Yes, this is an accurate elaboration on the situation. That doesn't take away from my point - that the stresses people are complaining about, in Anglo-Saxon 'gr

Yes, this is an accurate elaboration on the situation. That doesn't take away from my point - that the stresses people are complaining about, in Anglo-Saxon 'graduate level studies', can be compared to continental masters programs. Some of it is similar in continental PhD programs, but the GP's anecdote of experiencing this in a continental masters program is simply misunderstanding the situation. The fundamental problem here is that research is inherently uncertain, subjective and requires lots of creativity and independent thought (ideally - whether or not that actually happens is a different discussion). It's very different from undergraduate studies, which are usually 'do as you're told and you'll be fine'. Not everybody is suited for so much independence; in fact, often that do best in the rigid undergraduate system are those that are fundamentally wired to not do all that well in a more free form environment. None (at least, very little) of that exists in continental masters programs. You just take your courses, do well on your exams, and you're good. So that's what I meant as the fundamental difference between masters in continental vs Anglo-Saxon systems.