New Colombo Plan (NCP) 2026 Mobility Program

Overview

The strategic objective of the New Colombo Plan, as described in Program 1.5 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS) is to advance Australia’s interests and bilateral relationships through enduring people-to-people, institutional and business links with the Indo-Pacific region. The NCP provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate university students to develop their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy through immersive, structured learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific region. The intended outcomes of the NCP are: for participants to acquire Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy; to foster deeper people-to-people and education relationships between Australia and the Indo-Pacific; and to increase Australia's economic engagement with the region by supporting NCP participants to build job-ready skills, and supporting NCP alumni to maintain their ties to the Indo-Pacific. In the 2026 round, the NCP includes three programs – Scholarships, Semester and Mobility. The 2026 NCP Mobility Program will support Australian undergraduate students to undertake short-term, credit-bearing experiences of four-to-nine weeks to develop Indo-Pacific capability, including structured learning, internships, mentorships, practicums and/or research. The intended outcomes of the NCP Mobility Program are: participants develop their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, in line with Australia’s strategic interests; Australian universities leverage institutional partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and there is an expansion of engagement with counterpart institutions in priority host locations and languages; and alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region.