Online vs in-person study: which one is right for you?
Posted on: 11 June, 2025
As the market for online education soars, we ask the question – which learning model is right for you?
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown and permanently changed the way we view work and study.
While some large companies have chosen to bring their employees permanently back into the office, a recent Forbes Advisor poll of 1,100 professionals found that 63% work remotely either some of the time or entirely, with 24% working hybrid. This is compared to just 4.7% of UK employees in 2019.
It’s not just work that’s irrevocably changed. Online learning was already a fast-growing market, having a growth rate of 900% since the year 2000.
So as flexible working has become the new norm for many, it’s not surprising to see demand for online learning also on the rise as an alternative to traditional, in-person education.
But which method of study is right for you? And what are the benefits (and drawbacks) of each approach?
The pros of online study
It’s far more flexible
Online studying is inherently more flexible than in-person education as if you can’t attend a lecture, you have the ability to watch it on demand and catch up.
This means that, instead of having to travel to a physical campus at a set time for a seminar, you can simply watch it at a time that suits you and your personal commitments.
It makes online learning a compelling option for those who cannot or have difficulty attending physical campuses. What’s more, institutions like UCEM will let you decide how many modules you want to take per semester.
You can study from anywhere in the world
Where you decide to conduct your online studies is completely up to you. This could be from the comfort of your own home, in a coffee shop, at your local library or even in a different country entirely. You can build up your career from any location, as many of our international cohort of students already have.
Oiman Yu, a graduate of our BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying, started her studies in Hong Kong and ended up graduating in London and launching a career in the city.
It can be more cost-effective
With online study, there’s no need to relocate to a new city, country or continent. So, if you’re reliant on student loans to fund your education, you won’t have to worry about paying back your accommodation fees after you graduate.
You also won’t have to spend money commuting to your campus. This can make online learning a more cost-effective option.
You can balance it around your other commitments
There’s no hiding from the fact that higher education demands sacrifice, whether that’s time, money, or a combination of both. But for many, the sacrifice of having to quit full-time work to attend in-person lectures is one they can’t make.
In this regard, online learning is a compelling alternative that can more easily be balanced around work, family, and other personal commitments. This doesn’t make online learning any easier, but it does potentially give you the freedom and flexibility you need to succeed.
Learn more: Debunking 8 of the biggest online learning myths
You get easy access to resources
If you’ve ever studied at a physical campus, you’ll know there are only so many copies of that important textbook or research paper you desperately need to cite for your assignment.
This isn’t an issue with online learning. For instance, UCEM’s comprehensive e-library provides easy access to all the materials you’ll need during your studies, which will save you from having to compete for resources in high demand (and also save you money on expensive textbooks).
The cons of online study
You’ll need to be self-motivated and disciplined
Online learning isn’t a walk in the park – accredited degrees like UCEM’s BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management are subject to the same rigorous standards as their in-person counterparts.
However, you’ll essentially be responsible for managing your own time and staying on track, as you won’t have the routine and structure of a traditional classroom.
As Annabel Huffer, a former apprentice who studied at UCEM, told us:
“I enjoyed distance learning, but I will say that it’s one of the reasons that apprenticeships aren’t for everyone. You need to be self-motivated, as you don’t have anyone to check in with every day.”
It can be socially isolating
You might imagine the typical online student spends their entire day alone, hunched over their desk and bereft of the kind of social interaction and community people get at a physical campus.
While online learning can be isolating, it’s ultimately what you make of it. At UCEM, there are various ways students can interact not just with their fellow students, but with the rest of the community and even their lecturers and tutors:
- Webinars are interactive, providing a method for students to ask questions
- The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
- Student Officer and Representative roles offer a platform for students to engage with the rest of the community
- Collaboration is an element of programmes like the MSc Urban Planning
- Our Climate and Social Action (CASA) activities and Welcome Week give students the opportunity to connect
- The Global Community platform is available to alumni so that they can network and engage with one another
You’re at the mercy of technical issues
To get the most from online learning, you need reliable equipment – that means no patchy internet or buggy, sluggish laptop.
If your technology isn’t up to scratch, the aspects of online learning that should make it beneficial can feel more like a headache.
However, if you can’t get yourself a decent internet connection at the time of a webinar, you can at least watch it on demand.
It’s a different learning experience
At UCEM, many of our lecturers are seasoned professionals with prior experience working at in-person universities. Yet even with their ability to engage students, there’s no denying that the online learning experience isn’t for everyone – it’s different and presents its own challenges.
The pros of in-person study
More consistent and personalised feedback
When you’re interacting face-to-face with lecturers at set times every week, it’s easier to get immediate and personal feedback that can help you improve your results.
In contrast, you may have to contact online lecturers via email and set up meetings, which can take time and mean they lack the personal familiarity with you and your work.
Greater opportunities for social interaction
University is as much about the people you meet as it is the things that you learn. In this respect, there’s a real benefit to meeting your fellow students in person, and easily being able to engage with them outside of the context of study.
If you’re living on campus, these opportunities come thick and fast, allowing you to establish friendships and bonds that carry through into your career and later life.
Gain practical experience
Depending on the subject area of your studies, there’s a good chance you’ll have more opportunities to gain hands-on experience if you’re at a physical campus.
With students living in close proximity, it’s easier to arrange physical activities, like site visits or surveys for instance, that expose aspiring professionals to the day-to-day aspects of the field they’re studying.
A structure and routine can keep you motivated
While online learning offers more freedom for you to be flexible with your studies, there’s no denying it requires discipline.
With in-person study, if you miss a lecture there’s no catching up, and this clear structure can make it easier for some students to stay motivated with their studies.
The cons of in-person study
It’s not getting any cheaper
From the 2025-26 academic year, tuition fees are rising. This increase has been linked to inflation, but reflects a steady increase in costs that has been happening for over a decade.
What’s more, the costs go beyond just what you’ll be spending on studying. There’s also accommodation to consider, which has also become more expensive as a result of rising demand and growing construction costs.
You may need to move
Depending on what course you want to study or which university appeals to you most, you may have to relocate to be able to attend university.
Moving is stressful and expensive, and on top of studying you’ll have to become familiar with a new location. This can be an exciting experience, but it can also result in added stress on top of your studies.
You’ll need to base your life around your studies
While online learning can offer you more flexibility to balance your work, life and studies, the need to visit a physical campus is something you can’t negotiate with traditional universities.
As a result, you’ll have to base the rest of your life around your studies, which may not be easy if you want to carry on working or have a lot of personal commitments.
It could be harder to focus
The social benefits of on-campus education are compelling, but they could also make it harder to focus on your studies – particularly in a classroom environment.
Your specific learning style could have a big impact on your performance, so if you find closing the door to your office and putting your headphones to a recording helps you learn best, in-person study isn’t for you.
The million-dollar question: which one is right for you?
While the benefits and drawbacks of each learning format are clear, there’s no right or wrong answer.
Online learning may be a fast-growing alternative to in-person education, but the option that’s right for you will depend on your circumstances and preferences. Ultimately, you need to see which option suits you best.
If you are curious to learn more about the online learning experience, we’ve spoken to several of our alumni to understand how they’ve adjusted to studying remotely. They’ve offered their perspectives on the benefits (and challenges) of this medium along with some helpful tips:
