<p> Brandenburg University of Technology at Cottbus</p><p>Handbook for EURO AQUAE Students</p><p>Content Overview</p><p>1. INTENTION OF HANDBOOK FOR STUDENTS</p><p>2. BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (BTUC)</p><p>3. EUROAQUAE MSC “HYDROINFORMATICS AND WATER MANAGEMENT”</p><p>4. INSTITUTE BAUINFORMATIK - IN CHARGE OF EUROAQUAE</p><p>5. ACCESS TO EUROAQUAE</p><p>6. CURRICULUM MSC “HYDROINFORMATICS AND WATER MANAGEMENT”</p><p>7. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR BTUC-STUDENTS</p><p>1. Intention of Handbook for Students This handbook is intended to give student enrolling for EuroAquae MSc-Programme “Hydroinformatics and Water Management” some information to support their knowledge about the place and the procedures to enrol, to find accommodation and support in much respect. The Handbook is supplementing information on the homepage http://www.euroaquae.org</p><p>2. Brandenburg University of Technology (BTUC) The University was founded 1990 after reunification of Germany as successor of an existing higher education institution ranking in some disciplines on university level. The University has about 5.000 students enrolled in 4 Faculties, which are Faculty 1: Mathematics, Natural Science and Computer Science Faculty 2: Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning Faculty 3: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Industrial Engineering Faculty 4: Environment Engineering and Chemical Engineering. For description in detail see http://www.tu-cottbus.de The Library, Computer Center and Multi Media Center are providing modern infrastructure as well as study facilities.</p><p>The city of Cottbus http://www.cottbus.de is located 100 km south-east from Berlin. It has about 100.000 inhabitants. Between Berlin and Cottbus are excellent travel connections by railway (hourly trains) and highway at relatively low fares. The closest airports with international connections are Berlin-Tegel and Berlin- Schönefeld. </p><p>3. EuroAquae MSc “Hydroinformatics and Water Management” The EuroAquae MSc-Curriculum “Hydroinformatics and Water Management” is a Joint Degree programme of the 5 European Universities: </p><p>Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona (SP), </p><p>Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU), </p><p>Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus (DE), </p><p>University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), </p><p>University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis (F), </p><p>The Master of Science Degree on "Hydroinformatics and Water Management" is awarded after fulfilment of the requirements of the curriculum simultaneously from all universities as a Joint MSc-Degree recognised in all partner countries of the respective universities as national degree.</p><p>4. Institute Bauinformatik - in charge of EuroAquae The EuroAquae MSc-Programme is a joint activity of the Faculties 2 and 4 of BTUC. In charge of the Programme is the Institute Bauinformatik (means: “Edificial Informatics”, Faculty 2). More: http://bauinf.tu-cottbus.de Contact person in any matter of programme coordination and support at BTUC is: Mr. Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. K.-P. Holz Institute Bauinformatik Faculty 2: Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning Brandenburg University of Technology at Cottbus Konrad-Wachsmann Allee 1 D 03046 Cottbus, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Secretary phone: +49 355 69-2262 Contact person for student support is: Mrs. M.A. Kathryn E. Prouty Faculty 2, BTUC E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +49 355 69-3246 (Mondays)</p><p>5. Access to EuroAquae</p><p>5.1. Admission Criteria The EuroAquae Programme is open to any students fulfilling the requirements as specified on the homepage & ‘Application’.</p><p>5.2. Application An application has to be sent to the University Sophia-Antipolis in Nice (F) by e-mail or surface mail. Deadline for application is notified on the homepage & ‘Application’. Students applying for first semester at BTUC should notify contact person at BTUC (Prof. Holz) about application (informal mail, no documents be added) in order to care for eventual support needed. </p><p>5.3. Selection and Admission As the programme accepts limited number of about 40 students annually only, a selection on applications will be made by the international consortium “Management Board”. For dates see the homepage & ’Application’.</p><p>5.4. Financial Support</p><p> a. European Students at BTUC An overview on average living costs and tuition fees at the partner universities can be found on the homepage & ’Application’ at the very end in the file “financial support for EU-students”. Students spending 1st, 3rd and 4th semester at BTUC may apply for scholarship at the IPSWAT programme (German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. The description of the programme and application forms are found under http://www.internationales-buero.de/de/767.php, see “Internationale Aufbaustudien im Wasserfach”. Students wanting to do 2-3 months studies after 2nd semester or master work abroad may apply internally (for BTUC students contact Prof. Holz) for corresponding support. Individual grants up to 3.100 € in total are available for universities in Singapore, Madras (India) St. Fee (Argentina) and Lausanne/Zurich (Switzerland).