Why Study at BTU?
Brandenburg University of Technology established in 1991 is characterised by its unique study and research opportunities. Social issues and the poignant questions of our century can be studied in the real-life-lab setting of Southeast Brandenburg.Our specific location allows in situ research the results of which are of great international interest. Our approach in research and teaching is interdisciplinary, proceeding systematically and integrating sustainability right from the start.
BTU Cottbus is characterised by its transdisciplinarity as exemplified in topic-oriented cooperation in research and teaching that goes beyond the individual subject areas. Main research areas determining our profile are the environment, energy, material, construction, and information / communication technology.
Excellent studying conditions in new teaching and lab facilities with ultramodern equipment provide a superb prerequisites for successful studying . The campus is in close vicinity to the city centre. At present, approx. 5,000 students, including around 1,000 international students from over 80 different countries, study at BTU.
BTU is a university of short distances. Student residences, lecture halls, dining and sports facilities, clubs and the library are all close at hand. Downtown Cottbus is only a ten-minute walk away. New students can get an apartment in one of the modern student residences on campus. BTU students are well served and student life is marked by personal contacts to the teaching staff.
A Green and Lively City
Cottbus is situated in the eastern part of Germany, about 100 kilometres from the German Capital, Berlin. With about 100 000 inhabitants Cottbus is a bustling, medium-sized city in the centre of the Lausitz region. It is a green city with a chain of parks including the Branitz Park, which is one of the most important landscape gardens in Germany. In summer the park with its pyramids and beautiful watercourses invites one for picnics and concerts in the open countryside. Throughout the city there are gardens, promenades, squares and tree-lined avenues. The footpaths along the banks of the River Spree are especially delightful for walking or cycling.
Rich Culture and Nightlife
Plays, ballets, opera and orchestral performances are all available at the State Theatre in Cottbus which boasts an excellent reputation, especially among the German language theatres.
The presence of the students from the University has given the city a special atmosphere, with activities like film festivals, rock concerts, and lively bars. There are also several cinemas catering to both mainstream and international tastes in Cottbus. The East European Film Festival, for instance, which is held in late autumn, is among the annual highlights.
The Region
The countryside surrounding Cottbus is particularly attractive. First there is the Spreewald forest a Biosphere Reserve that covers an area of 480 square kilometres, and sports an abundance of waterways making it an ideal recreational area. The most exciting way of discovering the origin of its natural beauty is to go by boat across the labyrinth of the Spree's countless braided channels. There are also the many lakes south of Cottbus which open the door to sailing and windsurfing. During the summer they attract sunbathers and swimmers alike. The region of Cottbus is characterized by a post mining landscape, out of which beautiful and highly valuable ecological areas have developed into a virtual cornucopia of rare animals, birds and plants species. And finally, Poland and the Czech Republic are just around the corner and can be easily explored within a weekend trip.
