Australian Courses

English language courses in Australia

ELICOS means English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. Many students study English first, then start their main course. There are 1,078 English courses registered, from 428 schools.

Registered courses1,078
Usual length34 weeks4–280 weeks available
Usual feeA$11,000whole course
Average per weekA$363
CheapestA$1,080

Three reasons students study English here

  1. You need English to meet a course requirement. The school gives you a conditional offer. You study English until you reach the level they need. Then you start your main course. This is the most common path. The two courses are usually arranged together in one offer, on one visa. This is called a packaged offer.
  2. You want to study English only. You can get a student visa for an English course by itself. Since 1 July 2026, English and non-award students pay a lower visa charge of A$2,050, not the standard A$2,500.
  3. You have the English level but want preparation. Academic English courses teach essay writing, referencing and class discussion. General English teaches everyday language. They are different products. Check which one a course is before you compare prices.

How the levels work

Most schools use the same order: Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced, then academic or exam preparation. Each level usually takes 10 to 12 weeks.

You take a test when you arrive. That test decides your level, not the level you booked.

This matters more than students expect. If the test places you lower than you planned, you study English for longer. Your main course start date moves. Your costs go up. Ask the school these questions before you pay:

Ask for the answers in writing.

How this affects your budget

English courses are priced per week. So the length matters more than the total price. The average is about A$363 per week. Ten extra weeks of English is a large amount of money on top of your other costs.

Your visa must cover the English course and the main course together. Your health insurance must also cover both.

Add this to your total cost

Foundation programs are different

66 courses on the register are marked as foundation studies. These are bridging courses. They help students who do not meet the academic requirements for a degree. They are about academic preparation, not language. If your problem is your past qualifications and not your English, ask your school about these.

