The article brings up the crucial question why some students on the web-based courses in the science of religion at the University of Gävle sometimes remain invisible for both the teacher and the other students. What can the reasons be to take the role of being the “invisible student”? Furthermore the article discusses the specific demands placed on teachers encountering these “invisible students”.  The method is qualitative, based on three interviews, made with two female students and one male student. A specific focus is placed on role-taking, gender, and the significance of the rite in role-taking. The discussion argues that the informants in general had low self-confidence. This low self-confidence might be the main cause in taking the position of invisible student. The female students conducted studies from their homes and this might also be a contributing obstacle in not taking the “traditional” student role. The article states that teachers and also the other students need to become more involved in the invisible students; studying is co-responsibility. Sometimes the teachers need to make these students visible through another form of communication than the one seen in actual encounters: new working methods must be introduced, including more written assignments. The working methods in the distance courses are different from traditional pedagogical demands placed on the university teacher, and they are also more time consuming. Thus the invisible students are a challenge for universities applying web-based courses