Applications for the 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) are now invited from Australian universities.
Guidelines for the 2026 round were informed by recommendations of the NCP External Advisory Group (TKN 14 Oct 2024), chaired by the Hon Tim Watts MP, and reflect announcements made by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong on 30 July 2025.
Since 2014, the New Colombo Plan has been a key pillar in a suite of Australian diplomatic initiatives. It has supported over 55,000 Australian undergraduate students through study, internships, and language training in the Indo-Pacific through regional collaborations. This next phase builds on these relationships to strengthen Australia’s Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy.
2026 will see an increase in the number of scholarships offered, an emphasis on students undertaking Asian languages, and a prioritisation of longer-term, semester-length programs. The aim is to ensure that funding enables recipients, universities, and partners to develop the skills and capabilities that will support the deepening of Australia’s understanding of the region, strengthen ties between people, and increase engagement with organisations across the region.
Reforms reflected in the 2026 guidelines include:
- Incremental steps to increase the number of scholarships to 500 per year by 2028, creating a larger cohort of Australians with deeper Indo-Pacific capability;
- Introduction of a new NCP Semester Program to encourage students to undertake longer experiences in the region;
- A language learning target with a focus on priority Asian languages;
- Increasing engagement with Australia’s Indo-Pacific transnational education presence, enabling NCP programs to be undertaken at Australian offshore campuses; and
- Provision of program support funding to Australian universities and university consortia to assist in developing Indo-Pacific capability and prioritise Asian language course offerings.
Additional consideration will be given to locations where Australia is seeking to deepen engagement, as well as those focusing on priority Asian languages and economic sectors. This phase of the program is aimed at deepening business engagement, providing private sector links and employment pathways for NCP students, and building on the significant relationships with stakeholders in the region as well as new opportunities.
2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program
The Mobility Program provides up to $8.17 million in funding for Australian universities to support Australian undergraduate students to develop Indo-Pacific capability through participation in 4 to 9-week credit-bearing experiences, including study, language training, internships, mentorships, practicums, and/or research.
Further information is available here.
The intended outcomes of the 2026 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
- alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region.
Australian universities can apply, including through consortia arrangements, for funding under the NCP Mobility Program.
2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program
The Scholarship Program will provide funding of up to $22.751 million to support Australian undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including through study, language learning and internships, with programs up to 19 months.
Further information is available here.
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
- program alumni maintain their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, and undertake continued engagement with the Indo-Pacific.
Scholarships are open to eligible Australian undergraduates currently studying at Australian universities. Under the NCP Scholarship Program, Australian universities nominate eligible individual Australian undergraduate students, who are then invited to apply. Scholarships are awarded to individual students in contrast to mobility funding that is awarded to the specific university program.
DFAT anticipates awarding up to 350 NCP scholarships in the 2026 round.
2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Semester Program
The Semester Program provides up to $23.76 million in funding to Australian universities to leverage their partnership arrangements to support one-to-two semester-length experiences for Australian undergraduate students to develop Indo-Pacific capability, including language learning and internships. A unique element of this new program offering is the inclusion of 20 per cent program and administration funding for universities.
Further information is available here.
The intended outcomes of the NCP Semester Program are that:
- program participants develop their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, in line with Australia’s strategic and economic interests
- Australian universities leverage institutional partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and there is an expansion of engagement with counterpart institutions in priority host locations, languages and sectors
- alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region.
Australian universities can apply, including through consortia arrangements, for funding under the NCP Semester Program.
Applications, interest, and further information
Australian universities can apply, including through consortia arrangements, for funding under the NCP Semester and Mobility Programs. Under the NCP Scholarship Program, Australian universities continue to nominate their eligible Australian undergraduate students, who are then invited to submit an individual application through the portal.
Note: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is unable to accept applications from Australian undergraduate students directly.
Program guidelines and related documents, which contain information about eligibility requirements, selection processes and advice on how to apply can be accessed through the current grant opportunities page on GrantConnect (login requires an account).
Further information on the New Colombo Plan program is available here.
Links for each of the 2026 funded programs are;
University staff and undergraduate students interested in funding available through the 2026 NCP Program should contact their university’s study abroad/international liaison office for further information.
The 2026 NCP program reforms and guidelines showcase Australia’s international education sector on this regional stage. Its role as a diplomatic and relational pillar, beyond the education sector alone, continues to underpin our regional agreements that guide economic and cultural relationships and support the key recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Applications for each of the three programs close on 23 September 2025.
