German experience shows that greater freedom also implies greater responsibility
Universal point system
The curriculum in Germany (as in other countries participating in the Bologna Process) is divided into modules – independent study blocks, some of which are compulsory, some elective (mandatory courses chosen by the student). As Deutsche Welle notes, the weight of a module is determined by ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). One credit corresponds to approximately 25-30 study hours.
The curriculum is structured so that a student must earn 60 ECTS per year, i.e., "work through" about 1500-1800 study hours. In total, to obtain a degree, a student must earn 180-240 credits in a bachelor's program and another 60-120 in a master's program, for a total of 300 credits. The number of ECTS depends on the specific program and its duration. However, the duration of study can always be extended for a certain period, guided by the institution's regulations.
In Germany, each federal state (there are 16 in total) has its own education acts and guidelines. Universities in Germany are also quite independent, so admission rules, curricula, exam regulations, and deadlines may differ, not only depending on the university but also on the specific faculty or program.
Klaus Becker, Deputy Head of Media Relations at the Technical University of Munich (TU München), says: "In the German education system, there are no restrictions on what part of the curriculum should be elective and what part compulsory. Thus, faculties make decisions for each program according to didactic aspects and specialization. There is a larger compulsory component in bachelor's programs than in master's programs."
Despite the fact that the student chooses some subjects themselves, a compulsory part of the curriculum or some system in course selection still exists. So future programmers and physicists will not be able to avoid lectures on mathematical analysis and linear algebra.
A bachelor's student may be offered a choice of several subjects during the last semesters of study, as well as freedom in choosing courses on soft skills. Also, the curriculum is determined by which specialization or, for example, additional (second) major the student chooses.
Freedom of choice and responsibility
Some programs imply greater freedom of choice. For example, in the master's program Applied and Engineering Physics at the Technical University of Munich, there is only one compulsory theoretical course, for which the student receives 10 credits. The student composes all other schedules independently, depending on their area of interest and with the support of a mentor – a faculty professor, whom they also find themselves.
"My program offers a wide choice of courses. I can study subjects from completely different fields and exactly what I am interested in. This is very good for a master's program: most students already have an idea of the field they want to work in," says Mark Zamsky, a master's student. A year ago, he graduated from the bachelor's program at the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University and decided to continue his studies in Munich.
Mark says: "We have to take several courses from other faculties' programs. So, alongside my major, I can study programming. This allows me to become not only an expert in a narrow field but also a broad specialist. If I want, I can take more courses than my individual study plan implies, and they will still be listed in my diploma."
At the same time, Mark notes that such great freedom also implies greater responsibility: the student must understand in which direction they want to move and develop, and which subjects to focus on. If difficulties arise, they can always seek advice from a professor or refer to the study plans developed by the university.