[rocqua]

Here in the Netherlands, we switched to 3 + 2 years of BSc + MSc from a 5 year degree a while back.

The actual program didn't change, just the diplomas you get in the end. Based on this, I'm comfortable saying that an MSc given these days is essentially the old 5 year degree.

[majewsky]

> The actual program didn't change

I was studying physics in Germany right when the transition from 5-year diploma to 3+2 BSc+MSc happened. While most parts of the curriculum stayed the same, faculty took the opportunity to modernize the curriculum. For example, Computational Physics (an introductory programming course with a focus on numerical calculation methods and how to deal with precision-induced numerical errors) was upgraded from optional to mandatory, given that nearly all physicists have to write some code these days.

[madengr]

How can you cover a BS in 3 years? Most engineering graduates take 5 years for a BS. I only did it in 4 by 18-21 credits/semester and 1 summer.

[barry-cotter]

Outside the US and countries that ape its university system there are no general education requirements. You study your degree subject and nothing else. The well rounded citizen stuff is presumed covered in secondary school.

[kilburn]

The 5-year degrees that existed in most of Europe before bologna were not centered around being a "well-rounded citizen". They were centered around being a "well-rounded" major.

In CS, this means that you were taught courses ranging from basic Electrical Engineering all the way to Artificial Intelligence, including physics, algebra, calculus, signal processing, theory of computation, algorithms, databases, computer architecture, compilers, computer networks, robotics, etc.. That is, you got introductory-level courses on everything that makes "computer-stuff", and then there were a number of optional courses where you specialized.

I really don't think you can cover all that material in 3 years...