Australia teaches English to international students through ELICOS, the English courses registered on the government's CRICOS register. In 2026 a 20-hour morning week costs $292–320 (A$420–460) at ILSC Sydney and $375 (A$540) at Hawthorn-Melbourne, and a homestay room with breakfast and dinner adds $288–306 (A$415–440) a week. You can study for up to three months on a Visitor visa (subclass 600); a longer course needs a Student visa (subclass 500). Both are lodged online, and applicants from Russia give biometrics there if asked.
| At a glance | Rules and prices checked on 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course up to 3 months | Visitor visa (subclass 600): study up to 3 months, no work |
| Course over 3 months | Student visa (subclass 500) for a CRICOS-registered course |
| Subclass 500 fee for ELICOS | Lower tier of A$2,050 (≈ $1,425) from 1 July 2026; standard A$2,500 |
| Work | Student visa: up to 48 hours a fortnight while classes run; visitor visa: none |
| Funds for subclass 500 | A$29,710 (≈ $20,650) a year for living costs, plus tuition and travel |
| Course price, 2026 | $264–320 (A$380–460) a week at ILSC Sydney, $375 (A$540) at Hawthorn-Melbourne |
| Housing | Homestay with breakfast and dinner: $288–320 (A$415–460) a week |
Who Australia suits
Australia makes most sense for a longer course: flights are long and expensive, so a two-week trip rarely pays off. In return, the student visa allows part-time work, schools start every week, and English can lead straight into a degree, since many universities accept direct-entry programmes at their own language centres instead of IELTS.
The downsides are cost and planning. Courses and housing cost more than in Canada or Malta, the student visa fee is high, and from 2 October 2026 most student visa holders can no longer lodge a further student visa from inside Australia. Plan the whole route, English plus any main course, before you leave.
For universities, costs and student life, see Study in Australia. If English is a step towards a degree, start with our overview of universities in Australia.
Course types
| Programme | Focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| General English | Speaking and writing, from beginner level | A study break, a long course with part-time work |
| IELTS, PTE or Cambridge preparation | Test format and strategy | Anyone who needs a score for university or immigration |
| English for Academic Purposes (EAP) | Academic writing, lectures, research skills | Future college and university students |
| University pathway / direct entry | A course that replaces IELTS for a specific university | Entry to that university |
| Teen courses | English for secondary students, holiday programmes | Pupils, usually from 14–16 |
In Australia, 20 hours a week counts as a full-time English course, and those are the programmes schools enrol on student visas. At ILSC Sydney the morning, afternoon and evening classes each give 20 hours (24 lessons of 50 minutes), while the 12-hour part-time option suits students on other visas.
How to check a school
- CRICOS. A student visa is only granted for a course on this government register. Schools list course codes in their price lists; ILSC Sydney, for example, has separate codes for General English, IELTS, EAP and Cambridge.
- Sector accreditation. Many schools are English Australia members accredited by NEAS. That is a useful sign but no substitute for CRICOS.
- Courses linked to a university. Hawthorn-Melbourne runs the University of Melbourne English Language Bridging Programs (UMELBP) for future students of that university.
What courses cost: two official 2026 price lists
ILSC Sydney
Lessons last 50 minutes; a full-time week is 24 lessons, or 20 hours.
| Programme | 1–11 weeks | 12–23 weeks | 24 weeks or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (General English, IELTS, EAP, Cambridge, pathway) | $320 (A$460) | $306 (A$440) | $292 (A$420) |
| Afternoon or evening | $264 (A$380) | $264 (A$380) | $264 (A$380) |
| Part-time, 12 hours | $278 (A$400) | $278 (A$400) | $278 (A$400) |
Registration costs $174 (A$250); materials are $42 (A$60) for up to four weeks or $10 (A$15) a week, capped at $313 (A$450). A half-board homestay costs $288 (A$415) a week for adults and $306 (A$440) for under-18s, plus a $257 (A$370) accommodation fee and $139 (A$200) for a one-way airport transfer.
Hawthorn-Melbourne
| Item | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| English language programs | $375 (A$540) a week |
| English for High School | $382 (A$550) a week |
| University of Melbourne bridging programs (UMELBP) | $483 (A$695) a week plus $17 (A$25) a week for materials |
| Enrolment | $205 (A$295) |
| Materials, other courses | $14 (A$20) a week |
| Homestay, 18+ / ages 14–17 | $306 (A$440) / $320 (A$460) a week |
| Accommodation placement / airport reception | $250 (A$360) / $146 (A$210) |
Homestay fees are paid directly to the homestay provider, with four weeks due on arrival: two as a bond and two in advance. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for a single student is $54 (A$77) a month.
A four-week budget
| Scenario | Course and fees | Homestay for 4 weeks, placement and transfer | Total before flights and visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILSC Sydney, mornings | $1,494 (A$2,150) | $1,550 (A$2,230) | $3,044 (A$4,380) |
| Hawthorn-Melbourne, English language program | $1,762 (A$2,535) | $1,619 (A$2,330) | $3,381 (A$4,865) |
Longer courses lower the weekly rate: twelve weeks of ILSC Sydney mornings with registration and materials cost $3,969 (A$5,710).
Visa rules for English courses
The Department of Home Affairs decides on all visas; the school issues the letter of offer or the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Up to three months: Visitor visa (subclass 600)
Home Affairs lets visitors study or train for a maximum of three months and does not let them work. The usual stay is three months. Nationals who need a visa apply online in ImmiAccount with the school's letter, proof of payment and housing, bank statements and evidence that they will return. Home Affairs itself notes that a student visa may be more appropriate if study is the main purpose of the trip.
