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. Pearson Test of English Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Milestones English Academy · Carlton
    A$8,4006 mo · A$15,600/yr
  2. IELTS (Foundation, Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Albright Institute of Business and Language; Albright Ins… · Adelaide,Brisbane City,Brisbane,Haymarket,Melbourne
    A$8,4007 mo · A$13,650/yr
  3. English for Further Studies Preparation course
    Non AQF Award · Cambridge English College; fluency hub · Manly,Surry Hills
    A$8,4006 mo · A$15,600/yr
  4. English for Further Studies Preparation course
    Non AQF Award · Cambridge English College; fluency hub · Manly,Surry Hills
    A$8,4006 mo · A$15,600/yr
  5. ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
    Non AQF Award · Lincoln Education Australia · Sydney
    A$8,4007 mo · A$14,560/yr
  6. English for Healthcare and Nursing
    Non AQF Award · Charter Training, Charter Education · North Sydney
    A$8,4506 mo · A$16,900/yr
  7. English for Health (OET Preparation)
    Non AQF Award · Box Hill Institute · Box Hill,Lilydale,Melbourne
    A$8,5005 mo
  8. General English (Elementary to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Mint Training Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Melbourne
    A$8,5001.1 yr · A$7,893/yr
  9. General English (Elementary to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Swanston Institute · Melbourne
    A$8,5001.1 yr · A$7,893/yr
  10. Business English Intensive (Intermediate to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Australian Pacific College, Southern Cross High School, E… · Adelaide,Brisbane,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$8,5206 mo · A$17,040/yr
  11. English for Academic Purposes (4-30 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · Australian Pacific College, Southern Cross High School, E… · Brisbane,Dawes Point,Manly,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$8,7007 mo · A$15,080/yr
  12. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · English Unlimited Brisbane Pty Ltd · Brisbane
    A$8,7006 mo
  13. English for Academic Purposes (Intermediate to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · EQUALS International · Adelaide
    A$8,7506 mo
  14. English for Academic Purposes - Condensed
    Non AQF Award · Pacific English Study · Surfers Paradise
    A$8,8006 mo
  15. General English
    Non AQF Award · Global College Australasia · East Perth
    A$8,8001 yr · A$8,800/yr
  16. English for Academic Purposes (Upper Intermediate and Advanced Levels)
    Non AQF Award · New England Institute of Technology Pty Ltd · Melbourne
    A$8,8406 mo
  17. IELTS Exam Preparation Course
    Non AQF Award · Salisbury College Australia · Burwood
    A$8,9608 mo · A$12,942/yr
  18. General English (High School Preparation)
    Non AQF Award · Academy of English Pty Ltd · Sydney
    A$9,0005 mo
  19. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Excelsia University College · Pennant Hills
    A$9,0008 mo · A$13,000/yr
  20. General English
    Non AQF Award · Malvern International College, Central Melbourne Institute · Malvern,Melbourne
    A$9,0008 mo · A$13,000/yr
  21. General English (Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Flinders International College · Melbourne
    A$9,0008 mo · A$13,000/yr
  22. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
    Non AQF Award · Melbourne City College Australia · Melbourne
    A$9,0005 mo
  23. English for IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · UK English College Pty Ltd · Parramatta,Sydney
    A$9,0005 mo
  24. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · UK English College Pty Ltd · Parramatta,Sydney
    A$9,0005 mo
  25. English for Academic Progress (Intermediate to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Community and Health Services · Parramatta,Surry Hills
    A$9,0007 mo · A$15,600/yr
  26. General English Course (Elementary to Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Community and Health Services · Parramatta,Surry Hills
    A$9,0008 mo · A$13,000/yr
  27. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2
    Non AQF Award · Kingsford International Institute · Sydney
    A$9,0005 mo
  28. ELICOS - General English
    Non AQF Award · Elizabeth Institute · Sydney
    A$9,0007 mo · A$15,600/yr
  29. General English Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Rama Raghav College of Australia, Australian College for… · Melbourne
    A$9,00010 mo · A$11,143/yr
  30. General English (Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · The English Language School, The Business School · Campsie
    A$9,0009 mo · A$12,000/yr
  31. English for Academic Purposes (B1-C1)
    Non AQF Award · East Coast College · Haymarket
    A$9,00010 mo · A$11,143/yr
  32. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Alpha English Academy · Sydney
    A$9,0008 mo · A$13,000/yr
  33. General English Course - condensed
    Non AQF Award · Pacific English Study · Surfers Paradise
    A$9,1001.6 yr · A$5,633/yr
  34. ENG0425 English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Skills Institute Australia · Osborne Park,Slacks Creek
    A$9,1006 mo · A$18,200/yr
  35. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English · Manly
    A$9,1206 mo
  36. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Course (Upper Intermediate to Advanced) (12 to 24 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · ECA College · Adelaide,Docklands,Fortitude Valley,Parramatta,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$9,1206 mo
  37. Preparation Course for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Upper Intermediate 2-24 weeks
    Non AQF Award · ECA College · Adelaide,Fortitude Valley,Parramatta,Sydney
    A$9,1206 mo
  38. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Future English · Melbourne,North Melbourne
    A$9,1206 mo
  39. Professional English
    Non AQF Award · Australian College of Agriculture & Horticulture (ACAH);… · Cairns,Melbourne
    A$9,2001 yr · A$8,859/yr
  40. Pathway English - Intermediate - Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Holmesglen, Holmesglen Institute · Chadstone,Melbourne
    A$9,2405 mo
  41. Business English
    Non AQF Award · Impact English College Pty Ltd · Brisbane,Melbourne
    A$9,3507 mo · A$16,207/yr
  42. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Cairns College of English & Business · Cairns City
    A$9,3509 mo · A$12,795/yr
  43. IELTS Mastery Program
    Non AQF Award · ILSC - Australia; ILSC - Brisbane; ILSC - Sydney; ILSC Pe… · Adelaide,Brisbane,Melbourne,Perth,Sydney
    A$9,3606 mo
  44. English for Academic Purposes (intermediate-Advanced) 12-24 weeks
    Non AQF Award · Nova Institute of Technology · Adelaide,Melbourne,Parramatta,South Melbourne,Southbank
    A$9,3606 mo
  45. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Imagine Education Australia · Southport,Spring Hill Qld
    A$9,4005 mo
  46. Masters Qualifying Program with Business English (MQP)
    Non AQF Award · Western Sydney University · Parramatta,Sydney
    A$9,4376 mo · A$18,874/yr
  47. General Academic English
    Non AQF Award · Lexis English · Manly
    A$9,6006 mo
  48. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Brisbane,Docklands,East Perth,Perth,Southport,Sydney
    A$9,6006 mo
  49. IELTS Exam Preparation
    Non AQF Award · English Language Company Australia Pty Ltd · Haymarket,Sydney
    A$9,6006 mo
  50. IELTS/EAP Intermediate - Advanced
    Non AQF Award · Impact English College Pty Ltd · Brisbane,Melbourne
    A$9,6007 mo · A$16,640/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.