Studying English in Australia: Courses, Visas and Costs
Studying English in Australia: Courses, Visas and Costs
Studying English in Australia usually means enrolling in an ELICOS course, the intensive English programs designed for international students and registered with the Australian Government. If your course is shorter than three months, a visitor visa may be enough, but if it is longer or you plan to go on to university afterwards, you will usually need a Student visa (subclass 500).
The most important decision is not the city or the college but your goal: do you want to improve your English for everyday life and work, reach the level needed for university admission, or pass a specific test? Each goal leads to a different type of course, a different length of study and a different visa.
How do English courses in Australia work?
ELICOS is the official name for the intensive English courses international students take on a student visa. "Intensive" has a specific meaning here: full-time study of at least 20 hours of face-to-face classes per week, usually spread over five days.
A college can only teach student visa holders if both the college and its courses are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). This registration is what gives you the same protections as other international students in Australia, so check it before you pay any fees.
Keep in mind that students in Australia on a student visa must study full-time and on campus, so courses delivered entirely online are not an option for them.
Types of English courses: choose by your goal
Australian colleges and universities offer several types of courses, and the table below shows which one fits each goal:
| Your goal | The right course | What it focuses on |
|---|---|---|
| Improve your English for everyday life, travel or work | General English | Communication skills, especially speaking and listening |
| Study at an Australian university or vocational college soon | English for Academic Purposes (EAP) | The language and skills you need to study in English |
| English for a specific profession or field | English for Specific Purposes (ESP) | The language of fields such as business, health, law, tourism and teaching |
| Pass an English test | Exam preparation courses | Practice for tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge |
| Teach English in your home country | Teacher training courses | Qualifications such as TESOL and CELTA |
| A short trip combining English and activities | Study tours | General English with cultural, sporting or professional activities |
If university is your end goal, English for Academic Purposes is usually the closest fit, because it teaches you more than the language: it also covers writing assignments, taking notes in lectures and giving presentations, skills that General English does not focus on.
How long does it take to study English?
In General English courses you can enrol for almost any length of time, from one or two weeks up to a full year. Other courses are usually offered in five- or ten-week blocks.
There is no single number that fits everyone. Most colleges give you a placement test when you enrol, and that result sets your starting point and how long you will need to reach the required level. So ask the college before you enrol: how many weeks am I likely to need based on my current result?
Which visa do you need to study English in Australia?
Short courses: the visitor visa
The visitor visa allows you to take short courses of less than three months. It suits a short experience or a study tour, but not a longer program or a plan to move on to university afterwards.
Longer courses: the student visa
For longer intensive courses you need a student visa, which covers English courses as well as universities and vocational education. The usual requirements apply: a Confirmation of Enrolment from your college, proof of financial capacity, the Genuine Student requirement and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay.
The student visa application fee starts from AUD 2,500 for applications lodged from 1 July 2026, with some categories paying less. The minimum living-cost amount a student must evidence is AUD 29,710 per year, on top of tuition and travel.
The student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, with no limit during scheduled breaks. But remember that English courses require regular attendance, and breaching attendance conditions can put your visa at risk.
From an English course to university
If you will study English and then move on to university, you can package both courses into a single visa application, provided each course has its own Confirmation of Enrolment and the gap between them is generally no more than two months. In that case, the final course, your university degree, determines which financial and English documents the visa requires.
The point many students miss is "direct entry". Some EAP courses, once passed, mean you do not need to submit an IELTS result to the university, but this is not a general rule. For example, Charles Darwin University states that completing one level of its academic English program meets the English requirement for bachelor's programs requiring the equivalent of IELTS 6.0, while another college linked to Adelaide University states that its English courses do not give direct entry to the university without a foundation or diploma program.
So before enrolling in any English course, ask for written confirmation that passing it gives you direct entry to the specific university course you want, and what result you need to pass.
The cost of studying English in Australia
English course fees vary from college to college depending on the city, the type of course and the number of weeks, which is why they are usually quoted per week. When you build your budget, add up the following:
- Tuition for the number of weeks you need, plus any enrolment and materials fees.
- The student visa fee if your course requires one.
- Overseas Student Health Cover for your whole stay.
- Living costs, the biggest of which is accommodation.
- Your return flight.
Common accommodation options for students include on-campus housing, living with an Australian family (homestay) and private rentals. To estimate your living costs, the government's Study Australia offers a cost of living calculator, but note that its figures are approximate and were last updated in November 2023, so your actual costs today may be higher.
The minimum required for the visa is not an estimate of what you will spend: government sources state that actual living costs can be much higher than the amount needed for the visa, especially in the big cities.
How to choose the right English college
Before you pay anything, check the following:
- The college and course are registered on CRICOS if you will study on a student visa.
- The type of course matches your goal, since General English does not usually lead to direct university entry.
- You have written confirmation of direct entry if university is your goal.
- The weekly study hours and timetable, the campus location and the cost of housing nearby.
- The refund terms in your Letter of Offer, in case your visa is refused or your plans change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study English online from inside Australia on a student visa?
No. Student visa holders in Australia must study full-time and on campus. Online courses are available to students living outside Australia or to those who do not hold a student visa.
Do I need an IELTS result to enrol in an English course?
Usually not, as most colleges rely on their own placement test. However, some advanced EAP courses set a minimum level for entry, so check the requirements of the specific course.
Does studying English in Australia guarantee university admission?
Not automatically. Direct entry depends on specific courses and agreements between the college and the university, and may require a particular pass mark, so get written confirmation before you enrol.
How can YouApply help?
YouApply helps you discover Australian universities, compare their courses, admission requirements and tuition fees, and explore your application options, so you can choose an English course that actually leads to the university you want.
Start by defining your goal for studying English, then decide on the type of course and the expected length, and then the right visa. If university is your final destination, choose the university and course first, then find the English course that takes you there directly.