Longer courses: Student visa (subclass 500)
You will need:
- A CoE for a CRICOS-registered course.
- OSHC for the whole visa period.
- Funds: A$29,710 (≈ $20,650) for 12 months of living costs, plus tuition and about A$2,000 (≈ $1,390) for travel; alternatively, parents' annual income of at least A$87,856 (≈ $61,064).
- Answers to the Genuine Student questions, which show that study is the main purpose of your stay.
- For applicants under 18: parental consent and approved welfare arrangements, either a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) from the school or a parent or nominated relative aged 21 or over living with the student.
From 1 July 2026, applicants in the ELICOS and non-award sector pay a lower charge of A$2,050 (≈ $1,425) instead of the standard A$2,500 (≈ $1,738); check the exact amount in the Home Affairs pricing estimator before paying. A standalone ELICOS course is exempt from the visa's English-language requirement. Funds, Genuine Student answers and timing are covered in our guide to the Australian student visa.
Biometrics and applying from Russia or Kazakhstan
Applications are lodged online from anywhere. After lodgement Home Affairs tells you whether to give fingerprints and a photo at a biometrics collection centre or whether the Australian Immi App is enough; collection centres operate in six Russian cities, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Kazakh citizens follow the same online process. Russia-specific points are in studying in Australia for Russian citizens.
The rule from 2 October 2026
From this date most student visa holders can no longer apply for a further student visa while in Australia. Home Affairs gives a direct example: after an ELICOS course you cannot apply onshore for a visa for another ELICOS course. If you may want more English or a degree afterwards, get a CoE for the full package before you travel.
Can you work?
A subclass 500 holder may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session and without a cap during scheduled course breaks. A visitor visa gives no work rights. College and university rules are explained in working while studying and the 485 visa.
Paying the school
Australian schools invoice in Australian dollars, and no CoE is issued until the first payment arrives. Keep the invoice, payment and bank statements consistent for the visa file. If you pay from Russia, use only legal routes, as described in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Timeline
- 6 months before. Decide on the length. Up to three months means a visitor visa; longer means a student visa and an early decision on any follow-on course.
- 4–5 months before. Choose a CRICOS-registered course, compare the weekly rate for your length and book housing.
- 3–4 months before. Pay the first instalment and OSHC, receive the CoE, prepare bank statements and Genuine Student answers.
- 2–3 months before. Lodge the application in ImmiAccount and give biometrics if asked.
- After the decision. Buy flights only once the visa is granted, as Home Affairs advises.
Common mistakes
- Spending six months on a visitor visa. Study on that visa is limited to three months.
- Planning to extend your English course onshore. Since 2 October 2026 a further student visa inside Australia is rarely possible.
- Choosing a course outside CRICOS. No student visa will be granted for it.
- Forgetting the homestay bond. At Hawthorn-Melbourne four weeks are payable on arrival.
- Booking flights before the visa. Home Affairs advises against it.
FAQ
A 20-hour morning week at ILSC Sydney costs $292–320 (A$420–460) in 2026, and Hawthorn-Melbourne charges $375 (A$540) a week. Four weeks with a homestay come to about $3,044–3,381 (A$4,380–4,865) before flights and visa costs.
Up to three months, a Visitor visa (subclass 600); longer, a Student visa (subclass 500) with a CoE for a CRICOS course. Home Affairs decides on both, and the school only issues enrolment documents.
English-only and other non-award courses have their own lower tier, A$2,050 (≈ $1,425), since 1 July 2026. Add OSHC, biometrics if requested and a health examination if Home Affairs asks for one.
Yes, on a subclass 500 visa: up to 48 hours a fortnight during classes and unlimited hours in scheduled course breaks. Visitors cannot work. Breaching visa conditions can lead Home Affairs to cancel the visa.
The student visa is available from age six, but language schools usually take teenagers from 14–16 and adults from 18. Under-18s also need approved welfare arrangements, usually through the school, and Home Affairs decides on the visa.
Most start in a homestay at $288–320 (A$415–460) a week with breakfast and dinner. Adults on long courses often move to student residences or a shared room; residence prices are set by the providers.
Canada is nearer and cheaper to fly to from Europe, but language-only students there cannot work. Australia allows part-time work on a student visa, while the visa and courses cost more. Compare both in our guide to English courses in Canada.
Sources
- Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500): funds, work, ELICOS cost concession, rules from 02.10.2026 — checked 02.10.2026
- Home Affairs: Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream: study limit and work ban — checked 02.10.2026
- Home Affairs: welfare arrangements for students under 18 — checked 02.10.2026
- Home Affairs: biometrics and collection centres — checked 02.10.2026
- IDP: visa charges from 1 July 2026, A$2,050 ELICOS tier — checked 02.10.2026
- ILSC Sydney: 2026 price list and CRICOS codes — checked 02.10.2026
- Hawthorn-Melbourne: 2026 fees — checked 02.10.2026
US dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298 = A$1.6255, so A$1 ≈ $0.695.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school makes the enrolment decision and the Department of Home Affairs decides on the visa.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Studying in Australia for international applicants
- Universities in Australia for International Students: How to Choose, 2027 Costs and Entry Routes
- Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) in 2026: Requirements, Funds, Genuine Student Questions and How to Apply
- Studying in Australia as a Russian Citizen: Online Subclass 500, Biometrics in Russia, Foundation and Recognition
- Working While Studying in Australia and the 485 Graduate Visa in 2026: Hours, Pay, Tax and Post-Study Stay
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