</p><p> b. Non-European Students On overview on average living costs and tuition fees at the partner universities is found on the homepage & ’Application’ at the very end in the file “financial support for EU-students”. Scholarships may be provided through the European Erasmus Mundus Programme up to 42.000 € for 2 years programme plus additional health care and insurance program. Chances of successful application are 1:5. Applications should be made (together with application documents) directly to the University Sophia-Antipolis in Nice (F). Forms are available on the homepage & ’Application’.</p><p>5.5. Visa Non-EU students need visa for France, Germany, Hungary, Spain and UK. As France, Germany and Spain are “Schengen States”, one visa with 2 years validity and free mobility within “Schengen States” should be applied for. Necessary documents for visa application for Non-European students with Erasmus Mundus scholarships are provided to the students directly by the University Sophia- Antipolis in Nice after admission notification. BTUC-Students going for 2nd semester to Newcastle (UK) may apply for UK visa during the 1st semester at the UK consulate in Düsseldorf. After receiving letter of admission from Newcastle University the BTUC-Office for International Affairs (AAA) supports students with respective formalities.</p><p>5.6. Enrolment All students are enrolled at the University Sophia-Antipolis in Nice (co-ordinating university) in parallel to the Universities of their actual study. Enrolment at University Sophia-Antipolis in Nice is done automatically by admission. Enrolment at BTUC is to be done locally on arrival. Enrolment of international, in particular Non-European, students is supported by the BTUC-Office for International Affairs (AAA). Tuition fees have to be paid at BTUC on enrolment. In case that grants for scholarships have not yet been paid, the AAA will find an intermediate solution. With enrolment at BTUC students will get German Student Certificate; international Student Certificate is issued by the Council of Students (Studierendenrat) of the BTUC. </p><p>5.7. Bank Account BTUC-students obtaining financial support are strongly requested to open a bank account at Deutsche Bank Cottbus. The bank account is accessible from all countries of the partner university and thus facilitates mobility. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are paid per semester. EU office in Brussels transfers the grants to the University Sophia-Antipolis in Nice which pays to the students accounts directly. The University of Nice has a cooperation contract with the Deutsche Bank which facilitates money transfer at low costs. Opening the bank account at Deutsche Bank Cottbus is supported by members of the BTUC-Office for International Affairs (AAA) on arrival in case students having no or limited competence of German language. 6. Curriculum MSc “Hydroinformatics and Water Management”</p><p>6.1. Educational Goals “The main objective of the Master is to prepare and train future scientists and engineers in charge of modelling and managing projects in hydro-technologies and environment. These professionals will assist decision-makers of local, regional, national and international collectivities, of public services, and of utilities, or they will be involved in consulting activities with private companies. Their technical expertise will be accompanied by the understanding of the social and economic context in which techniques are implemented”. Hydroinformatics in this context refers to the ability of mapping the potential of modern information and communication technology to the physical (numerical simulation) as well as organisational and administrative (workflow) processes in the environment water. The education does not aim at training programming experts. </p><p>6.2. Teaching Scheme Teaching scheme is organised in the manner, that 1st semester may be taken at any of the partner universities. Basics are taught to create common preparation for semester 2. The 2nd semester is compulsory for all students in Newcastle University. Thus competency in English language is supported. The 3rd semester might be studied at any of the other 4 universities with thematic specialisations. The 4th semester is reserved for master thesis, done either in the profession or in the universities with strong professional ties. Coherence of the programme is ensured by Web-based collaboration between all partners at all stages of the education programme. This activity is supported by a period of presence of all students at the University Sophia- Antipolis in Nice (F). For more see homepage & ‘Scheme’ and ‘Curriculum’.</p><p>6.3. ECTS Transcript The Programme follows the spirit of the Bologna Declaration. All achievements and examinations within individual modules are evaluated and transcripts are provided for continuing studies elsewhere.</p><p>6.4. Course Book BTUC provides a Course Book to all students to follow up the achievements and examinations passed. After each examination the marks are registered and approved by the corresponding teachers. The Course book remains with the students and is the basis for transcript approvals.</p><p>6.5. Examination and Study Regulations Students are subject to the regulations of the local university where they study. The corresponding regulations for BTUC contain an overview on modules, ECTS awarded are given on the homepage & ’Curriculum’ and examination marks and procedures are given under homepage & ’Curriculum’ see ’Regulations’.</p><p>6.6. Final Examination, Degree, Certificate The final examination is obtained after finalising master work, written and by disputation. The awarded degree is Master of Science “Hydroinformatics and Water Management”. The certificate edited contains the logo of all partner university to underline the character of “Joint Degree”. The degree is recognised in all countries of the partner universities as national degree.