Brandenburg | German Year Guide for GJU students

Brandenburg

Lakes, pine forests, and calm campuses around Berlin

Brandenburg wraps around Berlin. Its campuses in Potsdam, Wildau and Brandenburg an der Havel are close enough to the capital that many students live cheaply there and travel into Berlin for weekends. Cottbus, near the Polish border, is quieter and very affordable. Tesla's gigafactory and Berlin's tech scene are within reach for internships.

Host universities: 4
Host cities: 4
Capital: Potsdam
Rent level: Moderate

4 host universities

Study in Brandenburg

Each guide has campus videos, the GJU entry conditions, local prices and housing links.

BB · 03046

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

Cottbus · Brandenburg

No extra conditions listed

Open guide

BB · 14469

FH Potsdam

Potsdam · Brandenburg

No extra conditions listed

Open guide

BB · 14770

TH Brandenburg

Brandenburg an der Havel · Brandenburg

No extra conditions listed

Open guide

BB · 15745

TH Wildau

Wildau · Brandenburg

German B1

Open guide

Watch

Brandenburg on video

Travel guides, city walks and campus tours for every host city in Brandenburg.

Calendar

Festivals & events worth your weekend

Most are free to enter. With your semester ticket, getting there on regional trains costs nothing.

August

Potsdam Palace Night

Potsdam

Music and light shows in the Sanssouci gardens.

August

Spreewald Gurkentag

Golßen

The pickle festival. Yes, really.

Dec

Christmas markets

Potsdam, Cottbus

The Dutch Quarter market in Potsdam is a favourite.

Every city

Christmas markets

From late November, every town square in Germany fills with stalls, lights and roasted almonds. Look for halal crêpes and children's punch (non-alcoholic).

Explore

Things to do

Palace

Sanssouci, Potsdam

Frederick the Great's summer palace and terraced vineyards.

Nature

Spreewald

Paddle through canals in a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Lakes

Lake swimming

Hundreds of lakes with free swimming spots in summer.

Park

Branitz Park, Cottbus

A landscape park with earth pyramids, built by Prince Pückler.

Prices

What things cost in Brandenburg

Rent changes most from city to city; everyday prices follow it a little. Pick a city to adjust the whole table.

*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.

