I found this information which makes it appear that your stay in a Schengen country may be even more limited:
http://www.travelstart.co.za/blog/sc...ur-head-around. Of course, I don't know if this article is well researched or not.
I would contact your country's passport office and ask them.
I know my daughter was able to obtain a longer stay student visa but she had to prove she was enrolled in a course from a well established university.

My studies will NOT provide me with a student visa, the only travel perk of online study is that I get to study in any place with internet and electricity, so I really want to use this opportunity! I'll go back to the Embasy tomorrow.