Intensive English and University Study programs — widely known in Australia as ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) — are designed to help international students and newcomers develop the English language proficiency they need to succeed in Australian academic, professional, and everyday life. These fully accredited, government-recognised programs are offered by approximately 300 CRICOS-registered institutions across Australia, including specialist language colleges, TAFEs, university pathway centres, and private colleges. Courses span a broad spectrum of language needs and goals, covering general conversational English through to highly specialised English for Academic Purposes (EAP) streams that directly feed into undergraduate or postgraduate university admission. Program lengths are highly flexible, ranging from as few as 2 weeks to a full 52-week intensive study load of 24–30 hours per week, and students can enter at any proficiency level from absolute beginner to advanced.

These programs are structured around the core language skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, note-taking, and academic research. University-pathway streams add critical thinking, essay writing, referencing conventions, and discipline-specific academic literacy. As of 2024, more than 141,000 students commenced ELICOS courses in Australia annually, with learners arriving primarily from China, Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, and India — reflecting Australia's reputation as one of the world's top three destinations for English language study. Employers of graduates and those who complete such programs span the entire Australian economy: universities and TAFEs, language schools, community organisations, government settlement services, corporations with multicultural workforces, and international businesses seeking professionals with cross-cultural communication skills.

Entry requirements for Intensive English and University Study programs in Australia are deliberately accessible, as these courses are designed for learners at virtually all proficiency levels. Most General English courses have no minimum English score requirement and accept students from beginner to advanced levels. Providers typically administer an in-house English placement test on arrival to accurately assess the student's current proficiency and place them in the appropriate level — covering reading, writing, grammar, and speaking components. For English for Academic Purposes (EAP) streams, a minimum Academic IELTS score of around 5.0–5.5 (or equivalent PTE/TOEFL score) is commonly required, or students may transition into EAP after successfully completing a General English Upper-Intermediate module. From March 2024, the Australian Government increased the minimum English requirement for students applying via ELICOS to an IELTS equivalent of 5.0 in order to obtain a Student Visa (Subclass 500) for full-time study in Australia.

Academically, most providers require students to have completed at least the equivalent of Australian Year 12 (or secondary school completion in their home country), though some programs have no formal academic prerequisite at all. International students must be at least 16–18 years of age at course commencement (age requirements vary by provider). All providers delivering ELICOS to students on student visas must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), ensuring programs meet national quality standards under the ESOS Act and National ELICOS Standards. Some institutions — particularly those offering direct university pathway arrangements — may additionally require a TOEFL or PTE Academic score as an alternative to IELTS, and students who achieve the required exit level in an accredited EAP pathway program may be eligible for direct entry into a linked university degree without submitting a separate IELTS score.