Distance learning is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides "access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.

Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason (including taking examinations) have been referred to courses of study. aimed at large-scale interactive participation and open access via the web or other network technologies, are a recent development in distance