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Welcome Centre for International Researchers

Career Roadmap

The Career Roadmap is a practical checklist tailored specifically to international doctoral researchers at BTU. It supports your career path step by step with important information, points of contact and resources. 

Stage 1: Proactive Planning

Get informed
  • Please get in touch with the  Welcome Centre for International Researchers. Here you can get advice on non-academic and practical matters relating to your work at BTU and your life in Cottbus and Senftenberg.
  • The BTU’s Graduate Research School (GRS) offers interesting opportunities, further training and calls for applications for all BTU doctoral researchers. Subscribe to the GRS newsletter so you do not miss out on the latest calls for applications.
  • Read the Tips for Starting your Doctorate from the Unit for Young Academics for a comprehensive overview of all key topics relating to your doctoral studies.
  • Find out about upcoming events in the BTU’s events calendar. You will also find subject-specific events on the websites of the respective faculties.
  • BTU staff automatically receive the ‘Forschung und Transfer TICKER’ newsletter, which provides updates on research news. If you are not employed by the BTU while undertaking your doctoral studies, please ask your supervisors to forward the newsletter to you.
Setting goals
  • Sign a supervision agreement (you can find a template on the website of the Unit for Young Academics) with your supervisor at an early stage. The supervision agreement sets out the framework for the supervisory relationship between the doctoral reseacrher and the supervisor. According to the Framework Regulations for Doctorates (§ 7(2)), the supervision agreement is compulsory at BTU and must be reviewed annually and amended where necessary.
  • To clarify your career goals, it may be helpful to draw up an Individual Development Plan (IDP) as well. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has developed a free IDP tool in English for doctoral researchers and postdocs in the natural and life sciences: myIDP. A version of the IDP specifically designed for international BTU doctoral researchers will also be available on this website shortly.
  • Further key information on career planning during your doctoral studies is provided in the handbook issued by the ‘QualitätsZirkel Promotion’ network.
  • The German University Association for the Qualification of Early-Career Researchers in Germany (UniWinD) also offers helpful information on skills development (only in German) during your doctoral studies.
Networking
  • An important networking event is the BTU’s annual Research Day. This is where researchers from various departments come together to exchange ideas. Awards are also presented at this event, such as the prize for the best doctoral thesis and the ‘Best Paper Award’. Doctoral theses are nominated by the supervisors. For the award for the best publication, both nominations and self-nominations are accepted.
  • You can also take part in networking events for early-career researchers, such as the annual onboarding event for new doctoral researchers or the end-of-the-year event. The events are organised by the Welcome Centre for International Researchers, the Graduate Research School (GRS) and the Unit for Young Academics at the BTU, and are announced on their websites and in newsletters.
  • The SCIENCE@Lausitz series of events also takes place regularly at the BTU and the Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT). It offers an opportunity to discuss joint research projects in the fields of medicine, healthcare and digitalisation. The events take place twice per semester, alternating between the two universities’ campuses.
Language skills
  • Strong language skills are in high demand on the German labour market. According to a report by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) (2026), more than half of all companies (57 per cent) require at least a B2 language level as part of their recruitment process. Improve your language skills with free courses offered by the BTU’s Language Centre. Please ensure you note the enrolment deadlines and bear in mind that places are limited. The Language Centre also offers language learning advice sessions, where you can find out how to learn German effectively and independently.
Mentoring
  • Explore mentoring opportunities that offer helpful advice and support with your career planning. The BTU mentoring programme FEM*Vision, for example, offers networking sessions for women in science.

