Ireland is an island to the north-west of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea.

A course is the study of a particular topic within a wider subject area and is the foundation of a qualification. A typical course includes lectures, assessments and tutorials.

Online or distance learning refers to the use of electronic media and information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. With online learning, one can access education at any time and from any location with an available internet connection.