Urban Design and Sustainable Revitalisation Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

The Master's programme in Urban Design and Sustainable Revitalisation cordially welcomes motivated individuals from across the globe and Germany. Prospective applicants are expected to hold a Bachelor degree in architecture, urban and regional planning, urban design, landscape architecture, or related disciplines.

This programme offers a diverse curriculum designed to equip students with essential urban design skills, with a specific focus on revitalising existing neighbourhoods and urban landscapes of cultural significance. Graduates will acquire the expertise necessary to address the multifaceted challenges of contemporary urban environments, fostering innovative solutions for sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich communities.

At the core of the curriculum lies an interdisciplinary approach to learning and practical engagement. Through design-based projects and comprehensive coursework, students explore the intricate relationship between architecture, urban design, urban development, and cultural heritage preservation. This approach empowers students to envision and implement holistic solutions that shape the built environment across various scales.

The programme offers two study options:

• A standard four-semester degree programme, fully offered at BTU, with an option to study one semester abroad
   
• A double degree programme in cooperation with Cairo and Alexandria universities in Egypt

Standard four-semester programme

The Master's programme revolves around Urban Design, where analytical thinking and critical analysis are the key aspects. Each semester, students take on a design project and choose from several elective modules. The programme delves deep into urban design concepts.

• First Semester

Focuses on Urban Design and Rehabilitation
Students work on a design project and take a module on Fundamentals of Urban Design and Development. Various elective modules are also available.

• Second and Third Semester

Cover a broad range of urban design, planning, landscape architecture, and architecture topics
Students can choose one mandatory project and other elective courses.

• Fourth Semester

The fourth academic semester is dedicated to working on the Master's thesis, which is supervised by two professors.

Double Degree programme

The double degree option includes two mandatory semesters in Egypt. Participants begin by studying the first semester at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, followed by the second semester at Cairo University and the third semester at Alexandria University. During the fourth semester, dedicated to the Master's thesis, students have the flexibility to select their university based on their chosen topic and preferred supervisors.

• First Semester – BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

Focuses on Urban Design and Rehabilitation
Students work on a design project and take a module on Fundamentals of Urban Design and Development. Various elective modules are also available.

• Second Semester – Cairo University

Focuses on Urban Development
Students can choose from elective modules covering up topics such as Urban Regeneration and Mobility Planning.

• Third Semester – Alexandria University

Emphasises on Architecture in Historic Context
Students will have the chance to learn about adaptive re-use of old buildings and new technologies for sustainable building rehabilitation.

• Fourth Semester – BTU I Cairo University I Alexandria University

The fourth academic semester is dedicated to working on the Master's thesis, which is supervised by professors from two of the three partner universities.

Upon successfully completing the programme, participants are granted a double degree Master of Science from two partner universities. The determination of which universities award the degrees is based on the affiliations of the two supervisors chosen by the students for the Master's thesis.

Cairo University and Alexandria University, Egypt

While internships are not a mandatory part of the curriculum, they are encouraged. The summer break between the second and third semester is the longest in the programme and lends itself to doing an internship. Programme advisers and professors can assist students in finding an appropriate internship.

https://www.b-tu.de/en/urban-design-ms/application#c361592

• A first qualifying academic degree (at least a Bachelor's degree) in architecture, urban design, urban planning, regional planning, landscape planning, or landscape architecture;
• Experience in the recognition of relevant urban development problems, defining tasks, methods, and strategies for solving these problems as well as the ability to develop qualified concepts and to present them. (This criterion is evaluated on the basis of a project portfolio that is to be submitted with the application.)

Apart from a few degree programmes, education offered at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is without tuition fees. However, the university does charge a semester fee each semester (currently: winter semester 2026/27: 391.80 EUR). This covers costs for student services organisation, the Student Council as well as the semester ticket.

Studies abroad often have different types of expenses from the ones you know from your home country. You are responsible for covering your own living expenses. Accommodation and other essential living expenses will amount to around 780 to 1,000 EUR per month. Of course, this amount depends entirely on individual lifestyle. The following list gives you an idea of some fixed and variable costs that you should take into account for your stay in Germany.

