General English Intensive (ELICOS) — which stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students — is Australia's government-regulated framework for intensive English language instruction designed specifically for international students and non-native English speakers. The course gives students a thorough grounding in the vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and four macro skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing at every proficiency stage, from absolute beginner (A1/Elementary) through to Advanced (C1). Delivered by CRICOS-registered providers — including private language colleges, TAFEs, and university pathway centres — courses are structured across five to six progressive levels: Starter/Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, and Advanced, typically running between 1 and 57 weeks in total duration depending on a student's starting point and goals. Classes are held face-to-face for a minimum of 20 hours per week, supplemented by an additional four to five hours of recommended self-study each week. The curriculum integrates real-life communication scenarios, Australian cultural content, grammar instruction, and task-based activities so that learners develop authentic, functional fluency rather than just textbook knowledge.

The course is designed for a wide audience: international students preparing for university or VET study in Australia, migrants and new arrivals wishing to integrate into Australian society and the workforce, working holiday visa holders, tourists studying for up to 13 weeks, professionals seeking to advance their English for career purposes, and anyone who simply wishes to improve their everyday communication skills. Employers who directly benefit from graduates of this course include private English language schools, universities and TAFEs offering pathway programmes, government-funded settlement services, community organisations, corporate training providers, and internationally focused businesses across every industry sector. Because completion of ELICOS can serve as an alternative to IELTS or PTE scores for entry into vocational and higher education courses, providers are also institutional partners with a vast network of universities, TAFE institutes, and registered training organisations (RTOs) across Australia.

General English Intensive ELICOS courses are intentionally open-access — there are no prior academic or English language entry requirements for students enrolling at the Beginner or Elementary level. Students wishing to start from the very beginning (A1/Starter level) require no prior knowledge of English whatsoever. For students who already have some English proficiency and wish to enter at a higher level (Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, or Advanced), a placement test is conducted on arrival or during enrolment, typically covering reading, writing, grammar, and speaking components, to ensure correct class placement. Students with prior formal English study may also submit results from recognised English tests such as IELTS, PTE Academic, or Cambridge examinations as evidence of their current proficiency level.

Most providers require students to be at least 16 to 18 years of age at the time of course commencement, with many adult-focused institutions setting 18 as the minimum age. International students studying in Australia for more than 12–13 weeks are required to hold a valid Student Visa (subclass 500), and students on Visitor Visas are restricted to a maximum of 13 weeks of study. Student visa holders must study full-time — a minimum of 20 hours per week — and fulfil attendance requirements set by their provider and the Australian government's National Code under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. All ELICOS providers must be registered on CRICOS (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students), which guarantees nationally consistent quality standards for all enrolled students.