Is 3rd year of uni really harder than second?

[willhub]

I was talking to a guy who is doing the 3rd year of my course which includes doing the dissertation, and he reckons it's easier due to the extra flexibility and you apparently write what you want to talk about, not what has been set like in 1st/2nd year.

I am in the second year and I find it not massively hard if I put the time in and do my work good.

Thanks
Will.