This is actually how independent study worked at the university I went to. You got a big stack of material to learn. There were designated study group times wit

This is actually how independent study worked at the university I went to. You got a big stack of material to learn. There were designated study group times with a room provided, but that was if you wanted to show up and discuss with other students. At the end of the semester some guy showed up and gave you an oral exam followed by a written exam. They were usually a professor at another nearby university that actually offered the course. If you passed both you got a passing grade for the course.