English courses in ELC Sydney
ELC, the English Language Company, has taught international students in central Sydney for more than 20 years. It runs General English, Business English, Cambridge, IELTS and academic pathway courses from a single building on Quay Street, with classes capped at 16 students. Let us find out whether ELC is the right fit for you.
1. Tell us your goal
2. We help you find the right program
3. We handle the paperwork
4. Ready to StartTL;DR: Quick summary
ELC, the English Language Company, is a private English school on Quay Street in Haymarket, central Sydney. It has taught international students for more than 20 years and is accredited by English Australia under CRICOS provider code 02551G.
Courses run from General English through Cambridge and IELTS exam preparation to English for Academic Purposes, which connects to direct-entry agreements with Australian colleges and universities. General English has five levels, elementary to advanced, and starts any Monday.
ELC has won Study Travel Magazine’s Star Language School award for the Southern Hemisphere five times, and it is the only school in Australia holding Lifetime Super Star status. Students come from over 50 countries, so English is the common language in and out of class.
- Five General English levels, elementary to advanced
- Classes capped at 16 students, average of 13
- General English starts any Monday, 2 to 52 weeks
- Students from more than 50 countries
ViveCampus
ViveCampus is a leading education abroad agency with over 17 years of experience and more than 5,000 happy students worldwide. We guide you through every step of the process to study English abroad, from choosing the right program to settling into your new city. Our service is completely free for students: all payments go directly to the schools, so the whole process stays 100% transparent and secure. With ViveCampus, you’re never alone on your journey, our team is with you from your first question to your first day of class.
Why do students choose ELC in 2026?
ELC is not the largest school in Sydney, and that is part of the appeal. These are the points students and our advisors come back to most often.
Study Travel Magazine has named ELC Star Language School for the Southern Hemisphere five times, and ELC is the only school in Australia to hold Lifetime Super Star status.
Class size is capped at 16 students and averages 13, so speaking time is not something you have to compete for. Premium courses add one-to-one lessons on top of the group class.
ELC students come from more than 50 countries, which means English is the only practical common language in the building. That does more for progress than any timetable.
ELC occupies a standalone four-storey building at 10 Quay Street, Haymarket, with student lounges and unlimited high-speed WiFi. Central station and Chinatown are minutes away.
Core classes run Monday to Thursday during the day, or Monday to Friday from 5pm to 9:20pm. The evening option keeps your days free, which suits students working while they study.
English for Academic Purposes leads into ELC’s direct-entry agreements. Complete at least 10 weeks of classwork and you can enter a partner institution without sitting IELTS.
ELC is the only English school in Australia to hold Study Travel Magazine’s Lifetime Super Star status, after five Star Language School awards for the Southern Hemisphere.
Source: English Language Company
Learn English in the heart of Sydney!
ELC sits at 10 Quay Street in Haymarket, a few minutes on foot from Central station, Chinatown and Darling Harbour. You are in the middle of the city rather than commuting into it.
That location does real work. Part-time jobs, cheap food, harbour walks and the beaches at Bondi and Coogee are all within reach on a student budget and an Opal transport card.
What English courses does ELC offer?
ELC groups its courses by how fast you want to move and what you need the English for. Every one of them places you by level in a test on your first morning, so no certificate is needed to enrol. Treat the summaries below as a starting point: a ViveCampus advisor confirms current hours, dates and prices for the option you pick.
15 hours of core class a week plus a 5-hour special focus module, with optional lessons on top, up to 27 hours a week for daytime students. Five levels from elementary to advanced, starting any Monday, 2 to 52 weeks. This is the option that meets the 20-hour weekly minimum required on an Australian student visa.
15 hours a week of core classes, Monday to Thursday, with the rest of your time free. Same five levels and the same Monday start dates as the intensive course. A sensible choice if you are combining study with work or travel, though it does not meet the student visa minimum on its own.
The intensive timetable plus private one-to-one lessons built around what you personally need, 5 to 40 weeks. Made for students working to a deadline, whether that is a visa, an exam date or a job, who need to move up levels faster than a group class alone allows.
