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. General English
    Non AQF Award · Melbourne City College Australia · Melbourne
    A$20,8001 yr · A$20,800/yr
  2. General English
    Non AQF Award · Collins Institute of Australia · Haymarket,Sydney
    A$20,8001.2 yr · A$18,027/yr
  3. General English
    Non AQF Award · Ruby Institute · Melbourne
    A$20,8901.5 yr · A$14,293/yr
  4. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Universal English College · Sydney
    A$21,0001 yr · A$21,840/yr
  5. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Academy of English Pty Ltd · Brisbane,Sydney
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$17,613/yr
  6. General English
    Non AQF Award · MIT Institute Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$16,800/yr
  7. General English
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Technology and Business Pty Ltd · Fortitude Valley
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  8. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Torrens University Australia; Torrens University Language… · Adelaide,Fortitude Valley,Leura,Melbourne,Surry Hills
    A$21,0001 yr · A$21,840/yr
  9. General English - Starter to Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Scots English College · Eveleigh,Haymarket
    A$21,0001.5 yr · A$13,650/yr
  10. Essential English
    Non AQF Award · The Centre of Excellence · Adelaide,Geelong,Melbourne
    A$21,0001.4 yr · A$15,167/yr
  11. General English
    Non AQF Award · Gold Coast International College · Miami,Southport
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$18,200/yr
  12. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Level Up Education & Training Academy Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$21,0001.4 yr · A$15,167/yr
  13. General English
    Non AQF Award · Kingston Academy of Australia · Melbourne
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  14. General English
    Non AQF Award · Metro Institute · Haymarket Nsw 2000
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  15. General English (GE)
    Non AQF Award · Harbourside Institute of Australia Pty Ltd · Pyrmont,Ultimo
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$18,200/yr
  16. General English
    Non AQF Award · Australian Techno Management College Pty Ltd · Edgecliff,Parramatta,Wollongong
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  17. General English
    Non AQF Award · UK English College Pty Ltd · Parramatta,Sydney
    A$21,0001 yr · A$20,222/yr
  18. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Accredited Education & Training Australia · Sunshine
    A$21,0001.5 yr · A$13,823/yr
  19. General English (Elementary to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Blue Lotus College · Melbourne
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  20. General English
    Non AQF Award · Global Institute of Training and Education Pty Ltd · West Melbourne
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  21. General English Levels 1-6
    Non AQF Award · ANE College · Bankstown,Belconnen,Sydney
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  22. General English
    Non AQF Award · Clinton English · Little Lonsdale
    A$21,0001.4 yr · A$15,167/yr
  23. General English Plus
    Non AQF Award · OPERA EDUCATION GROUP PTY LTD · Sydney
    A$21,0001.4 yr · A$15,167/yr
  24. General English (Elementary to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Reach Community College Pty Ltd · Haymarket,Hobart,Melbourne
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$18,200/yr
  25. General English
    Non AQF Award · Australian Business Skills College Pty Ltd · Burwood,Mascot
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$18,200/yr
  26. General English
    Non AQF Award · Sunbeam International College · Burwood
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  27. General English Levels 1-6
    Non AQF Award · Harvard International College Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  28. General English Levels 1-5
    Non AQF Award · NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC OF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD · Haymarket,South Melbourne
    A$21,0001.2 yr · A$18,200/yr
  29. General English Levels 1-6
    Non AQF Award · XAVIER INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE PTY LTD · Parramatta
    A$21,0001.3 yr · A$15,600/yr
  30. General English
    Non AQF Award · Kingswood Institute Pty Ltd · Parramatta
    A$21,0001.4 yr · A$15,167/yr
  31. General English (levels 1-6)
    Non AQF Award · Sage College of Australlia · Docklands Vic,Mooroopna
    A$21,0001.5 yr · A$14,000/yr
  32. English for Academic Purposes - Levels 3 - 6
    Non AQF Award · Federation University Australia · Ballarat,Berwick,Churchill,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$21,2001 yr · A$21,200/yr
  33. Bridging English
    Non AQF Award · UQ College Limited · St Lucia
    A$21,2508 mo · A$31,571/yr
  34. Realworld General English 4 Skills (Beginners to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · La Lingua Language School · Haymarket
    A$21,4501.3 yr · A$16,900/yr
  35. English for Secondary Schools (1-52 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Stott's Colleges, Australian Surf Industry Training Schoo… · Brunswick,Fortitude Valley,Melbourne,Perth,Sydney
    A$21,5001 yr · A$21,500/yr
  36. General English Course (Beginner Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$21,5801 yr · A$21,580/yr
  37. Beginner, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced Levels to General English Course
    Non AQF Award · Alliance College · Adelaide,Haymarket
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,600/yr
  38. General English
    Non AQF Award · Milestones English Academy · Carlton
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,600/yr
  39. General English Course
    Non AQF Award · Babel International College (WA) · Perth
    A$21,6001.6 yr · A$13,371/yr
  40. General English (Starter, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · SOUTHERN ACADEMY OF ENGLISH LEARNING · Haymarket,Sydney
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,178/yr
  41. General English
    Non AQF Award · Original Campus · Docklands
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,600/yr
  42. General English
    Non AQF Award · McGill Institute Australia · Parramatta
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,600/yr
  43. General English (Starter, Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper intermediate, Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Imperial Institute of Sydney · Cairns City,Parramatta,Sydney
    A$21,6001.3 yr · A$16,046/yr
  44. General English
    Non AQF Award · Future English · Melbourne,North Melbourne
    A$21,6001.4 yr · A$15,600/yr
  45. General English Levels 1 - 6
    Non AQF Award · Daffodil International College Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$21,6001.3 yr · A$16,046/yr
  46. General English
    Non AQF Award · Australian College for Community Support · Melbourne
    A$21,6001.5 yr · A$14,400/yr
  47. General English (Beginner to Upper Intermediate) (2 to 75 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Kingsway Institute · Surry Hills
    A$21,7501.4 yr · A$15,080/yr
  48. General English (Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced Levels)
    Non AQF Award · New England Institute of Technology Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$21,8001.2 yr · A$18,893/yr
  49. ELICOS - General English - non AQF award
    Non AQF Award · Holmesglen, Holmesglen Institute · Chadstone,Glen Waverley,Moorabbin
    A$21,8401 yr · A$21,840/yr
  50. English Language Program
    Non AQF Award · Southern Cross University · Bilinga,East Lismore
    A$21,8401 yr · A$22,714/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.