English Australia

English Australia, formerly known as the 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.

English Courses
English language courses exhibit significant variation depending on the institution of study. Whether one opts for small group tuition, a secondary school/college, a university, or a vocational education center, the experiences offered can differ markedly. Prospective students carefully evaluate their current life stage and contemplate how each educational institution will contribute to their academic and personal development. Schools are diverse, allowing many career paths to be chosen, for example, some schools are good at providing simple high school qualifications, while others lead to enrolment in TAFE or university education.

ELICOS Standards
CRICOS is an acronym for the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. ELICOS providers that adhere to national standards are duly registered with CRICOS. All Australian education providers that offer courses to individuals studying in Australia on student visas, as well as the courses they provide, are listed on the website. Additionally, the government site furnishes information concerning the 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 to 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 to apply is through IE (Australian Education International). Finally, the third way to apply to ELICOS is through a private education agent representing the schools. Students 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 be a higher than in more rural or smaller communities. Adelaide, Perth and Hobart tend to be less expensive than the mainland cities on the east 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.