General English combined with the language of meetings, email, presentations and interviews. Available on the daytime timetable, or as Premium English for Business, which adds individual classes to the group course.
Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency run on fixed start dates tied to the exam calendar, usually 9 to 12 weeks depending on which exam you sit. IELTS preparation is more flexible, 2 to 36 weeks with experienced IELTS teachers and a dedicated coursebook.
The route into an Australian college or university. ELC holds direct-entry agreements with partner institutions, so completing at least 10 weeks of classwork can get you a place without sitting IELTS separately. Available on daytime, evening and premium timetables.
The most common programs for international students are General English and Intensive English Program
Source: ViveCampus
What should you know before applying to ELC?
These recommendations are based on years of experience supporting students who want to study at ELC. They come from our educational consultants, ELC, and most importantly, from students who have lived the experience.
Costs, Dates, Application Process and other Considerations
Application Process - Complete the contact form and one of our educational consultants for ELC will send you the exact steps for your case: which documents you need, in what order, and what happens after you apply.
Dates of the Program - General English, Business English and IELTS courses start any Monday through the year. Cambridge courses run on fixed dates tied to the exam calendar, so those need booking further ahead, especially around the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Length of the Program - General English runs from 2 to 52 weeks, Premium English from 5 to 40, IELTS from 2 to 36, and Cambridge courses 9 to 12 weeks depending on the exam. Each General English level usually takes around 12 weeks, so plan your length around levels.
Costs - ELC prices depend on the course, the timetable and how many weeks you book, and longer bookings bring the weekly rate down. Complete the contact form at the end of the page to get a quote and we will send one full figure covering tuition, enrolment fee, materials and any promotion running that month, before you commit to anything. If you want a rough idea first, our cost calculator for studying English abroad adds up tuition, accommodation and living expenses.
Health Insurance - Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for student visa holders in Australia and has to cover the full length of the visa. We arrange it alongside your enrolment so the dates line up. On other visa types, budget for private cover anyway.
Minimum Age - ELC’s adult courses take students from 17. For younger students, ELC runs supervised junior programmes for ages 12 to 17 during holiday periods in January, February, March, April and June to August. We confirm the exact rule for your dates.
Minimum English Level - None for General English. ELC tests your level on the first morning and places you in one of five levels, elementary to advanced. Cambridge and academic courses do have entry levels, usually intermediate and up, which we check before applying.
Visa Regulations - Which visa you need depends on how long you study. Short courses can often be done on a visitor visa or eTA, while longer full-time study needs a student visa (subclass 500), which requires at least 20 hours of class a week. Australia is one of our specialities: we prepare and submit the student visa application for you, and our approval rate is high because the file goes in complete and correct the first time. Any translations your application needs are done by the ViveCampus translation team at no extra cost.
Working While You Study: - An Australian student visa normally allows paid work, which is a large part of why students choose Australia. ELC runs Work Ready lessons every second Monday, plus a job database, resume and interview help, tax support and a SIM card on arrival.
Accommodation - Three routes: homestay with an Australian family including breakfast and dinner on weekdays and lunch at weekends, a modern student residence such as Scape Quay Street about ten minutes’ walk away, or a shared student apartment. Places are limited and the good ones go early, so check availability with us for your dates. We include accommodation in your quote on request.
Extra Curricular Activities - ELC runs a social programme with free clubs, workshops and a weekly conversation class, and a student experience team handles travel advice and bookings. Joining these is the quickest way to practise English outside the classroom, and it is included.
Airport Pickup - Sydney airport transfers can be added to your booking, and it is worth it for a first arrival. A long flight, a new city and unfamiliar public transport is a lot at once. Send us your flight details and we arrange the pickup with ELC.
First day of classes - You sit a short written and spoken placement test, meet your teacher, and get a campus tour and your timetable. Bring your passport and confirmation letter. Daytime classes run Monday to Thursday, evening classes Monday to Friday from 5pm.
