Essential English

Essential English, marketed by The Centre of Excellence as its General English (ELICOS) program, is a government-registered English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (CRICOS code 098029K). It is designed for international students who need to build English proficiency before starting further study, work or life in Australia, and is delivered across three ability levels - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced - with each level running for 12 weeks. Classes run full-time at 20 hours per week and combine grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and speaking practice with group discussion and interactive activities. Weekly assessments track each student's progress and form the basis of ongoing, personalised feedback from teachers, with certification awarded on completion reflecting the student's overall level. The course is offered at the college's Melbourne campus (72 study weeks plus 12 weeks of holidays) and its Adelaide campus (60 study weeks plus 8 weeks of holidays), with new intakes accepted every week. Graduates leave with the confidence and language skills to pursue further education, gain employment in fields such as tourism, hospitality, education, customer service and international business, or meet the English requirements of university and vocational courses. As an approved ELICOS provider registered under CRICOS, The Centre of Excellence's English program is specifically designed to help overseas students adapt to Australian academic and everyday communication standards.