A bit confused on European Education system

[pd]

I'm considering applying for some programs in Europe for the Fall. (I'll have a Physics BS in May.) However, I'm a bit confused about how things works wrt grad school over there and want to confirm that I got it right:

When you have a BS, you apply to "diploma" programs, which are essentially equivalent to a thisis-based Masters.
Once receive your diploma, you apply to a PhD program.

Is this correct? (Put another way, I don't apply to PhD programs, but to diploma programs since I only have a BS.)

[Imperate]

Yeah, you wouldn't be eligible to start a PhD straight away in Europe with just a BS. In the UK the masters is 1 year long, most other places in Europe the masters/Diploma is usually 2 years long.

[Helio]

sometimes they allow you to enter with a BS, but you will have to hand in a master thesis on the way.... IMPRES does that sometimes

[tokamak]

I'm considering applying for some programs in Europe for the Fall. (I'll have a Physics BS in May.) However, I'm a bit confused about how things works wrt grad school over there and want to confirm that I got it right:

When you have a BS, you apply to "diploma" programs, which are essentially equivalent to a thisis-based Masters.
Once receive your diploma, you apply to a PhD program.

Is this correct? (Put another way, I don't apply to PhD programs, but to diploma programs since I only have a BS.)

I studied in europe as an international student.....first of all there is no fall, some institutes may have admission seasons ....most of the time you just send an application letter with your CV as an email attachment for a specific phd topic....that's how simple it is..I got a couple of interviews based on just those two things, unfortunately my lack of language skills kept me out coz they wanted me to do some teaching duties and I needed to speak french.......also no need to spend tons of money....and also stipend is much better than (except in germany, but then again germany is cheaper than france or switzerland) most of the american universities offer and usually no need to work.....in germany you may be required to complete a master's first because in their experience master's from other countries are not upto their standards.....scandanavian countries are the best in terms of money, but you wouldn't wanna live there....I was in sweden for almost a year and I hated it....

[secander2!]

I believe you actually can do a Ph.D. directly (skipping the masters) at UK schools. I know for sure that Oxford at least allows this.

[pd]

Thanks, everyone.

tokamak: In particular, I'm looking at Austria. I did research there for a few months and really enjoyed it.