Stage 2: Professional Development

At BTU
  • The Graduate Research School (GRS) offers training programmes, workshops and e-learning courses in English. These include online workshops on data science using R and Python, as well as courses on LaTeX and Artificial Intelligence. In addition, doctoral researchers have the opportunity to use the TwentyOne Skills platform via the GRS, which offers on-demand courses on a variety of topics, including academic writing, time management, AI in research and career development.
  • BTU staff can find further professional development opportunities on the website of the BTU Centre for Continuing Education (ZWW), including workshops in both German and English.
  • The BTU Research  Service also offers helpful seminars, including on topics such as good scientific practice, as well as third-party funding and grant applications.
  • The BTU University Library offers courses on using library resources for research and teaching, covering topics such as research data management and open science.
  • The WandelBARcourses support teaching and advisory staff in integrating future skills into their teaching and advisory work.
  • On the topic of science communication, you will find helpful presentations and videos from past events organised by the Cottbus Energy Innovation Centre (EIZ).
  • In addition, science slams take place regularly at the BTU and across the region. These provide an opportunity to hone your communication skills and present your research in a relaxed atmosphere. Upcoming events are listed in the BTU’s events calendar.
Mobility
  • Attending conferences and undertaking research stays abroad can be valuable opportunities for your professional development. Find out more about mobility grants (Research Stay Abroad or Conference Travel Grants) on the Graduate Research School (GRS) website.
  • Doctoral reseachers enrolled at BTU have the opportunity to undertake a stay abroad at European partner universities (3–12 months or 5–30 days) with funding from Erasmus+ EU. A stay in a non-European country is also possible at universities with subject-specific BTU cooperation agreements through Erasmus+ non-EU (2–12 months, with funding) or STUDEXA (1–2 semesters, without financial support).
  • Doctoral reseachers employed by the BTU may also take part in teaching or training placements at European or non-European universities with funding from Erasmus+ (2–60 days in Europe, 5–60 days outside Europe; outside Europe only with subject-specific placements). For short-term teaching placements, teaching sessions should comprise at least 4 hours per week; for longer placements, at least 8 hours.
  • Please note that there are no central funding opportunities for field research. These are research expenses that must be covered by the respective departments. Please discuss your individual options with your supervisor.
  • The BTU is part of the EUNICE network, which comprises several European partner universities and offers opportunities for stays abroad, networking and language courses (both online and offline).
  • For women, the BTU’s Equal Opportunities Office offers travel grants.
External offers
Volunteering
  • Volunteering offers you a valuable opportunity to get involved in the local community, improve your language skills in everyday interactions and build new contacts and networks. At the same time, you can further develop important transferable skills such as teamwork, communication skills and intercultural competence, which will be beneficial not only during your doctoral studies but also for your future career (e.g. in your application for scholarships).
  • The International Relations Office provides general information on volunteering and lists useful contacts on its website. The BTU Buddy Programme offers a great opportunity to gain volunteering experience.
  • The Cottbus Volunteer Agency also provides advice on various voluntary poistions and suggests options tailored to individual needs.

Stage 3: Final Phase of Your Doctorate

Jobs in academia
  • You can find current vacancies at BTU on the BTU careers portal.
  • The BTU’s Unit for Research Funding offers advice and workshops in German and English on how to secure funding for your own research position or a research project, for example from the EU or the DFG.
  • Find out more on the Lausitz Science Network website about current projects run by non-university research institutions in the region. There you will also find an overview of the job boards for all the network’s member organisations.
  • Research in Germany has compiled a list of job portals that specialise in publishing vacancies in the higher education and research sectors in Germany.
  • The Guidance, Skills and Opportunities for Researchers (GSO) initiative compiles a selection of current job vacancies for researchers in Germany, organised by subject area.
  • On the ‘Forschung & Lehre’ website, you can view new appointments to professorships in Germany, sorted by month and discipline. It is advisable to keep an eye on new appointments in your field and gain insights for your own career planning. Explore the profiles of those newly appointed, for example with regard to their publications or research collaborations. 
Jobs beyond academia
  • If you are considering a career outside academia after completing your doctoral studies, the BTU's Career Center offers a wide range of events to help you with the job application process in the private sector. On the website, you will also find a job portal featuring current vacancies in the region.
  • As Lusatia undergoes a structural transformation following the phase-out of lignite, new initiatives are creating exciting career and project-funding opportunities. Find out more about the new opportunities in the region on the Boomtown Cottbus, Net Zero Valley Lausitz and Lausitz Science Park websites.
  • If you already have a particular sector or career field in mind, consider gaining practical experience before applying, for example through project work, volunteering, job shadowing or informational interviews.
  • If you are interested in setting up your own business, we also recommend taking a look at the Innovators Club website, which is run by the BTU and the Lausitz Science Park. The Innovators Club helps students to turn their start-up ideas into reality. The BTU Startup Service supports students and graduates in setting up their own businesses for up to seven years after graduation. You can find current events and advisory services here.