary to apply for an Egyptian visa before the start of your studies at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.
A: No. Urban Design - Revitalization of Historic City Districts is a double degree that is offered only in cooperation with Cairo University and Alexandria University in Egpyt. It is not possible to complete the degree solely at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.
If you prefer to conduct your studies completely in Germany, you may want to consider the German-language Master's degree "Stadtplanung" or one of the other study programmes offered at our university..
A: No. You do not need German language skills to study in the Urban Design programme.
Nonetheless, voluntary German language courses are offered through BTU, and an intensive course is offered before the start of every winter semester. For more information, please consult BTU's Zentrale Einrichtung Sprachen website.
Additional Information
A: Yes. Students are charged tuition fees of 1500 Euros per semester. Additional fees, such as the BTU semester fee or administrative fees at the Egyptian partner universities will also apply.
A: There are various resources available online that will give you background information on living and studying in Germany (please "Useful Links" below). Regarding the immigration process and visa requirements, you can find information provided by the International Relations Office.
You didn’t find the answer to your question? Write us an email. We’d love to hear from you!