English language courses

If English isn’t your first language and you’d like to improve your English speaking, writing and reading, we can help. UC College offers English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) at the University of Canberra College English Language Centre (UCCELC), conveniently located on our Bruce campus in Canberra. We’re one of Australia’s longest serving English language centres, having successfully supported English as a Second Language (ESL) students with our ELICOS programs since 1969.

Whether you’re keen to learn English while you study a UC degree, in preparation for future academic studies with us, or simply to further enrich your life, our ELICOS English language courses will put you firmly on the path to English language fluency. You don’t need to be an enrolled UC student to study an English course with us – just sign up to develop your confidence in English and get the most out of daily life.

UC College is a certified training provider of English language courses, approved by the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS 00212K).

We welcome all students back to studying with us on campus face to face. Please see any updates to our guidelines in regards to social distancing and masks here: https://www.canberra.edu.au/coronavirus-advice.

To study English on an ELICOS program with us, you need to be at least 17 years of age. If you’re under 18, please review our policies and procedures for younger students. You’ll also need to have your current English skills assessed so you’re placed into a course at an appropriate level.

Certified tests for entry include:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
• Council of Adult Education (CAE)
• Pearson Versant Test (PVT).

If you’re currently in Australia and haven’t taken any of these tests, we can arrange a PVT for you. Contact us directly to arrange one, or ask your international agent to organise an appointment with us.

AE1 is the first Academic English level. To be eligible for this level, you must have obtained an IELTS score of 4.5 (or equivalent) or successfully completed our GE3 course. After graduating, you can progress to level AE2.

AE2 requires you to have gained an IELTS score of 5.0 (or equivalent) or completed level AE1. Passing your AE2 means you can gain entry into the UC International Foundation program and UC College diploma courses without further IELTS testing.

Entry into AE3 requires an IELTS or equivalent score of 5.5 or the successful completion of AE2. Successful completion of this course allows you to gain entry into UC undergraduate degrees with standard entry requirements. No further IELTS test is required.

AE4 requires an IELTS or equivalent score of 6.0 or the successful completion of AE3. If you pass your AE4, you can gain entry into our University’s Master’s degrees with standard entry requirements. You can also gain entry into degrees with higher than standard entry requirements to a maximum of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. No further IELTS test is required.

All our ELICOS programs are delivered in small classes, face-to-face, at our Bruce campus in Canberra.

You’ll study on campus for four hours a day or a total of 20 hours a week. All materials and resources are provided but you’ll need to bring your own laptop or tablet to access our educational tools, and a USB headset with a microphone may be useful, although isn’t a formal requirement.

Our ELICOS programs cost $450 a week each. An enrolment fee of $210 is also charged to applicants wanting to study English only. If you’re studying English as a part of a package offer with a UC or UC College course you don’t have to pay the enrolment fee.