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 120 English courses registered, from 428 schools.

Registered courses120
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

Show all states — currently showing South Australia only.

120 coursesSort by cheapestprice per yearshortestA–ZLevel allVETbachelormasters & aboveschool
  1. Course in - English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · South Australian College of English Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$1,0804 wk · A$14,040/yr
  2. Cambridge English First Certificate Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Perth
    A$3,30010 wk · A$17,160/yr
  3. Cambridge English Advanced Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Perth
    A$3,30010 wk · A$17,160/yr
  4. English Preparation for Academic Sudies Program 2 (EAP10)
    Non AQF Award · Salford College · Adelaide,Parramatta
    A$3,5003 mo · A$14,000/yr
  5. Upper-Intermediate English for Academic Purposes Program
    Non AQF Award · Global Higher Education · Adelaide
    A$3,50010 wk · A$18,200/yr
  6. Advanced English for Academic Purposes Program
    Non AQF Award · Global Higher Education · Adelaide
    A$3,50010 wk · A$18,200/yr
  7. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Australian Pacific College, Southern Cross High School, E… · Adelaide,Brisbane,Melbourne,Surfers Paradise,Sydney
    A$3,9003 mo · A$15,600/yr
  8. IELTS Preparation Course (Intermediate to Advanced)
    Non AQF Award · Australian Pacific College, Southern Cross High School, E… · Adelaide,Melbourne,Surfers Paradise,Sydney
    A$4,1403 mo · A$17,940/yr
  9. English for Vocational Studies Course (EVS)
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$4,15010 wk · A$21,580/yr
  10. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Albright Institute of Business and Language; Albright Ins… · Adelaide,Brisbane City,Brisbane,Haymarket,Melbourne
    A$4,2003 mo · A$18,200/yr
  11. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
    Non AQF Award · Albright Institute of Business and Language; Albright Ins… · Adelaide,Brisbane City,Brisbane,Haymarket,Melbourne
    A$4,2003 mo · A$18,200/yr
  12. General English - Elementary
    Non AQF Award · Southern Cross Education Institute, North Melbourne Gramm… · Adelaide,North Melbourne,West Melbourne
    A$4,2903 mo · A$18,590/yr
  13. General English - Pre-Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Southern Cross Education Institute, North Melbourne Gramm… · Adelaide,North Melbourne,West Melbourne
    A$4,2903 mo · A$18,590/yr
  14. General English - Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Southern Cross Education Institute, North Melbourne Gramm… · Adelaide,North Melbourne,West Melbourne
    A$4,2903 mo · A$18,590/yr
  15. General English - Upper Intermediate
    Non AQF Award · Southern Cross Education Institute, North Melbourne Gramm… · Adelaide,North Melbourne,West Melbourne
    A$4,2903 mo · A$18,590/yr
  16. Preparation Course for the Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) Test (Upper Intermediate) (10 to 12 weeks)
    Non AQF Award · ECA College · Adelaide,Fortitude Valley,Sydney
    A$4,5603 mo · A$19,760/yr
  17. English for Academic Purposes 1
    Non AQF Award · Signet Institute of Australia · Adelaide,Forest Lodge,Melbourne
    A$4,6003 mo · A$17,086/yr
  18. English for Academic Purposes 3
    Non AQF Award · Signet Institute of Australia · Adelaide,Forest Lodge,Melbourne
    A$4,6003 mo · A$17,086/yr
  19. English for Academic Purposes 2
    Non AQF Award · Signet Institute of Australia · Adelaide,Forest Lodge,Melbourne
    A$4,6003 mo · A$17,086/yr
  20. English for Academic Purposes Course (EAP)
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$4,9803 mo · A$21,580/yr
  21. English for Business Course (EB)
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$4,9803 mo · A$21,580/yr
  22. English + Creative Technology
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$4,9803 mo · A$21,580/yr
  23. 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
  24. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · English Language School for Pastoral Ministry · Box Hill,Urrbrae
    A$5,9005 mo · A$15,340/yr
  25. General English
    Non AQF Award · English Language School for Pastoral Ministry · Box Hill,Urrbrae
    A$5,9005 mo · A$15,340/yr
  26. English and Golf
    Non AQF Award · South Australian College of English Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$5,9806 mo · A$12,957/yr
  27. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · SSR Higher Education Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$6,0005 mo · A$15,600/yr
  28. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · SSR Higher Education Pty Ltd · Adelaide
    A$6,0005 mo · A$15,600/yr
  29. English Preparation for Academic Studies Program 1 (EAP20)
    Non AQF Award · Salford College · Adelaide,Parramatta
    A$6,5003 mo · A$26,000/yr
  30. General English 1
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Perth
    A$6,6006 mo · A$14,300/yr
  31. General English 2
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Perth
    A$6,6006 mo · A$14,300/yr
  32. General English 3
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Cannington,Perth
    A$6,6006 mo · A$14,300/yr
  33. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Keystone College of Business and Technology · Adelaide,Perth
    A$6,6006 mo · A$14,300/yr
  34. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · South Australian College of English Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Melbourne
    A$7,2006 mo · A$15,600/yr
  35. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Ironwood Career & Training; Ironwood Institute; Imperial… · Adelaide
    A$7,2006 mo · A$15,600/yr
  36. English for Tertiary Studies
    Non AQF Award · South Australian College of English Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Melbourne
    A$7,2106 mo · A$15,622/yr
  37. IELTS Preparation
    Non AQF Award · Native English College · Adelaide
    A$7,7008 mo · A$11,440/yr
  38. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
    Non AQF Award · Alliance College · Adelaide,Haymarket,Surry Hills
    A$7,9206 mo · A$14,709/yr
  39. IELTS Preparation (Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Mercury Colleges Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Hurstville,Sydney
    A$8,0006 mo · A$14,857/yr
  40. Hospitality Pro English
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$8,0005 mo · A$18,909/yr
  41. eBusiness Pro English
    Non AQF Award · Greenwich English College, Greenwich Management College · Adelaide,Bayswater,Brisbane,Melbourne,Southport,Surrey Hills,Surry Hills,Sydney,Ultimo
    A$8,0005 mo · A$18,909/yr
  42. English for Academic Purposes 20
    Non AQF Award · TAFE South Australia · Adelaide
    A$8,3006 mo · A$16,600/yr
  43. English for Academic Purposes Advanced
    Non AQF Award · TAFE South Australia · Adelaide
    A$8,3006 mo · A$16,600/yr
  44. English for Academic Purposes
    Non AQF Award · Nortwest Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Melbourne,Sydney
    A$8,4006 mo · A$18,200/yr
  45. 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
  46. General English (Elementary to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · Mint Training Pty Ltd · Adelaide,Melbourne
    A$8,5001.1 yr · A$7,893/yr
  47. 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
  48. English for Academic Purposes (Intermediate to Upper Intermediate)
    Non AQF Award · EQUALS International · Adelaide
    A$8,7506 mo · A$18,958/yr
  49. 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 · A$19,760/yr
  50. 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 · A$19,760/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.