"Is distance learning actually harder than a regular degree?" Many people ask me this in the initial consultation, usually a little cautiously, because the real question behind it is: can I do this? Is distance learning harder? My answer: academically no, organisationally often yes.
That may sound like an excuse, but it is the most important difference. You learn the same material, only nobody makes you. If you know that beforehand, you can plan for it.
Is distance learning academically harder? No
There is no discount and no surcharge on content. A bachelor's usually comprises 180 ECTS, and under the European guide one ECTS stands for 25 to 30 hours of work. That makes 4,500 to 5,400 hours, whether you sit in a lecture hall or at your kitchen table.
The exams are not a lighter version either. Accredited distance programmes go through the same process as on-campus programmes and lead to the same degree. How exams work in practice is covered under distance learning exams.
This works in both directions: if you hope distance learning is the easier route to a title, you will be disappointed. If you fear it is more demanding than university, you can relax.
What is really harder about distance learning
What gets harder is everything around the material. An on-campus degree gives you structure from outside: lecture at ten, study group in the afternoon, fellow students asking whether you have started yet. In distance learning that disappears. Three things make the difference:
- You are your own timetable. Nobody notices if you do nothing for two weeks. Until the exam.
- You study a lot alone. If you get stuck, nobody is sitting next to you. You write to the tutor and wait for the answer.
- Your life goes on. Job, family and appointments do not ask whether you are in exam season.
On top of that, many people start after a long break from studying. The first semester therefore often feels harder than the material is. That settles once you have a routine again.
Other things are easier. You save the trip to campus, study at your own pace and can schedule exams more flexibly at many universities. For working people this often outweighs the missing lecture hall. The full comparison is under distance learning vs on-campus.
Distance and on-campus study side by side
You can see best where it gets easier and where it gets harder by comparing them directly:
| Distance learning | On-campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Material and scope | the same | the same |
| Degree | the same | the same |
| Daily routine | you plan it | set by the timetable |
| Help with questions | tutors, forums, often delayed | lecturers and fellow students on site |
| Motivation | has to come from you | also comes from the group |
| Fitting in a job | built for it | often difficult |
| Commute and moving | none | required |
The table shows why the question is so hard to answer. For someone with a steady job, distance learning is often the easier route, because an on-campus degree would not fit their week at all. For someone who needs outside structure, it can be the other way round.
How demanding is distance learning alongside a job?
It comes down to one number: your workload. Calculate with around 30 hours per ECTS and about 20 active weeks per semester.
| ECTS per semester | Hours per week | Alongside a full-time job |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | around 7.5 | very doable |
| 10 | around 15 | doable if the plan holds |
| 15 | around 22 | tough in the long run |
| 30 | around 45 | a full-time degree, not a side job |
This is the real sticking point for most people. Adverts like to calculate with just a few hours a week, and then the sums do not add up. The full calculation is under ECTS per semester.
How many hours a day do you need for distance learning?
At 10 ECTS and 15 hours a week, a normal week looks like this: two hours on five evenings and five hours at the weekend. Or three evenings and a full Saturday. Both work as long as the times are fixed.
You do not have to study every day. What matters more is that the times are in your calendar before the semester starts. Nobody learns well after a long shift, so do not plan anything there. Models that work are under studying alongside work.
Good to know
I have not found comparable dropout rates specifically for distance learning, and you should not take figures in adverts at face value. From my counselling I know the most common reason: the workload never fit the week. If things are already stuck for you, see dropping out of distance learning for the alternatives.
Why the first semester is often the hardest
The start is the riskiest stretch. Several things hit at once: you have to relearn how to study, you do not know the learning platform yet, and you do not know what the exams look like. On top of that comes the temptation to book too much, because motivation is high at the beginning.
A small start works better. If you begin the first semester with fewer modules, you will see how much time you really need. You can always increase later. The mistakes that cost the most time at the start are covered under distance learning: first semester.
Are there easy and hard distance degrees?
