Anyone here tried distance education before?

I've been contemplating on a master's degree offered in Perth online (Can't go full time cause of work commitments).

Other side of the coin sais there's a big drop out rate for online course goers, so I've been thinking. Now I need more opinions.

Yes I did the second year of my degree by distance education from Perth through Open Learning, and in my opinion it is much easier than going to classes. I found the grades I got were better, for less effort. Must be because the assessors love anyone that puts some effort in, as its really easy to slack off.

I did a couple of classes in highschool and my mom got her second degree through distance ed.
If you are disciplined enough to do the work at home, you can get through it a lot faster as there are no set class times and you can do the assignments and stuff pretty much as soon as you get through the materials.

The course was designed in such a way that if you finish only a stage, you get full credit for it. But yeah, it does require religious perseverance and it does pay if you don't slack.

Question is, with a full time job, three and half hours a day travelling, personal necessities (eat, sleep, etc) and the works, would it be reallistic to do the entire course (or to finish a stage in 6 months) in three years?

It all sounds too good to be true.

More opinions please...

Only if you value your weekends or spare time. Otherwise you'll find it falling off the list of things to do.

I took a couple online courses and I found myself handing them in still at the end of semester right before everything was due because the travelling at the end of everyday always leaves me with a huge amount of cbf.

If you do want to do it, you'll have to dedicate specific times each week as if you did have to go to a class.