
English Language Courses
What is ELICOS?
English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) are designed to enable international students to develop their English language skills for a variety of purposes.
Perhaps you need to improve your English language skills to enter a degree program at the University of Newcastle? Maybe you would like to improve your English skills to boost your career? We offer a range of programs to suit varying levels of English language proficiency.
All ELICOS courses prepare students for further study at the University of Newcastle. Currently, all our programs are being offered online as Study from Home ELICOS.
Course dates and fees How to apply
ELICOS courses and levels
English for General Purposes Courses (EGP)
English for Academic Purposes Courses (EAP)
Study hours
The University of Newcastle English Language Centre offers 20 hours of class per week.
Students are expected to attend classes for 4 hours each weekday.
See below for an example of our current Study from Home ELICOS timetable.
| 11:30 – 12:30 | 12:30 – 1:30 | 1:30 – 2:30 | 2:30 – 3:30 | 3:30 – 4:30 |
Monday - Friday | Independent Learning Hour | EAP Class | Lunch Break and SEP Activities | EAP Class | EAP Class |
Sample Week: English Language Centre EAP (Advanced)
Week 2 Topic: Migration
Time | Activity | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
11:30am –12:30am | EAP Lesson | (R3) Reading Skills Identifying Main Ideas | (S1) Speaking Skills Thematic questions | (L1) Listening Skills Introduction to note-taking | (W6) Writing Skills Researching articles | Week Review |
12:30am – 1:30am | Task-based Activity | Task-based Activity | Task-based Activity | Task-based Activity | Task-based Activity | Task-based Activity |
1:30pm – 2:30pm | Lunch Break & SEP | Speed Conversations | Chill Tuesdays | Ready to Talk! | Pronunciation Class | Cooking on Campus |
2:30pm – 3:30pm | EAP Lesson | (W1) Writing Skills Reviewing sentences | (R1) Reading Skills Set reading No.2 | (S1 / R4) Vocabulary Using unknown vocabulary | (L2) Listening Skills Live lecture | (S3) Speaking Skills Introduction to oral presentations |
3:30pm – 4:30pm | Consolidation hour | Review key points | Review key points | Review key points | Review key points | Weekly Quiz |
4:30pm – 5:30pm | E-Consults & SEP | Tuesday Movie Nights
| World Sports Afternoon |
ELICOS Pathways
Upon application via one of our registered Overseas Representatives, or upon arrival at the Language Centre, students will sit our Placement Test. Results of this test will determine the level that each student will commence in. Each level consists of 10 weeks of study.
Students wishing to go on to further studies will need to satisfactorily pass:
- Upper Intermediate English for General Purposes for direct entry into the Newcastle International College (NIC) Certificate IV and Diploma + Provisional Entry Program.
- Advanced English for Academic Purposes (EAP) for direct entry into the University of Newcastle's Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree programs, and NIC's Diploma courses.