Keep in mind that the biggest expense is usually not the course itself, but the living costs. So, before choosing the cheapest school, consider all factors carefully
Source: ViveCampus
Great Location in Sydney, Australia
Sydney is the reason many students choose Australia, and ELC is in the middle of it rather than out in a suburb. Everything below is reachable from the school on a student Opal card, which covers trains, buses and ferries across the whole city.
Location: Level 5, 10 Quay Street, Haymarket, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
About Sydney
Sydney is Australia’s largest city at roughly five million people, built around a harbour with beaches inside the city limits. Bondi, Coogee and Manly are all reachable by bus or ferry. The weather is mild enough to be outdoors year round, which is why so much of life here happens in parks, on the water and at free public events. It is also an expensive city, so most students share housing and work part-time while they study.
Weather in Sydney
Sydney gives you a mild climate all year, which is why so much of student life happens outdoors. Summer, from December to February, is the warmest stretch: highs around 26°C, nights near 19°C, and sun strong enough that you will want sunscreen from your first week. Autumn, from March to May, cools gently from about 25°C to 19°C by day and 18°C to 11°C at night, and brings the heaviest rain of the year. Winter, from June to August, is the coldest but it never snows: around 17°C by day and 8°C at night, though flats here are lightly heated, so it often feels colder indoors than the numbers suggest. Spring, from September to November, climbs back from 20°C to 24°C with nights between 11°C and 16°C, and is when the beaches and the outdoor events start up again.
Sydney, Australia in images
Sydney is where university life comes with a side of beaches, harbour sunsets, music, sport, and weekend adventures. You can finish class, grab iced coffee with friends, catch a ferry across the harbour, and be at Bondi Beach before sunset.
Source: Sydney.com
What do students say about studying at ELC?
Reading the experiences of other international students can make a real difference when deciding to study English in Sydney. It is normal to have fears, questions, or doubts about starting a new life in another country, but hearing from students who have already taken that step can bring reassurance and confidence. Their stories offer a genuine look at the challenges, growth, and opportunities that come with the experience, and may be the encouragement you need to take the next step.
I’m Magdalena from Chile, and I’m very happy with my experience at ELC Sydney. My English improved a lot, I made friends from all over the world, and it helped me get a better job. Thank you to all my teachers at ELC and to ViveCampus for recommending such a great school!
I had a really good time studying at the school ELC in Sydney. The teachers were amazing, and the classes gave me many chances to practice speaking English. I also met students from different countries and made good friends here. Sydney is clean, safe, and there is always something to do, especially near the beaches and around the city centre. I enjoyed my time at ELC and would recommend it to anyone.
We publish testimonials only with the student’s permission.
Source: ViveCampus
ELC in images
How ViveCampus can help you
A ViveCampus advisor helps you find the right program for you according your goals, needs and budget.
Our advice is completely free, and the process is 100% transparent. You make all payments directly to ELC.
When you apply through ViveCampus, you receive support from both the school and our team. We will assist you throughout the application process, guide you with visa-related requirements, and help you prepare for your arrival.
You will also receive an international student card with thousands of discounts, along with other benefits that your educational consultant will explain.
Steps you should follow
1. Tell us your goal A short conversation about your needs, level, budget, dates and what you are looking for.
2. We clarify your doubts We answer all your questions about costs and requirements.
3. We handle the paperwork Application, letter of acceptance and the documents your visa or permit needs.
4. Ready to Start Accommodation confirmed, payments processed, and someone to call if anything goes wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some questions students ask our advisors most often before booking an English course at ELC, covering entry documents, costs, course length, English level and daily life.
Do I need a visa to study at ELC?
It depends on how long you study. A short course can often be done on a visitor visa or eTA, while longer full-time study needs a student visa (subclass 500) with at least 20 hours of class a week, and a student visa is also what lets you work. Australia is one of our specialities: we prepare and submit the visa application for you, which is why our approval rate is high, and any translations your file needs are done by the ViveCampus translation team at no extra cost.
How much does ELC cost?
