The paper studies the distance higher education in the context of globalization and informatization as one of the important structural elements in ensuring the educational process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interpretation of the essence of the category "distance education" is analyzed and the main characteristics of distance education are investigated. It is established that due to the implementation of distance education with the help of information technology opens up a number of opportunities for distance training of specialists in the discipline "Business English". The pedagogical value of information technologies is determined, which contributes to the improvement of new didactic methods used at the university in the training of discipline "Business English". The main electronic services for providing distance higher education in educational institutions are analyzed. The main obstacles to distance education around the world have been identified such as social exclusion, financial problems, Internet connectivity, and pandemic anxiety. It is determined that the implementation of emergency distance education requires high-speed broadband Internet access, mobile Internet, a favorable climate of online education. It is established that using the format of an online course and the format of a video conference in distance education, it is possible to consider the advantages of training specialists in the specialty «Business English». It is stated that the process of globalization and internationalization in the implementation of distance education provides ample opportunities for those who receive education and want to improve their professional skills. It is proved that a favorable climate for online education is formed in Denmark, Austria, Norway, Switzerland and Luxembourg. It is established that barriers to distance education need immediate solution, namely ensuring uninterrupted Internet connection, reducing the process of social isolation, through the implementation of distance education online course format and video conferencing format, and also requires the implementation of measures to ensure quality distance learning in higher education institutions.