Set up Access as an admin Go to Site Administration -> Plugins -> Manage Enrol Plugins and enable external database Click settings next to "External Database" . Fill in the details for external database course sync Go to Site administration -> Courses -> Course default settings and ensure "Course end date enabled by default" is checked (only Moodle 3.4 onwards) Go to Site administration -> Courses -> Course default settings and ensure the "Course duration" is 365  Testing scenario 1 1) In the remote database , add a record that contains a value for course column  that does not exists in Moodle , so that you can trigger creation of the course. 2) From command line, execute "/usr/bin/php /path/to/moodle/enrol/database/cli/sync.php". Check the newly created course: Course start date is set to the date when the cron job was executed and the sync took place Moodle 3.3: Course end date is set to today's date and is disabled Moodle 3.4 onwards: Course end date is set to today's date + one year and is enabled Testing scenario 2 1) As an admin, go to Site administration -> Courses -> Course default settings and uncheck "Course end date enabled by default" (only Moodle 3.4 onwards). 2) In the remote database , add a record that contains a value for course column  that does not exists in Moodle , so that you can trigger creation of the course. 3) From command line, execute "/usr/bin/php /path/to/moodle/enrol/database/cli/sync.php". Check the newly created course: Course start date is set to the date when the cron job was executed and the sync took place Course end date is set to today's date and is disabled