There is no easiest distance degree. Every programme works with the same hours per ECTS. That does not mean they all feel the same. What is hard is mainly what lies far from your prior knowledge:
- Maths and statistics also appear in subjects where you might not expect them, such as psychology or business. If your last maths exam was long ago, plan more time for it.
- Technical subjects such as computer science or engineering build heavily on each other. A gap in the second semester comes back to bite you in the fourth.
- Text-heavy subjects demand a lot of reading and writing. That sounds easier but often takes just as much time.
The best clue is the module handbook. Read the module descriptions for the first two semesters before you decide. More on that is under choosing a degree.
How to make distance learning easier: five adjustments
You can change more than many people think:
- Reduce the workload. Fewer ECTS per semester extend your studies but make every week more plannable.
- Set fixed study times. Put them in your calendar like an appointment.
- Fix exam dates early. A date turns an intention into a deadline.
- Get prior learning credited. What you bring from training or work can replace modules. How that works is under credit for work experience.
- Involve others. A study group, even online, helps against isolation. An employer who knows is also more likely to plan around your peak times.
Who is distance learning suitable for?
Whether distance learning gets harder for you depends less on your school certificate than on your daily life. Go through these questions honestly:
- Do you have plannable gaps every week? Not sometime, but on fixed days.
- Can you keep going when nobody is watching? Have you ever worked alone on something for months?
- Do you know why you are doing it? A clear goal carries you through the third semester, a vague idea does not.
- Are the people around you on board? Partner, family and employer will notice the time you lack.
If you stumble on the first two, that does not mean it cannot work. A smaller workload, a model with fixed dates or a trial phase are then the better choice. Many universities let you test for four weeks. The quick self-test is the 10-minute check.
Conclusion: is distance learning harder? Only if you plan it that way
Distance learning is not academically harder than a regular degree. It does demand more self-organisation, and success depends on that. If you calculate your workload honestly and have fixed study times, you will usually get through it well.
If you want to know which workload fits your week, we can work it out together in the free initial consultation. You can check beforehand whether your subject exists in the study finder.
Frequently asked questions
Is distance learning harder than a regular degree?
Not academically. An accredited distance programme has the same scope and leads to the same degree. What is harder is the organisation: you plan on your own, study a lot alone and usually have a job alongside.
How demanding is distance learning?
It depends on your workload. Next to a full-time job, 5 to 10 ECTS per semester is manageable, which is around 7 to 15 hours a week. At 15 ECTS you are above 20 hours, which gets tough alongside a full position in the long run.
How many hours a day do you study in distance learning?
At 10 ECTS per semester it is around 15 hours a week. That is about two hours on five evenings plus five hours at the weekend. Full-time distance students are at around 45 hours a week.
Is a distance degree worth less than an on-campus degree?
No. Accredited distance programmes lead to the same degree, and the certificate usually says nothing about the format. What employers think is covered in the article on recognition.
What is the easiest distance degree?
There is none. Every programme works with the same hours per ECTS. What fits your prior knowledge feels easier, what is unfamiliar feels harder, such as a lot of maths without practice.
Can you manage distance learning alongside work?
Yes, that is what most distance programmes are built for. What matters is that workload and duration fit your week. If you plan with 5 to 10 ECTS per semester, you will take longer than the standard period but are more likely to keep it up.
Who is distance learning suitable for?
People who work independently, keep to fixed study times and have a clear goal. It suits you less if you need outside pressure or your week has no plannable gaps. A four-week trial shows this quickly.
Sources
The legal texts and official bodies this article relies on. Links last checked on .
- ECTS Users' Guide 2015European Commission
- Model ordinance under Article 4(1) to (4) of the Accreditation Treaty (section 8, credit system, in German)Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK)
The information on this page is general in nature and based on my advisory practice (last updated 26.10.2026). It does not replace an official credit transfer or recognition decision by the respective university and is not legal advice. Specific decisions are made by universities, the ZAB (Germany), the BMBWF (Austria), or the SBFI (Switzerland). I clarify binding next steps with you in the initial consultation.
