Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft (1,041 m). The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi (386 km), and empties into the Atlantic.
Irish universities rank impressively well at world level, and the country is understandably a popular choice for international students. Higher education in Ireland consists of universities, specialist colleges (offering courses in a single subject area), and institutes of technology. The latter do not just offer courses in technology subjects, but also a wide range of vocational programs, in subjects including hospitality, healthcare, pharmacy, media, textiles, marketing, and many more.