If your priority is improving your English, an English language course (ELICOS) is the right fit. Vocational training (VET) is for those who want to learn through practical experience and graduate with an official qualification. The choice depends on your current level, what you want to do afterward, and how much time you can spend in Australia.
A practical rule applies to almost all cases: the VET is taught in English, so you need to find out beforehand if your level meets the center’s requirements. If it doesn’t, you don’t have to choose: you can study English first and then combine it with the VET.
What is an ELICOS and what is a VET
ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. These are intensive English courses accredited by the Australian government for students on a Student Visa, subclass 500.
A VET (Vocational Education and Training) is a practical, vocational training program. It is offered in areas such as Business, Marketing, Hospitality, Culinary Arts, IT, Fitness, Childcare, and Design.
It is delivered by public TAFE institutes, which are the largest provider of VET in the country, and by registered private centers, known as RTOs (Registered Training Organisations). Quality is monitored by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
HELICOS versus VET: the main differences
The table summarizes how the two types of courses compare:
| Aspect | English course (ELICOS) | Vocational training (VET) |
|---|---|---|
| What is | Intensive English course for international students | Practical vocational training with official qualification |
| Aim | Improve your English or prepare for further studies | Train in a trade or in a specific area |
| English level to start with | From beginner in General English | Intermediate or upper-intermediate, depending on the center |
| Duration | From a few weeks; between 10 and 12 weeks per level | Between 4 and 36 months, depending on the qualification |
| Approximate price | Between 250 and 450 AUD per week | Between 4,000 and 14,000 AUD per year in private centers |
| Next usual step | A VET, university, or an official exam | Work in the sector or continue studying |
| Student Visa Fee | Approximately 2,050 AUD if the ELICOS is independent | 2,500 AUD |
| I work with a Student Visa | Up to 48 hours every two weeks during classes and no limit on hours during official school holidays | Up to 48 hours every two weeks during classes and no limit on hours during official school holidays |
This information is for initial comparison purposes. The exact price, access level, and start dates vary depending on the center and course.
If your English level is still low
You can start at any level. General English focuses on everyday communication, especially listening comprehension and conversation. There are no academic entry requirements: the school gives you a placement test and assigns you a level.
Schools generally organize English on a scale from Beginner to Advanced, including Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. Advancing one level typically requires between 10 and 12 weeks of study .
It’s easy to overestimate your level if you judge it by reading alone. The placement test also checks speaking and writing, which is often where the result changes.
An ELICOS course costs about 250 to 450 AUD per week. The school, city, timetable and number of weeks all affect the final price. Enrolment and materials can be charged separately, usually adding another 200 to 500 AUD.
For the visa, a standalone English course is the simpler route. If ELICOS is your main course, you don’t need to submit an English test score with the application.
Once your level improves, you have a couple of common next steps:
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP) prepares you to study in English at a VET provider, TAFE or university. It usually runs for about 10 weeks and has its own entry level.
- Exam preparation focuses on IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge. It makes sense when your next provider, or the visa, asks for an official score.
If you already have intermediate English
Most vocational courses ask for intermediate or upper-intermediate English. IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent level is common, though some providers use their own test.
The visa requirement is separate. If the immigration authorities ask you to prove your English, the general Student Visa minimum is IELTS 6.0 or the equivalent in another accepted test. They may ask when you apply or later, while assessing the application.
So passing the provider’s test doesn’t always settle the visa question. Check both.
VET qualifications come at several levels:
- Certificate I: 4 to 6 months.
- Certificates II and III: about 1 year each.
- Certificate IV: 12 to 18 months.
- Diploma: 18 to 24 months.
- Advanced Diploma: 24 to 36 months.
A Diploma or Advanced Diploma may give you credit towards a later university degree. How much credit you receive depends on the university and program.
At private providers, VET usually costs 4,000 to 14,000 AUD per year. Business and Marketing tend to sit at the lower end. Courses that need kitchens, workshops or placements cost more, and some TAFE programs are above 15,000 AUD a year.
Many providers split the fee into instalments or term payments. Add every payment period before comparing prices. The first invoice is not the full cost.
From 1 July 2026, the standard Student Visa application charge is 2,500 AUD for VET. The same charge applies whether you begin VET straight away or take English first.
Your course also has to make sense under the Genuine Student requirement. Picking VET because it looks cheap or easy can raise questions. The provider, subject and qualification should fit your background or a career change you can explain.
Combining English and VET in one package
IELTS 5.0 An English + VET package puts both courses into one study plan. You complete ELICOS first, then move into the vocational course.