</p><p>6.7. Mentoring Students will be supervised and taken care of by teachers from the programme to support their learning and to advise in social matters. Mentors will be nominated individually within 4 weeks after arrival at BTUC.</p><p>6.8. Language of Instruction Teaching language is English. It is expected that students pick up elementary knowledge of German language. Courses are offered at the BTUC Center for Foreign Languages, see: http://www.tu-cottbus.de/Sprachen/main/engl_start.htm. Besides this opportunity students may acquire German knowledge before coming to Cottbus within the “DUO” programme, see homepage & ‘Application’ and then the file “learning German before”.</p><p>6.9. Semester Dates and Periods Due to different regulations within the EuroAquae partner universities, semester dates / periods for EuroAquae are individually agreed for each semester. As a rule the 1st semester starts at all places mid of September each year. For details see: homepage & ‘Timetables’.</p><p>7. General information for BTUC-students</p><p>7.1. Accommodation BTUC students can choose to live either in student dormitories or in private accommodation in the city of Cottbus. The Student Service Office of the university runs a student residence hall in Cottbus with accommodations for about 2300 students in single and double rooms. Additionally the Student Service Office has a day nursery for children of students, a Counselling Service to help with any problems that may arise, a Job Placement Office and a Special Event Office which organize a wide range of activities for students.</p><p>For further information please click at Students' Housing.</p><p>7.2. Local Travel Costs The campus and the student hostels in Cottbus are located next to the campus. Many shopping possibilities are within walking distance of the campus. A one month ticket for public travel services (Bus and Tram) in Cottbus costs 25.50€. For more see: VBB-cable- car map . Train connections to the neighbouring cities (Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig) are available from Cottbus directly. A return ticket for one person from Cottbus to Berlin costs 24€. For groups up to 5 persons a cheap group travel ticket called “Brandenburg ticket” is also available for the same price.</p><p>7.3. Medical facilities In the city of Cottbus all medical services are available. The BTUC Office for International Affairs (AAA) gives assistance in case of limited German language knowledge. 7.4. Facilities for special needs students For exceptional needs students are different supports available at the campus e.g. slopes and lifts or elevators. The representative for people with exceptional needs can be found at this site. </p><p>7.5. Insurance It is mandatory that all students have health insurance coverage, which means they must either have insurance from their home countries, European Union through scholarship or they have to join German compulsory or private health insurance. The costs for health insurance are regulated by law and, at present, amounts approx. 52 Euro per year for students below the age of 30. Above this age the costs of the insurance must be individually agreed with the respective insurance company. The health insurance covers nearly all treatment costs. </p><p>7.6. Student affairs office The student advisory service informs and advises public school pupils, university students and all those who are interested in studying at the BTU in general about:</p><p> the programs of study which are offered at the BTU,  the general prerequisites for studying at the BTU,  the admission requirements and the possible limitations to admission,  admission possibilities without a high school diploma,  the formalities of registration,  the conditions of study: the organization, contents and requirements of each program,  your choices of fields of study (major) and the conditions for changing your field of study,  transfer to another university or the termination of your studies.</p><p>7.7. Office for International Affairs (AAA) For students from abroad the Office for International Affairs is offering social events, clubs and further activities to make their stay comfortable. For more see http://www.tu- cottbus.de/cms/Internationales.23.0.html.</p><p>7.8. International programmes To support mobility of students and internships the Office for International Affairs is giving support through the programmes Leonardo, Sokrates, IASTE.</p><p>7.9. Language courses The Language Center at the BTUC offers German courses for foreign students. The course, actually, starts in September. </p><p>7.10. Sports facilities The BTUC provides a wide offering of leisure-time activities. Before each term, a pamphlet with the entire offer is displayed in the “Mensa” and student affaires offices. At the starting week interested students can attend the sports courses and see whether they like it or not. Subscribe to a course here. Please, first of all read the participation requirements under “Hinweise”. The main sports facility is the “Sporthalle” which means ‘gym’. There you can find the “Halle 1” and further gymnastic rooms. For table tennis and martial arts the appropriate facilities can also be found on the map. 7.11. Extra-mural and leisure activities For experiencing culture of Cottbus please visit Campus&SocialLife and Evens&Dates.</p><p>7.12. Student associations There are quite a number of Students Associations on Campus, for more see Associations according to the Faculties.</p>