---
title: "What are enrolment methods?"
slug: "what-are-enrolment-methods"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Content Creator", "Reference"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:21Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:21Z
canonical: "totara.help/what-are-enrolment-methods"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What are enrolment methods?

There are a large number of course enrolment methods available with Totara Learn. Before they can be used all [enrolment method plugins must be enabled by a Site Administrator](/totara-20/docs/configure-enrolment-methods) from the quick-access menu by going to *Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins.*

Each course can enrol users using different enrolment methods, as [enrolment methods are configured at the course level](/totara-20/docs/configure-enrolment-methods). The enrolment methods can be hidden and have their settings changed and reordered.

If you disable any enrolment method, users who are only enrolled by this method will have their enrolment disabled. While they will remain enrolled in the course, they won't be able to access course activities, and their progress and completion tracking will be paused until the enrolment method is reenabled, or until they enrol to that course using an alternative method.

| **Enrolment method** | **Description** | **Tasks and info** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Manual enrolments | Individual users are manually enrolled by a Site Administrator, Editing Trainer or another role with appropriate permissions. | - [Manually enrol users](/totara-20/docs/manually-enrol-users) |
| Guest access | Users can view course materials but not participate. | - [Configure guest access](/totara-20/docs/configure-guest-access) - [Configure default site settings for guest access](/totara-20/docs/configure-default-site-settings-for-guest-access) - [Set up auto-login for guests](/totara-20/docs/set-up-auto-login-for-guests) |
| Self enrolment | User can choose to enrol themselves onto a course. | - [Configure self enrolment](/totara-20/docs/configure-self-enrolment) |
| Audience sync | Users who are members of an audience will be enrolled, and when they are not members they will be unenrolled. | - [Configure audience sync enrolment](/totara-20/docs/configure-audience-sync-enrolment) |
| Program | User has been enrolled by enrolling in a program or certification - courses are enrolled on when program or certification rules allow. | - [Program enrolment](/totara-20/docs/program-enrolment) |
| Category enrolments | Users are enrolled in all courses in a category. | - |
| External database | Users are enrolled from a database such as Access, MySQL. | - [External database enrolment](/totara-20/docs/external-database-enrolment) |
| Flat file | Users are enrolled with a CSV file. | - [Configure flat file enrolment](/totara-20/docs/configure-flat-file-enrolment) - Enrol users from a file |
| IMS Enterprise | Users are enrolled with this standard XML file format. | - |
| LDAP enrolment | Users are authenticated and then enrolled through LDAP. | - |
| Publish as LTI tool (Experimental) | Use this together with the LTI authentication plugin, to allow remote users to access selected courses and activities. | - [Set up publish as LTI tool enrolment](/totara-20/docs/set-up-publish-as-lti-tool-enrolment) |
| Course meta link | Makes it possible for one course, called a meta-course, to bring in enrolments from other courses. The course meta link plugin needs to be enabled both on the site level (by the Site Administrator) and within the course. | - [Enable course meta link](/totara-20/docs/enable-course-meta-link-enrolment) |
| MNet remote enrolments | Allows a remote MNet host to enrol their users into our courses. | - |
| PayPal | Users purchase enrolment with PayPal. | - [Set up PayPal enrolment](/totara-20/docs/set-up-paypal-enrolment) |
| Seminar direct enrolment | Allows users not enrolled in a course to sign up to a seminar event and enrols them in the course. | - [Seminar direct enrolment](/totara-20/docs/seminar-direct-enrolment) |
| Learning plan | Totara enrols learners in courses in their approved learning plan. | - |

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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