General English (ELICOS)
ELICOS · 4 weeks – 1 year (rolling intakes)
Known by the acronym ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students), these accredited English programs are offered by Australian providers with rolling intakes throughout the year. They’re commonly studied as preparation for a main qualification, sometimes called an “ELICOS package”, or as standalone study for visitors and students seeking to improve their English.
What’s covered
- Listening, speaking, reading, and writing across general and academic contexts
- Vocabulary and grammar appropriate to learner level
- Australian English in everyday and academic settings
- IELTS, PTE, or Cambridge English exam preparation in some streams
Visa pathway
Students can apply for the Subclass 500 student visa to study an ELICOS course on its own or as part of a packaged study plan. Many universities and TAFEs offer conditional admission contingent on completing a specified ELICOS level.
Outcomes and next steps
Rather than leading to a job, ELICOS leads to a language proficiency level, and what you do with that depends on your original goal. Students entering on a package usually move directly from their final ELICOS level straight into the diploma, bachelor’s or master’s degree they were conditionally admitted to, without needing to sit a separate IELTS or PTE test if the provider recognises internal progression. Others use ELICOS purely to lift their general English for work, travel or everyday life in Australia, with no further study planned. Because course length is genuinely flexible, from four weeks up to a year of rolling intakes, students can tailor the commitment to how much improvement they actually need rather than committing to a fixed academic year.
How to choose a provider
Since ELICOS is most often the first step into a longer study plan, check exactly how the provider’s internal levels map onto the entry requirements of your intended degree, and get that pathway confirmed in writing before you commit, since not every ELICOS level automatically satisfies every course’s English requirement. RMIT English Worldwide and UTS College both offer a fairly direct route into their parent university’s degrees, which removes some uncertainty if you already know where you want to end up. TAFE NSW’s program suits students who want flexible rolling intakes without being tied to a specific university pathway. Ask about class sizes and how placement testing works on arrival, since this determines which level you actually start at, and confirm current course fees directly, as ELICOS pricing is usually calculated per week rather than as a flat course fee.
Entry requirements
Most providers accept students from beginner through to advanced levels and place students into classes based on a placement test on arrival.