[I don't know whether I'm coming or going-Challenges of part-time students during the COVID-19 pandemic]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities had to switch to online teaching as quickly as possible. Part-time students who work in the healthcare sector have to manage the balancing act between an invariably online education and a mandatory physical attendance in a profession that maintains the system.

The aim of the study was to explore the challenges faced by part-time students working in the healthcare sector, to identify the need for change and to derive recommendations for action for the university.

The data were collected using an open response online questionnaire. The obtained data were evaluated according to the qualitative content analysis of Mayring.

Probably the greatest challenges that part-time students have to deal with, are the self-organized learning or the (on time) accomplishment of work assignments, which are often perceived as too extensive, and the independent development of teaching content. Furthermore, part-time students reported about the difficultness to reconcile e‑learning and work and/or family.

These perceived challenges are not new but since additional family commitments and uncertainty of daily work routine are added, these challenges are gaining in importance during COVID-19. Therefore, learning environments, which are currently offered to part-time students, must be understood as caring spaces. In addition to new didactic concepts, universities should invest in the promotion of students' personal and social competencies.