English Australia
English Australia, formerly known as ELICOS Association of Australia, is an industry association of English language schools for students from overseas studying in Australia.
ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students and is designed for students who need to learn English before commencing formal studies in Australia. The following will provide an overview of English courses and tests, costs and applications as well as where you can study ELICOS across Australia.
English Courses
English language courses vary greatly, depending on where you are studying. You will get a different experience going to small group tuition, secondary school/college, university or a vocational education centre. Think about what stage you are at in life and where you would like to take the next step. Do you need to obtain a high school qualification, would you like to enrol in TAFE or attend university? This will largely influence what English course you undertake.
ELICOS Standards
CRICOS stands for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. If an ELICOS provider has met the national standards, then they will be registered with CRICOS, so it is very important to verify this before you sign the dotted line with any education institution. You can confirm the registration on the CRICOS website.
On the site, you can see all of the Australian education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas (and the courses that are offered). Navigating the site is simple, as you can find relevant information with the course or institution search. The government site also provides information about registration of institutions and courses for overseas students.
English Tests
There are quite a few options for potential students regarding the selection of an English course. This also applies to English tests. The following tests are accepted for Australian Student Visa purposes:
IELTS – International English Language Testing System test.
TOEFL iBT – Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based test OR TOEFL PBT – TOEFL Paper-Based Test (where IELTS is not available).
PTE – Pearson Test of English.
CAE – Cambridge English: Advanced test (Certificate in Advanced English), and the
OET – Occupational English Test for healthcare professionals who want to register and work in an English-speaking environment.
Applying for ELICOS
There are three main ways that you can apply to study ELICOS in Australia. The first is by applying directly to the school. The ELICOS website provides users with a list of all ELICOS English colleges across Australia. Many of these colleges are quality endorsed by NEAS Australia.
The second way you can apply is through IE (Australian Education International). Contact your local IE office for further information.
Finally, the third way in which you can apply to ELICOS is through a private education agent representing the schools. You can find an agent by contacting the Australian Embassy in the first instance and asking to be connected to an ‘Education Agent’.
Costs of Study
The cost of tuition will vary depending on where you are studying. This can vary from approximately AUD$250 per week up to AUD$350 per week (this involves about 25 hours of tuition in the week of study). If you are attending an ELICOS course of study in a main city such as Sydney or Melbourne, the costs will inevitably be a bit higher than in more rural or smaller communities. Adelaide, Perth and Hobart tend to be less expensive than the mainland cities on the eastern coast of Australia, so if you are concerned about finances (including living expenses) then consider these locations as an alternative.
There are at least half a dozen places to study ELICOS in each main city across Australia so make sure you choose wisely, taking all factors into account including cost of living, accommodation, transport, testing requirements and restrictions
