In a recent survey, reasons given by students for choosing Australia as their destination for English language training included:

o Personal safety
o Friends in Australia
o Australia's relatively low cost of living
o Low cost of ELICOS fees
o High quality English courses
o Opportunity to travel
o Favourable climate
o Friendly people
o Opportunity to work whilst studying

A wide variety and diversity of English language training courses are offered by ELICOS centres, with full-time courses usually available for periods varying from 4-48 weeks. Study tour programs, involving either full or part-time study, are generally available for periods varying from
1-6 weeks.

Courses are taught at all levels of proficiency, from beginner to advanced. Courses available include:

General English - Courses which place emphasis on the development of communication skills, particularly speaking and listening skills

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
  
• Courses designed to prepare students to undertake higher education studies in an English-speaking environment. Classes in these courses may include listening and note-taking, academic writing, and tutorial presentation
  
• Examination Preparation Courses - Courses to prepare students to undertake international examinations, such as IELTS or TOEFL. These courses may be individual courses or may be offered as an elective or segment of a course
  
• English for Special Purposes - Courses specifically designed to meet the requirements of particular groups of clients. Such courses may include Computer Studies, Business Studies, or Applied Science
  
• Secondary School Preparation - courses designed to prepare students to undertake secondary schooling in Australian schools
  
• Study Tour Programs - Courses that combine English language classes and pre-arranged recreational activities, such as visits to wildlife sanctuaries, fun parks or other places of interest. Study tourism is increasing in popularity in Australia, and programs are offered by many ELICOS centres for individuals and groups. Some centres arrange specialised programs of English language classes and sporting activities, such as sailing, scuba-diving, golf, and horse-riding.
• Australia is an ideal destination for programs of this nature, with diverse geographical features, fauna and flora, magnificent beaches, a great climate and outstanding sports and recreational facilities.
• English Plus Demi Pair - Courses that combine full-time English language courses and part-time child care. An English plus Demi Pair student usually lives with an Australian family and helps care for the children
• English Plus Work Experience - Courses which combine full-time English language courses with part-time work in Australia

o Gateway English Students
o English Only Students
o Non-Student Visa Holders

Gateway English students are student visa holders undertaking English language studies for the purpose of upgrading proficiency in order to fulfil the entry requirements for further studies, including secondary, tertiary and higher education and training.

The services and courses provided by EA member centres are many and varied, and include General English, English for Academic Purposes, Examination Preparation Courses, English for Special Purposes, Secondary School Preparation Courses, and Study Tour Programs. English language preparation involves more than simply teaching students to speak our language - EA member centres devote considerable time, effort and expertise to ensuring that students are not only taught how to speak, listen, read and write English, but also that they are adequately prepared for their higher education experience in Australia.

EAP and ESP courses at ELICOS centres help provide students with a smooth transition from study programs in their home countries to the Australian tertiary and higher education systems. Classes in these courses may include listening and note-taking, academic writing, and tutorial presentation.

Once in further education courses, international students are usually a minority among domestic Australian students. EAP and ESP preparation programs provide an opportunity for students to acclimatise themselves linguistically, academically, culturally and socially prior to embarking upon the challenge of tertiary and higher education here in Australia. Examination Preparation Courses, most common among which are IELTS Preparation Courses are, of course, also of much relevance to students from non English-speaking backgrounds who are intending to continue with their education in Australia.

Gateway English Students are usually students who undertake EAP or ESP to prepare themselves for further study and who sit for public examinations, such as IELTS, in order to gain entry. The 1996 ELICOS industry study commissioned by the EA surveyed over 2,000 students nationwide, and indicated that 51% of all ELICOS students plan to study further in Australia, with Asian students more likely than European students to go on to further study.

EA member centres provide students with a guarantee of quality, and this in turn gives a guarantee to tertiary and higher education institutions that students who have undertaken English preparation at EA member centres have received quality preparation. EA member centres have full accreditation by the NEAS, the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme.

The NEAS was established in 1990 by the EA as an industry-based, self-regulatory accreditation scheme, and operates independently from the EA as an incorporated body with an industry elected board, currently chaired by a retired judge of the Supreme Court. The stages of NEAS accreditation are three-fold:

• Provisional accreditation, which enables an ELICOS centre to be established and which applies for a period of one year after the commencement of teaching
• Full accreditation, which confirms the accreditation of the centre's operations
• Annual returns, which maintain an annual reconfirmation of the full accreditation of the college's operations.