Enrolments in distance learning papers offered by the University of Otago are up 20% on the same time last year.
But distance education director Bill Anderson said it was too early to say whether the increase would be maintained for the rest of the year.
It appeared more people than usual were enrolling in papers for both semester one and semester two, he said.
That meant enrolments might level out as the year progressed.
Other factors were that enrolments might be increasing as they were "totally flat" last year because of the recession, or that more workers might be wanting to upskill and "future proof" themselves against another recession.
"I don't know which, if any, of those factors are involved. Time will tell whether any trends emerge."
About 2000 students enrolled in 300 distance-learning papers last year, he said.
The number of equivalent full-time students (efts) was about 950, just over 5% of the university's total efts.
Most distance learners were employed and living in New Zealand, although people from all over the world took papers.
About 240 distance learners were also enrolled in papers on campus and wanted to take additional papers or had timetable clashes, he said.
Otago's distance education strategy focused on postgraduate papers and areas where staff had specific expertise, Dr Anderson said.
Among the most popular distance-learning papers were professional development papers for education and health sciences graduates.
Religious studies papers were also popular.