COVID-19 is wreaking havoc and accelerating the use of online learning in institutions of learning across the globe. Online learning or e-learning refers to education or learning that takes place over the internet. This study investigated the online learning readiness of the University of Botswana (UB) students enrolled in the Communication and Academic Literacy course. The study adopted a non-experimental quantitative research design using the questionnaire method to collect data from180 students who completed in class the Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS). The SPSS Independent-samples t-test was used to compare the online learning readiness means of two gender groups. Furthermore, the Pearson Correlation (2-tailed) test was used to calculate the relationship between gender and the online learning readiness dimensions. The open-ended questions in the questionnaire were used to ask the participants to write challenges they faced when studying the COM course online. The findings of this study suggest that the respondents used computer or internet more for researching information than for holding discussions and sharing ideas online; and they used online platforms to post questions and seek assistance. Male and female students had similar levels of online learning readiness. More research is recommended using the OLRS to unearth more online learning problems.