As someone who actually got the same degree at the same University as thd kid, I can confirm this is true. The amount of coursework he skipped is relatively high (every group project, some mandatory non-engineering subjects, at least totalling to 45 ECTS on top of my head) and the freedom he got when doing courses is unprecedented: no mandatory attendance and only oral examinations.
A 14 year old girl started the same program around 2006, she did do the full, regular coursework.