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 · Marriott Academy · Melbourne
    A$24,0001.3 yr · A$17,829/yr
  2. General English
    Non AQF Award · ORANGE ENGLISH COLLEGE · Melbourne
    A$24,0001.4 yr · A$17,333/yr
  3. General English (Beginners - Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Imagine Education Australia · Southport,Spring Hill Qld
    A$24,1301.5 yr · A$15,685/yr
  4. General English (4-52 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Murdoch College, The University of Adelaide College, Kapl… · Adelaide,Docklands,Murdoch
    A$24,4401 yr · A$24,440/yr
  5. English
    Non AQF Award · Fabinox welding Academy
    A$24,5001.5 yr · A$15,925/yr
  6. English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students
    Non AQF Award · University of Canberra · Acton,Bruce
    A$24,7501 yr · A$24,750/yr
  7. General English (Power Language) Elementary to Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Queensland International Business Academy · Canberra,Sydney
    A$25,0001.2 yr · A$21,667/yr
  8. General English (Levels 1-5)
    Non AQF Award · Union Institute of Language · Cairns,Sippy Downs,Springfield,Toowoomba
    A$25,0001 yr · A$26,000/yr
  9. General English
    Non AQF Award · Australian Institute of Entrepreneurship · Melbourne
    A$25,0001.3 yr · A$19,118/yr
  10. General English
    Non AQF Award · Charlton Brown · Brisbane,Hobart,Southport
    A$25,0001.2 yr · A$21,667/yr
  11. General English
    Non AQF Award · English in Paradise; ELSTON EDUCATION & TRAINING · Southport,Surfers Paradise
    A$25,0251.3 yr · A$20,020/yr
  12. General English
    Non AQF Award · Universal English College · Sydney
    A$25,2001.2 yr · A$21,840/yr
  13. General English: Starter - Elementary - Pre-Intermediate - Intermediate - Upper Intermediate - Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Information Technology · Varsity Lakes
    A$25,2001.4 yr · A$18,200/yr
  14. English for General Purposes (Beginner to Advanced) (4 to 72 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Queen Anne English College, Jasmine Education Group Pty L… · Bankstown,Sydney
    A$25,2001.5 yr · A$17,242/yr
  15. General English Beginner to Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Discover English · Melbourne
    A$25,2001.4 yr · A$18,200/yr
  16. General English
    Non AQF Award · Times Academy Pty Ltd · Melbourne,Sydney
    A$25,2001.6 yr · A$15,600/yr
  17. General English
    Non AQF Award · Melbourne English, ME English · Sydney
    A$25,2001.4 yr · A$18,200/yr
  18. General English (Starter, Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper intermediate, Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Albright Institute of Business and Language; Albright Ins… · Adelaide,Brisbane City,Brisbane,Haymarket,Melbourne
    A$25,2001.6 yr · A$15,600/yr
  19. General English
    Non AQF Award · SOUTH SYDNEY COLLEGE (SSC) · Burwood,Surry Hills
    A$25,2001.9 yr · A$13,509/yr
  20. General English - Starter - Elementary - Pre-intermediate - Intermediate - Upper Intermediate - Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Digital Technologies, ACIT,Institut… · Varisty Lakes
    A$25,2001.5 yr · A$16,380/yr
  21. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Charleston English · Brisbane City
    A$25,2008 mo · A$36,400/yr
  22. General English
    Non AQF Award · Victoria University · Melbourne
    A$25,4401 yr · A$26,458/yr
  23. General English (Beginner Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Australian International Institute of Technology · Brunswick East,Melbourne
    A$25,8001.5 yr · A$17,200/yr
  24. General English
    Non AQF Award · Speak Bright English College · Melbourne
    A$25,8001.4 yr · A$18,633/yr
  25. English Language Programs for International Students (Beginner to Advanced) (4-56 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · ILSC - Australia; ILSC - Brisbane; ILSC - Sydney; ILSC Pe… · Adelaide,Brisbane,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$25,8401.1 yr · A$23,994/yr
  26. General English
    Non AQF Award · AVETA - Australian Vocational Education & Training Academy · Melbourne
    A$25,9201.6 yr · A$16,046/yr
  27. General English (Beginner to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Kingston International College · Highgate
    A$26,0001 yr · A$26,000/yr
  28. General English Course (A1-C1)
    Non AQF Award · English Path Australia · Brisbane
    A$26,6601.2 yr · A$22,360/yr
  29. General English 1-60 Weeks
    Non AQF Award · Bayside College Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$27,0001.2 yr · A$23,400/yr
  30. General English Levels 1-6
    Non AQF Award · Rockford College · Rockdale
    A$27,0001.5 yr · A$17,550/yr
  31. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · WIN English Centre / WIN College · Surry Hills,Turner
    A$27,3601.4 yr · A$19,760/yr
  32. General English (Beginners to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Charleston English · Brisbane City
    A$27,3601.5 yr · A$18,720/yr
  33. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · AEC EDUCATION GROUP PTY LTD · Docklands
    A$27,3601.4 yr · A$19,760/yr
  34. General English: Elementary to Upper Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Insight Academy · Melbourne
    A$27,5001.3 yr · A$20,429/yr
  35. English 1-5 (General to Academic)
    Non AQF Award · Eynesbury College/Eynesbury Institute of Business and Tec… · Adelaide
    A$28,0001.3 yr · A$20,800/yr
  36. English Language Program
    Non AQF Award · University of Tasmania (UTas) · Launceston,Sandy Bay
    A$28,0441.3 yr · A$20,833/yr
  37. General English Levels 1-6
    Non AQF Award · BDMS Education Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$28,0801.5 yr · A$18,720/yr
  38. General English (Starter to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Brighton College Pty Ltd · Brisbane,Hobart,Melbourne
    A$28,3501.5 yr · A$18,900/yr
  39. General English
    Non AQF Award · Aventia Institute Pty Ltd · Upper Mount Gravatt
    A$28,3901.2 yr · A$24,605/yr
  40. English Language Bridging
    Non AQF Award · The University of Newcastle (UoN), The University of Newc… · Callaghan,Sydney
    A$28,5001 yr · A$29,640/yr
  41. General English (Beginners to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Entrepreneur Education · Southport,Surfers Paradise
    A$28,5001.5 yr · A$18,525/yr
  42. General English Program
    Non AQF Award · La Trobe College Australia · Bundoora
    A$28,5101.1 yr · A$26,474/yr
  43. General English (Beginner to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Baxter Institute · Armadale,North Melbourne
    A$28,8001.4 yr · A$20,800/yr
  44. General English
    Non AQF Award · Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Brisbane,Docklands,East Perth,Sydney
    A$28,8001.2 yr · A$24,960/yr
  45. General English
    Non AQF Award · OZZI EDUCATION GROUP · Melbourne
    A$28,8001.4 yr · A$20,800/yr
  46. English for High School Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Times Academy Pty Ltd · Melbourne,Sydney
    A$29,0001.2 yr · A$24,323/yr
  47. Intensive General English - Beginner to Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Browns English Language School, Browns Professional · Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport
    A$29,1811.4 yr · A$21,372/yr
  48. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Browns English Language School, Browns Professional · Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport
    A$29,1811.4 yr · A$21,372/yr
  49. IELTS Exam Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Browns English Language School, Browns Professional · Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport
    A$29,1816 mo
  50. UFO English
    Non AQF Award · Langports English Language College · Brisbane City,Surfers Paradise
    A$29,4001.3 yr · A$21,840/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.