In short
Cottbus has 2 universities and colleges offering 77 degree courses (31 Bachelor's, 44 Master's), and 35% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg charges no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Cottbus is the centre of Lusatia, a region moving from lignite mining to new industries, research and a new medical university. BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg is the main university, with energy, environmental and engineering programmes, and 35% of courses taught in English or bilingually. Life is quiet and inexpensive, and the Spreewald is on the doorstep.
Universities in Cottbus
Every university and college in Cottbus in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (opens in a new tab)
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
University 77 courses
- Website of Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem (opens in a new tab)
Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem
University 0 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Cottbus costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- No figure yetNot covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 — check the local Studierendenwerk.
- Tuition for non-EU students
- €0 / semesterPlus the semester contribution every student pays. The rules are summed up in In short.
- Proof of funds for a visa
- €992 / monthThe proof of funds German missions currently ask of student-visa applicants (€11,904 a year) — confirm with the German embassy or consulate handling your application.
Good to know
- Cottbus is not in the MLP rent study, but it is one of the more affordable places to study in eastern Germany.
- Berlin is about 80 minutes away by regional train, covered by your semester ticket.
- Learning some German helps a lot outside the university.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Cottbus.
LEAG
Energy
Lusatia's large energy company, moving from lignite towards renewables.
Deutsche Bahn ICE works
Rail
A new ICE maintenance works opened in Cottbus in January 2024 and is still expanding.
Medical University of Lusatia – Carl Thiem
Healthcare
The new state medical university and hospital, the city's largest employer.
Culture & people
Cottbus is the cultural centre of the Sorbs (Wends), a Slavic minority with its own language and traditions; street signs are bilingual and Easter eggs decorated in Sorbian style are a local speciality. The Staatstheater, an art nouveau theatre, is the city's pride.
Prince Hermann von Pückler, a famous 19th-century landscape gardener, created Branitz Park with its earth pyramids just outside the centre. The Spreewald, a maze of canals explored by punt or canoe and famous for its pickled gherkins, is a short trip away.
Events & festivals
FilmFestival Cottbus
November
Germany's leading festival of Eastern European cinema, held since 1991.
Sorbian Easter traditions
Spring
Decorated eggs, Easter riders and markets across Lusatia.
Spreewald paddling
Summer
Canoe and punt trips on the Spreewald's canals.
Places to see
Branitz Park
Park
Prince Pückler's landscape park with a lake pyramid where he is buried.
Staatstheater Cottbus
Theatre
Art nouveau theatre building from 1908.
Spreewald
Nature
UNESCO biosphere reserve of canals and forests.
Cottbuser Ostsee
Lake
A former open-cast mine being flooded to become Germany's largest artificial lake.
Getting around
Cottbus's trams and buses and regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Regional trains reach Berlin in about 80 minutes and Dresden in under two hours, and BER is the nearest international airport. The city is small and flat, so cycling works well.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Cottbus, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Cottbus: FAQ
Which universities are in Cottbus?
The main university is the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg (BTU). The Medical University of Lusatia – Carl Thiem was founded recently and is building up its medical degree programmes.
Can I study in English in Cottbus?
Yes. 35% of Cottbus's 77 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, a high share, mostly Master's programmes at BTU.
Is Cottbus cheap for students?
Cottbus is not covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026, but as a small eastern German city it is generally much cheaper than Berlin or other big university cities.
Do I pay tuition fees in Cottbus?
No. BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg is public and charges no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
More guides in Brandenburg
Sources
- BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg (opens in a new tab)
- FilmFestival Cottbus (opens in a new tab)
- Deutsche Bahn: opening of the Cottbus works (January 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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