Item	Price in Potsdam	Notes
Fees & paperwork
Semester fee	€280–420 / semester	Set by each university and includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket. Hochschule Schmalkalden: €331.80 for winter 2026/27.
Blocked account payout	€992 / month	Official 2026 amount for study visas: €11,904 for 12 months. Providers charge a one-off fee.
Public health insurance	€141.16 / month	TK student rate for 2026, under 23. From 23 without children: €146.29. Other public insurers differ by a few euros.
Visa (national D visa)	€75 once	Paid at the German embassy in Amman.
Residence permit	€100 once	First permit at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Extending it by more than 3 months costs €93.
Broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)	€18.36 / month	Per flat, split among flatmates: €6.12 each with three.
Biometric photos	€11–16.50 once	Photo booth or drugstore (dm, Rossmann).
Housing extras
Deposit (Kaution)	€300–1,500 once	Dorms usually a few hundred euros; private flats up to 3 months of cold rent.
Home internet	€11–35 / month	Dorm LAN is sometimes extra, or split a WG contract.
Furniture & kitchen basics	€55–220 once	Kleinanzeigen, IKEA, leftovers from outgoing students.
Bedding & towels	€45–90 once	IKEA, Primark, TK Maxx.
Household liability insurance	€3.50–6.50 / month	Haftpflicht: cheap and strongly recommended.
Food & groceries
Groceries	€165–255 / month	Cooking at home, shopping at Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny and Kaufland.
Mensa main meal	€2.80–5.50 / meal	Student price with your student card.
Bread rolls (Brötchen)	€0.40–0.90 / piece	Supermarket rolls are cheaper than bakery ones.
Halal chicken (1 kg)	€7.50–12 / kg	Turkish or Arabic supermarkets.
Rice (1 kg)	€1.70–3.50 / kg	Basmati costs more.
Hummus / tahini jar	€2.20–4.50 / jar	Arabic shops and big supermarkets.
Milk (1 L)	€1.10–1.40 / litre
Eggs (10)	€2.80–4 / pack
Eating out & drinks
Döner / falafel	€7.50–10 / meal	The student staple.
Pizza in a restaurant	€10–15.50 / meal
Restaurant main course	€14.50–24 / meal
Shawarma plate	€11–16.50 / meal	Arabic restaurants in bigger cities.
Coffee / cappuccino	€2.80–5 / cup	Cheaper in the Mensa café.
Soft drink / juice in a café	€3.50–5 / glass
Water bottle (supermarket)	€0.30–0.90 / bottle	Plus a small deposit you get back. Tap water is safe to drink.
Ice cream scoop	€2–2.80 / scoop
Transport
Regional trains & buses, all Germany	€0 extra	The Deutschlandsemesterticket is part of the semester fee at almost every host university: €226.80 a semester (€37.80 a month) from winter 2026/27.
Deutschlandticket (no semester ticket)	€63 / month	Only if your university has no semester ticket. Monthly subscription, cancel any month.
My BahnCard 25 (under 27)	€39.90 / year	25% off ICE and IC tickets, 2nd class. Cancel at least 6 weeks before the year ends, or it renews.
ICE / IC long-distance train	€18–80 / trip	Book early for Sparpreis tickets.
FlixBus to big cities	€10–35 / trip
Used bike	€90–220 once	Kleinanzeigen or university bike markets. Buy a good lock.
E-scooter ride	€3.50–6.50 / ride	Lime, Tier and Voi in bigger cities.
Taxi (5 km)	€16.50–24 / ride
Flight to Amman (return)	€220–480 / return	From Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich. Book 2–3 months ahead.
Services & phone
Prepaid SIM with data	€8–15 / month	Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar, Fraenk.
Bank account	€0–6 / month	Online banks (N26, DKB, C24) are usually free.
Haircut	€16.50–27.50 / cut	Barbers are often cheaper.
Laundry (dorm machine)	€1.70–3.50 / wash
Printing (per page)	€0.05–0.10 / page	University printers with your student card.
Doctor visit	€0 / visit	Covered by public health insurance. Bring your card.
Prescription medicine	€5–10 / item	Co-payment set by law: 10% of the price, at least €5 and at most €10 per item.
Gyms & sport
University sports courses	€0–30 / semester	Football, volleyball, climbing, fitness: often free or almost free.
Budget gym (McFit, FitX, clever fit)	€22–40 / month	Check the contract length and sign-up fee.
Public swimming pool	€3.50–6.50 / entry	Student discount with ID.
Climbing / bouldering hall	€11–16.50 / entry
Football boots / sports gear	€35–90 once	Decathlon is the budget choice.
Fun & activities
Cinema	€9–14.50 / ticket	Cheaper on discount days (often Tue or Wed).
Museum	€4.50–11 / entry	Student prices with ID; many museums are free on certain days.
Castle / palace visit	€5.50–16.50 / entry
Bundesliga football ticket	€16.50–50 / ticket	Standing tickets are cheapest. Book early.
Escape room / bowling	€13–27.50 / person
Student party entry	€3.50–11 / entry
Christmas market snack	€3.50–6.50 / item	Roasted almonds, crêpes, children's punch.
Weekend trip (hostel + food)	€65–165 / trip	Travel is free on regional trains with your ticket.
Clothes & seasonal
Winter jacket	€65–165 once	You will need it from November to March.
Winter boots	€45–110 once	Waterproof. Snow and slush are common.
Rain jacket / umbrella	€16.50–65 once
Toiletries & drugstore	€27.50–45 / month	dm and Rossmann.

Plan your monthly budget

Housing

Dorms and trusted housing sites

Student dorms run by the Studierendenwerk are the cheapest option and include bills. Apply the day applications open.

Official student housing

Studierendenwerke in Brandenburg

Studentenwerk PotsdamServes Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel, Wildau Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder)Serves Cottbus, Senftenberg, Frankfurt (Oder)

Search by city

WG rooms and private flats

WG-GesuchtMost usedThe main shared-flat portal in Germany. Turn on email alerts and message fast.KleinanzeigenClassifieds for rooms, sublets, bikes and cheap furniture.ImmoScout24The largest listing site for flats. Landlords often ask for a SCHUFA credit report.ImmoweltThe second big listing site for flats.Studenten-WG.deStudent-only room listings.WG-Suche.deA smaller WG portal, worth checking in smaller towns.HousingAnywherePayment protectionBook a room from Amman with payment protection. Prices are higher; few listings in small towns.

Quick dorm search for each host city

Brandenburg an der Havel Cottbus Potsdam Wildau

Avoid scams. Never send a deposit before you have seen the room in person or on a live video call. A "landlord abroad" who will post you the keys is always a scam. More housing advice

Internship semester