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. Cambridge First Certificate English (FCE) Exam Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Bayside College Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$5,4003 mo · A$23,400/yr
  2. Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English Exam Preparation (CAE)
    Non AQF Award · Bayside College Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$5,4003 mo · A$23,400/yr
  3. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Hawthorn-Melbourne · Melbourne
    A$5,4003 mo · A$20,057/yr
  4. Cambridge First Certificate English (FCE) Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Browns English Language School, Browns Professional · Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport
    A$5,4123 mo · A$23,452/yr
  5. Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Browns English Language School, Browns Professional · Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport
    A$5,4123 mo · A$23,452/yr
  6. ELICOS-Pre-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Sunraysia Institute of TAFE · Mildura
    A$5,4605 mo · A$12,344/yr
  7. Advanced IELTS Preparation Program
    Non AQF Award · La Trobe College Australia · Bundoora
    A$5,46010 wk · A$28,392/yr
  8. English for Academic Purposes 3
    Non AQF Award · Charles Darwin University · Casuarina,Darwin City,Sydney
    A$5,5003 mo · A$19,067/yr
  9. English for Academic Purposes 4
    Non AQF Award · Charles Darwin University · Casuarina,Darwin City,Sydney
    A$5,5003 mo · A$19,067/yr
  10. IELTS Preparation Course
    Non AQF Award · Shafston International College · Kangaroo Point,Southport,Sydney
    A$5,5043 mo · A$19,081/yr
  11. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English Preparation Course
    Non AQF Award · Langports English Language College · Brisbane City,Surfers Paradise
    A$5,5253 mo · A$23,942/yr
  12. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 1 Standard
    Non AQF Award · Queensland University of Technology · Kelvin Grove Qld
    A$5,56010 wk · A$28,912/yr
  13. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 2 Standard
    Non AQF Award · Queensland University of Technology · Kelvin Grove Qld
    A$5,56010 wk · A$28,912/yr
  14. IELTS Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Queensland University of Technology · Kelvin Grove Qld
    A$5,56010 wk · A$28,912/yr
  15. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · TAFE Queensland · South Brisbane,Southport
    A$5,5623 mo · A$24,102/yr
  16. English for Teaching Professionals
    Non AQF Award · ILSC - Australia; ILSC - Brisbane; ILSC - Sydney; ILSC Pe… · Adelaide,Brisbane,Melbourne,Perth,Sydney
    A$5,6005.4 yr · A$1,040/yr
  17. IELTS Preparation (Upper-Intermediate to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · King's Own International College · Sydney
    A$5,6004 mo · A$18,200/yr
  18. General English - Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Flinders International College · Melbourne
    A$5,6003 mo · A$20,800/yr
  19. General English - Starter
    Non AQF Award · Flinders International College · Melbourne
    A$5,6003 mo · A$24,267/yr
  20. General English - Elementary
    Non AQF Award · Flinders International College · Melbourne
    A$5,6003 mo · A$24,267/yr
  21. IELTS Preparation and English for Academic Purposes (IELTS/EAP)
    Non AQF Award · Level Up Education & Training Academy Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$5,6005 mo · A$14,560/yr
  22. Cambridge English: C1 Advanced
    Non AQF Award · International College of Management, Sydney; Aspire Engli… · Manly,Sydney
    A$5,65010 wk · A$29,380/yr
  23. Cambridge English: B2 First
    Non AQF Award · International College of Management, Sydney; Aspire Engli… · Manly,Sydney
    A$5,65010 wk · A$29,380/yr
  24. IELTS Exam Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Perth · Perth
    A$5,6803 mo · A$24,613/yr
  25. Teacher Education Direct Entry English Program (TEDEEP)
    Non AQF Award · UWS College, Western Sydney University The College,UWS En… · Bankstown,Parramatta
    A$5,7003 mo · A$24,700/yr
  26. English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP + IELTS) B2
    Non AQF Award · English Path Australia · Brisbane
    A$5,7003 mo · A$24,700/yr
  27. English for Academic Purposes (Upper Intermediate to Advanced) (5 to 10 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · The University of Newcastle (UoN), The University of Newc… · Callaghan,Sydney
    A$5,70110 wk · A$29,645/yr
  28. IELTS Examination Preparation Course
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Noosa, Lexis English Sunshine Coast · Maroochydore,Noosa Heads
    A$5,7203 mo · A$24,787/yr
  29. Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) Examination Preparation Course
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Noosa, Lexis English Sunshine Coast · Maroochydore,Noosa Heads
    A$5,7203 mo · A$24,787/yr
  30. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Noosa, Lexis English Sunshine Coast · Maroochydore,Noosa Heads
    A$5,7203 mo · A$24,787/yr
  31. Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Perth · Perth
    A$5,7203 mo · A$24,787/yr
  32. English for Medical Professionals (EMP)
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English Perth · Perth
    A$5,7203 mo · A$24,787/yr
  33. ELICOS-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Sunraysia Institute of TAFE · Mildura
    A$5,7405 mo · A$12,977/yr
  34. ELICOS-Upper Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Sunraysia Institute of TAFE · Mildura
    A$5,7405 mo · A$12,977/yr
  35. English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAP2)
    Non AQF Award · Central Queensland University · Brisbane,Cairns,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$5,7853 mo · A$23,140/yr
  36. General English Program
    Non AQF Award · Central Queensland University · Brisbane,Cairns,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$5,7851 yr · A$6,016/yr
  37. English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP1)
    Non AQF Award · Central Queensland University · Brisbane,Cairns,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$5,7853 mo · A$23,140/yr
  38. English for Academic Purposes 3 (EAP3)
    Non AQF Award · Central Queensland University · Brisbane,Cairns,Melbourne,Norman Gardens,Sydney
    A$5,7853 mo · A$23,140/yr
  39. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) & IELTS preparation (Upper Intermediate to Advanced) (2 to 20 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · MIT Institute Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$5,8005 mo · A$15,080/yr
  40. English for Academic Purposes I
    Non AQF Award · Melbourne College of Hair and Beauty; Melbourne College o… · Docklands
    A$5,8005 mo · A$15,080/yr
  41. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · English Language School for Pastoral Ministry · Box Hill,Urrbrae
    A$5,9005 mo · A$15,340/yr
  42. General English
    Non AQF Award · English Language School for Pastoral Ministry · Box Hill,Urrbrae
    A$5,9005 mo · A$15,340/yr
  43. General English (Intermediate to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Academy of English Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$5,9005 mo · A$15,340/yr
  44. EF Semester Academic English
    Non AQF Award · EF International Language Schools · Chippendale,South Brisbane
    A$5,9706 mo · A$11,940/yr
  45. English and Golf
    Non AQF Award · South Australian College of English Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$5,9806 mo · A$12,957/yr
  46. IELTS Intensive Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Kingston International College · Highgate
    A$6,0003 mo · A$26,000/yr
  47. Express English (Elementary to Pre-Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Kingston International College · Highgate
    A$6,0004 mo · A$19,500/yr
  48. English for Academic Purposes EAP
    Non AQF Award · ALTEC College · Melbourne
    A$6,0005 mo · A$14,182/yr
  49. Diploma of English Language Teaching (TESOL)
    Diploma · Gold Coast Learning Centre · Surfers Paradise
    A$6,0008 mo · A$9,455/yr
  50. IELTS Preparation (Foundation and Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Australia Institute of Business and Technology · Blacktown,Haymarket,Hobart,Ultimo,Upper Mount Gravatt
    A$6,0006 mo · A$13,000/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.