New Colombo Plan (NCP) 2026 Scholarship 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 Scholarship Program will provide experiences of up to 19 months for Australian undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including through study, language learning and internships. The intended outcomes of the NCP Scholarship Program are: scholars strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy in areas of Australia’s strategic interest, including in priority host locations, languages and sectors; scholars are supported to engage with Australian business, including through internships, to build the cohort of work-ready, Indo-Pacific capable Australians and to increase Australia’s economic engagement with the region; and program alumni maintain their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, and undertake continued engagement with the Indo-Pacific.