Monthly costs:

• rent (including utilities): 250 to 450 EUR
• groceries: approx. 160 to 180 EUR
• health insurance, medical fees, medication: approx. 145 EUR
• miscellaneous (clothing, study materials, other activities): 170 to 220 EUR

Total: 780 to 1,000 EUR

The so-called "Deutschlandticket" included in the semester ticket allows you to travel using all local public means of transportation throughout Germany.

There are job opportunities both in town and on campus. Nevertheless, please do not come to Germany expecting to be able to finance your entire studies by working. The study load is high, it is not always easy to find a part-time job and you will need at least basic German skills for many of the available jobs. Students from non-European countries are allowed to work either 120 whole days or 240 half days annually. The 120-day rule is not affected by mandatory internships or student assistance jobs at university. Students from EU member countries, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can work without restrictions during their studies in Germany.

Studying at BTU is mostly free of (tuition) fees. Because of this, there are only limited scholarship opportunities for international students. The International Relations Office is nonetheless pleased to be able to award a limited number of scholarships to international students already enrolled at BTU. You can find more information on BTU scholarship opportunities on our websites.

The BTU Career Center offers extensive support to international students and graduates, ensuring that students experience a smooth transition into the job market. We help students on their journey to a successful career path by offering seminars, workshops and career advisory services to ensure that students succeed in their job application processes and land great positions.

Our offers include:

• BTU Job Market: online job board for students
• BTU Campus-X-Change and BTU Matching Day: annual job fair and online recruiting event to connect students with employers
• FIT@BTU: a DAAD-funded project that helps students make the transition to a successful career
• Start up your Career in Brandenburg: a project co-financed by the EU and Brandenburg, with the aim of preparing international students for the Brandenburg job market

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is a university with three locations where numerous student dormitories are provided. Students can choose between different room types. The room capacities in our dormitories are limited, thus we recommend to apply as early as you receive your admission letter for an apartment in the dormitories.

In Germany, it is also very common for students to live alone or with friends. If three or more people share an apartment together, this is called a "WG" in German ("Wohngemeinschaft", which means a shared flat). A comprehensive list on student accommodation and housing options at BTU's three locations can be found on our websites, as well as a video about how students live in both Cottbus and Senftenberg.

Located on three campuses and with over 70 study programmes, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg offers a broad spectrum of market-oriented programmes as well as traditional degree programmes.

From the natural sciences and engineering to economics, cultural studies, and even health sciences, BTU offers a wide range of courses. Our 21 study programmes taught exclusively in English are very popular among both German and international students from all over the world.

BTU is partnered with over 220 universities throughout the world, which provides students with a multitude of excellent opportunities to spend part of their time studying or conducting research abroad. Furthermore, in cooperation with our international partner universities, BTU offers a wide range of double degree and joint degree programmes.

Cottbus is located in the northeast of Germany, between the country’s capital, Berlin (100 km), and Dresden (120 km). With a population of approx. 100,000 inhabitants, Cottbus is the second largest city after Potsdam in the federal state of Brandenburg. The Polish border is only approx. 30 km away. The location of Cottbus offers a convenient starting point for trips into the picturesque region of Lower Lusatia. The landscape of Lower Lusatia is characterised by the Spreewald with its small canals and waterways as well as by the Slavonic minority called Sorbs or Wends. Their language, similar to Polish, is still used and spoken in Lower Lusatia. For this reason, many of the road signs and informational boards in Cottbus and the surrounding region are written in both Sorbian and German. 

Cottbus gained importance as a trade centre in the 12th century. Parts of the original city wall from the 14th century as well as the beautiful townhouses around the old market square are proof of the city’s early splendour. Additionally, the city is characterised by buildings from the "Wilhelminian" times of rapid industrial growth in Germany, which occurred towards the end of the 19th century. The city that first rose to prominence with its cloth and linen weaving industry soon evolved into a growing centre of brown coal mining. Today, Cottbus is in the midst of a structural transformation. BTU supports this development with its engagement in the Lausitz Science Park megaproject, which aims to build an appealing innovation landscape.

Senftenberg is the centre of the Lusatia Lake District. Former excavation and mining pits have been flooded in order to create the largest artificial lake system in Europe, with a total of 23 large lakes. The water sports area "Senftenberger See", with its water surface of 1,300 hectares, offers exceptional sailing and surfing opportunities, and it is suitable for all kinds of water sports. Senftenberg has thus become a tourist attraction within the region.