It depends on the course, the timetable and the number of weeks, and longer bookings lower the weekly rate. Complete the contact form and we will send you a full quote (tuition, enrolment, materials) with the best discount available for your dates. Our advice costs you nothing. For a rough idea before you ask, try our study abroad cost calculator.
Is there a minimum English level required to apply to ELC?
For General English, no. There is no entrance exam and no certificate to send. ELC tests you on your first morning and places you in one of five levels, from elementary through to advanced, so complete beginners are welcome. Those five levels map roughly to A2 up to C1 on the CEFR, the scale most schools and employers use. Only the Cambridge and academic courses have an entry level, roughly intermediate and above, and we check that with you before applying so you are never placed in a course that is wrong for you.
How big are the classes?
ELC caps classes at 16 students and the average is 13. Premium courses add one-to-one lessons on top of the group class, which is worth looking at if you need to progress faster than a group timetable normally allows.
When can I start at ELC?
General English, Business English and IELTS start any Monday through the year. Cambridge courses have fixed start dates tied to the exam calendar and fill early, so book those further ahead. Southern Hemisphere summer months also fill quickly.
How long should I study?
Each General English level usually takes around 12 weeks, so plan around levels rather than a round number of weeks. Courses run from 2 to 52 weeks. If university entry is the goal, English for Academic Purposes needs at least 10 weeks for direct entry.
Can I work while studying?
Yes. On a student visa you can currently work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running, and without a limit during scheduled course breaks. Immigration rules do change, so we confirm the current figure for your start date before you travel. ELC supports the practical side too: Work Ready lessons every second Monday, a job database, help with your resume and interviews, tax support and a SIM card when you arrive.
Is there a minimum age?
ELC’s adult courses take students from 17. If you are younger, ELC runs supervised junior programmes for ages 12 to 17 during holiday periods. We confirm the exact age rule for the course and dates you want before submitting an application.
What types of accommodation does ELC offer?
Three types: homestay with an Australian family, including breakfast and dinner on weekdays, a modern student residence such as Scape Quay Street about ten minutes from school, or a shared apartment with other students. Homestay is usually the easiest first landing. Places are limited, especially around popular start dates, so check availability with us early and we will include accommodation in your quote.
Where exactly is ELC?
Level 5, 10 Quay Street, Haymarket, Sydney NSW 2000, a standalone four-storey building minutes from Central station and Chinatown, with student lounges and unlimited high-speed WiFi. You are in the centre of the city, not commuting into it.
Which program should I take if I want to study at university in Australia?
English for Academic Purposes is the one to aim for. It is built around the academic writing, reading and exam skills universities ask for, it lifts the IELTS score you can achieve, and it connects to ELC’s direct-entry agreements, complete at least 10 weeks of classwork and you can enter a partner institution without sitting IELTS separately. If your English is not yet at intermediate level, start with General English and move across once you are ready; going straight into an academic course too early slows you down rather than speeding you up. Tell us your target course and we will map the route.
Is ELC accredited?
Yes. ELC is accredited by English Australia and registered under CRICOS provider code 02551G, which is what allows it to teach student visa holders. It is also a member of Green Standard Schools and has taught international students for over 20 years.
How do I apply to ELC Sydney from my country?
It starts the same way wherever you live: complete the form on this page. An education advisor from ViveCampus then gets in touch and goes through what applies where you are: which documents you need to gather, how the Australian student visa works from your country, how long each step takes, what the whole thing costs together, and which start dates still have places. Requirements change depending on your nationality and how long you plan to study, which is why we check it case by case instead of handing you a general list. You do not need to prepare anything before you write to us, and the advice is free from beginning to end.
What is an ELICOS course, and is ELC a registered provider?
ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students, the official Australian category for full-time English courses taken on a student visa. Every course on this page is an ELICOS course, and ELC is registered to deliver them: CRICOS Provider Code 02551G, ABN 89 103 550 090. Those two numbers are how you check a school for yourself. Look the provider up on the Australian government’s CRICOS register before you pay anyone, for this school or any other.
Don’t see your question here? Send it through the form below and a ViveCampus advisor will answer it directly. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Source: ViveCampus
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