This is often the cleanest option when VET is the goal but your current English doesn’t meet the provider’s or visa’s standard. With ELICOS before the main course, the visa minimum falls to IELTS 5.0 or an equivalent result.
The number of English weeks should come from a test, not a guess. The English school measures your current level, and the VET provider confirms where you need to finish. The gap between the two tells you how long to book.
For example, moving from Elementary to Intermediate means going up 2 levels. At 10 to 12 weeks per level, that’s about 20 to 24 weeks of English before VET.
Dates matter just as much as level. General English may start almost every week, while VET courses have fixed intakes. Finish English too early and you could have a long gap without classes. Finish too late and you miss the VET start date.
Before you book, we ask the VET provider how it will confirm your final English level. It may accept the English school’s certificate, run an internal test or ask for IELTS.
- Take someone with Intermediate English who wants to spend at least 1 year in Australia. Their options might look like this:
- Plan A, English only: 48 weeks of ELICOS, costing 12,000 to 21,600 AUD. The lower visa charge applies, and no test score is required.
Plan B, English + VET: 12 weeks of English, costing 3,000 to 5,400 AUD, followed by a 12 to 18-month Certificate IV. Including the first year of VET, the total is 7,000 to 19,400 AUD. The standard visa charge applies, and the visa may ask for IELTS 5.0 or an equivalent result.
The calculation uses the weekly English fee plus 1 year of VET. It doesn’t include enrolment, materials, OSHC, flights or accommodation.
Plan B takes longer. If the Certificate IV lasts 18 months, you’ll also need to budget for the second year. In return, you finish with a qualification and the option to continue studying.
Too little English can delay the VET course. Too much adds weeks and cost you may not need. If you’re unsure, we’ll calculate the timing with you for free.
If you’re only staying for a few months
VET won’t fit a short stay. The courses run for longer and require a Student Visa.An English course of less than 3 months can be taken on a Visitor Visa (subclass 600), but that visa doesn’t allow you to work. General English usually starts every Monday, which makes it flexible when your dates aren’t fixed yet.
For a longer standalone ELICOS course, the latest Student Visa price increase didn’t apply. The application charge is about 2,050 AUD. The official notice is on Study Australia’s page about the Student Visa application charge increase.
2,050 AUD With the Student Visa, you can work up to 48 hours every 2 weeks during study periods, whether you’re studying ELICOS or VET.
Questions to answer before you enrol
- What level did you get on a recent English test?
- What do you want to be able to do after the course?
- How many months can you stay in Australia?
- What English level does the VET provider require, and how will it test you?
- How does the course fit your education or work experience?
- Can your budget cover the full study plan, not just the first payment?
If VET fits the goal but your English falls short, a package is often the most realistic route.
How Australian Way helps
We start with your real English level, what you want to study and how long you can stay. From there, we can compare English schools, VET providers, cities and start dates without forcing you into one route too early.
If you choose a package, we line up the English weeks with the VET intake so the dates work. We coordinate both enrolments, arrange OSHC and help you prepare the course documents needed for the Student Visa application.
You don’t pay us for this, and you’re free to stop at any point.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, ELICOS or VET?
It depends on where you’re starting and where you want the course to lead. ELICOS improves your English. VET gives you practical training and a qualification, and many providers ask for a level equal to IELTS 5.5.
Can I study VET with no English?
No. VET is taught in English and normally requires an intermediate or upper-intermediate level. If you’re not there yet, you can take ELICOS first as part of a package. Each level takes about 10 to 12 weeks.
Do I need IELTS for the Student Visa?
It depends on the course and your circumstances. A standalone ELICOS application doesn’t need a test score. For VET, the general minimum is IELTS 6.0, or IELTS 5.0 when ELICOS comes first, if the Department asks for English evidence. The provider may also set its own test or score.
Can I work while studying ELICOS?
Yes, with a Student Visa. The limit is 48 hours every two weeks During the academic term, just like with a VET visa. You cannot work with a visitor visa.
English, VET, or both? Decide based on your level.
English is for those who need to improve their language skills and want to adjust the schedule as they go. With their level already certified and specific training in mind, the VET course is the logical next step.
When the goal is VET and English is still below the required level, the package allows you to do English first and then VET.
Write to us with your English level, what you’d like to study, and how long you want to stay. At Australian Way, we’ll work with you to find the best option and help you put together a complete plan. Reviewing your case with us is free and doesn’t obligate you to proceed.