All registered English courses

1,078 coursesSort by cheapestprice per yearshortestA–ZLevel allVETbachelormasters & aboveschool
  1. English for Academic Purposes Level 1-4
    Non AQF Award · English Direct Australia Pty Ltd · East Perth
    A$13,20011 mo · A$14,008/yr
  2. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, AUSTRALIAN AC… · Seven Hills
    A$13,5008 mo · A$19,500/yr
  3. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · AUIPT GROUP PTY LTD · Melbourne
    A$13,5008 mo · A$19,500/yr
  4. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · AUIPT GROUP PTY LTD · Melbourne
    A$13,5008 mo · A$19,500/yr
  5. General English
    Non AQF Award · Aura Education · Fortitude Valley
    A$13,5001.2 yr · A$11,700/yr
  6. English Language Program - Academic
    Non AQF Award · TasTAFE · Hobart
    A$13,6001 yr · A$14,144/yr
  7. General English
    Non AQF Award · International Australian Academy · Adelaide
    A$13,60011 mo · A$15,374/yr
  8. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · UNITY SKILLS COLLEGE OF HEALTH · Melbourne
    A$13,6008 mo · A$20,800/yr
  9. General and Business English
    Non AQF Award · English Language Company Australia Pty Ltd · Haymarket,Sydney
    A$13,6808 mo · A$19,760/yr
  10. English for Academic Purposes (Upper Intermediate to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Macquarie English, Macquarie Institute · Sydney
    A$13,6808 mo · A$19,760/yr
  11. English Language Preparation for Primary Schools Beginner
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  12. English Language Preparation for Primary Schools Elementary
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  13. English Language Preparation for Primary Schools Pre-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  14. English Language Preparation for Secondary Schools Beginner
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  15. English Language Preparation for Secondary Schools Elementary
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  16. English Language Preparation for Secondary Schools Pre-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  17. English Language Preparation for Secondary Schools Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Avalon College Pty Ltd · Avalon
    A$13,9005 mo
  18. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · LONDON COLLEGE · Brisbane,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$13,92011 mo · A$15,080/yr
  19. General English
    Non AQF Award · Sydney School of Business and Technology · Burwood
    A$14,0001 yr · A$14,000/yr
  20. General English
    Non AQF Award · Institute of Health & Management Pty Ltd · North Melbourne
    A$14,0001.1 yr · A$13,000/yr
  21. General English (GE) - Elementary to Upper Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Global Business College Of Australia Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$14,00010 mo · A$17,333/yr
  22. General English: Elementary to Upper Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Australian Institute of Language · Melbourne
    A$14,0009 mo · A$18,200/yr
  23. General English - 4 levels Starter , Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Edunex Training · Melbourne
    A$14,00011 mo · A$15,826/yr
  24. English for Academic Purposes Levels 1 - 4
    Non AQF Award · Harvard International College Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$14,00011 mo · A$15,826/yr
  25. General English
    Non AQF Award · Anderson College · Melbourne
    A$14,0001.2 yr · A$11,742/yr
  26. English for Academic Purposes Levels 1-4
    Non AQF Award · XAVIER INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE PTY LTD · Parramatta
    A$14,00011 mo · A$15,826/yr
  27. General English 2
    Non AQF Award · Navitas English
    A$14,1606 mo
  28. General English 3
    Non AQF Award · Navitas English
    A$14,1606 mo
  29. General English (Elementary to Upper Intermediate) (12 to 48 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Victory Institute · Sydney
    A$14,16011 mo · A$15,340/yr
  30. English for Academic Purposes
    Senior Secondary Certificate of Education · University Senior College at Adelaide University Inc · Adelaide
    A$14,1757 mo · A$24,570/yr
  31. General English (Elementary to Upper Intermediate) (11 to 52 Weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Australis Institute of Technology and Education (AITE) · Brisbane,Cairns,Parramatta,Southport
    A$14,3501 yr · A$14,350/yr
  32. Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent)
    Non AQF Award · Australian Pacific College, Southern Cross High School, E… · Melbourne,Sydney
    A$14,4009 mo · A$18,720/yr
  33. English for General Purposes ( Beginner to Advanced) 2 - 60 Weeks (OS24088VIC)
    Non AQF Award · Academia International & Academia Australia · Melbourne
    A$14,4001.2 yr · A$12,480/yr
  34. EAP/IELTS Exam Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Universal English Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$14,40010 mo · A$17,829/yr
  35. General English
    Non AQF Award · Malwa College of Australia Pty Ltd · Surry Hills
    A$14,4001.4 yr · A$10,400/yr
  36. Intensive English
    Non AQF Award · You Study Pty Ltd, You Study International College · Cairns
    A$14,5001 yr · A$15,080/yr
  37. Cambridge English Language Course (General English) (Elementary to Advanced) (2 to 50 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Cambridge Business College, Cambridge Information Technol… · Sydney
    A$14,5001 yr · A$15,080/yr
  38. General English - GE
    Non AQF Award · Angad Australian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$14,7001 yr · A$14,700/yr
  39. General English
    Non AQF Award · Ashton College; Ashton English · Docklands,Footscray
    A$14,7501.2 yr · A$12,371/yr
  40. IELTS Preparation Course (Intermediate - Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · IH Brisbane - ALS, Australian Fitness Schools, Australian… · Brisbane
    A$14,7608 mo · A$21,320/yr
  41. Gateway English Course 4
    Non AQF Award · Curtin University · Bentley
    A$14,9166 mo
  42. General English
    Non AQF Award · Magill College Sydney · Haymarket,Sydney
    A$15,0001 yr · A$15,600/yr
  43. General English
    Non AQF Award · Unity College Australia · Belconnen
    A$15,0001.2 yr · A$12,381/yr
  44. English for Academic Purposes (Levels 1-3)
    Non AQF Award · Union Institute of Language · Sippy Downs,Springfield,Toowoomba
    A$15,0007 mo · A$26,000/yr
  45. General English
    Non AQF Award · Excelsia University College · Pennant Hills
    A$15,0001.2 yr · A$13,000/yr
  46. General English
    Non AQF Award · Central Australian College · Brisbane City,Footscray West,Hobart,Melbourne
    A$15,0001.2 yr · A$12,581/yr
  47. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Focus Language School · Melbourne
    A$15,0009 mo · A$20,526/yr
  48. General English
    Non AQF Award · Lawson College Australia · Dandenong
    A$15,0001.3 yr · A$11,143/yr
  49. General English (Beginner to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Australia Institute of Business and Technology · Blacktown,Haymarket,Hobart,Ultimo,Upper Mount Gravatt
    A$15,0001.2 yr · A$13,000/yr
  50. General English
    Non AQF Award · Gamma Education & Training Pty Ltd · Fortitude Valley,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$15,0008 mo · A$21,667/yr

What this page cannot tell you. The CRICOS register records that a course exists, how long it runs, and what it costs. It does not record entry requirements. It does not record the English level you need to start. It does not record the level you must reach to move into your main course. Each school sets these rules. They are not published in any central register.

Before you enrol, ask the school: What level will I start at? What level do I need to reach to start my main course? How long does that usually take? What happens if my test result is lower than expected? Get the answers in writing.