Control of Renewable Energy Systems Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

The two-year European Master's on Control of Renewable Energy Systems (EU-CORE) programme is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programme that has been selected under the European Programmes of Excellence in 2024 through Erasmus+ 2021-27 key action 2. 

The programme is implemented, fully supported and carried out jointly by the following three universities:

• Ecole Centrale de Nantes, France
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany
• University of Zagreb (UNIZG), Croatia

These three full partners form a consortium. In parallel, more than 15 associated partners (universities and companies) around the world complete this network. To find out more about EU-CORE partners, see the full partners and associated partners websites.

The objective of the programme is to train top-level engineers from across the world on the design of advanced control technologies for renewable energy systems and to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of graduates who are needed to achieve Europe's environmental and energy ambitions under the Green Deal. 

Unlike other Erasmus+ programmes linked to renewable energy systems that focus on one source of energy, EU-CORE will cover all the main renewable energy sources and their associated control issues. Thanks to a selection of top-level academic and industrial partners, the skills developed throughout the EU-CORE programme will open the door to a wide variety of careers in the renewable energy industry.

The complementary nature of the consortium's partners means that students will be trained in specific fields in which the partners are internationally recognised. For example, students will be studying the control of wind energy systems, the management of energy storage, the control of solar and hydrogen systems and their integration into the grid.

To be fully in line with labour market requirements, the academic scheme of the programme is completed by soft/transferable skills training during winter/summer schools. In this way, EU-CORE offers a high degree of permeability between education, research, innovation, soft skills, industrial needs, and environmental concerns.

The programme of study lasts two academic years (120 ECTS), 24 months, split into four equally loaded semesters. 

Students attend EU-CORE courses at three different EU partner universities. They spend the first three semesters all together ensuring thus a vibrant class dynamic.

During the first three semesters, the programme will enable students to understand and learn a large frame of balanced competences. It will also ensure that they are not overly specialised in renewable energy systems and benefit also from a wider understanding of the physical principles of the main renewable energy systems and associated control issues.

The first semester at ECN will focus on Wind Energy, basics of Linear and Nonlinear Control Systems and Power Systems, and general topics in RES from Economics to Law.

The second semester at UNIZG will focus on Solar Energy, Smart Grids Management, Predictive Control and Estimation/Diagnosis.

The third semester at BTU will focus on Thermal Energy, Hydrogen, Storage and Integration in Power Grids.

The fourth semester will be devoted to a Master's thesis / internship. It will enable the students to choose a specialisation in one particular field (such as Wind, Solar, Thermal, Storage, etc.), to be duly integrated into the working world in line with their professional objectives. 

The academic scheme of the programme is completed by soft skills including languages, economy, humanities, project management and entrepreneurship as well as sustainable development issues. These skills will be introduced within the academic scheme of the programme as well as in the winter and summer schools.

Ecole Centrale de Nantes (France), University of Zagreb (Croatia)

In the fourth semester and in connection with the Master's thesis project

Please find all information on admission requirements at https://master-eu-core.ec-nantes.fr/admission/students/who-can-apply.

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.