New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program 2026 – Fully Funded for Australian Undergraduate Students

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program is a prestigious Australian Government initiative that provides opportunities for undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy.

Scholars undertake immersive, long-term structured learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific region for up to 19 months. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel allowance, establishment allowance, monthly stipend, and insurance. Nominations open on 12 August 2025 and close on 23 September 2025.

If you are looking for similar opportunities in Australia, explore fully funded scholarships in Australia for international students.

Program Overview

The NCP Scholarship Program is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The scholarship duration ranges from 3 to 19 months, with commencement dates between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026.

The maximum grant amount per scholarship is up to $107,000, and approximately 350 scholarships are awarded each round. Nominations open on 12 August 2025 and close on 23 September 2025 at 11:30 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time.

For students seeking other funded programs in Oceania, check latest scholarships in New Zealand for all nationalities.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an NCP Scholarship, applicants must be nominated by their home Australian university. They must be Australian citizens and not a citizen or permanent resident of their proposed host location. Applicants must be admitted into an Australian undergraduate degree program (Bachelor or Bachelor Honours) and have mandatory units to complete after returning to Australia.

The age requirement is between 18 and 30 years inclusive for non-Indigenous applicants, or between 18 and 35 years for Indigenous applicants, as at 1 January 2026. Previous recipients of an NCP scholarship are not eligible to apply again.

Scholarship Benefits

Selected scholars receive comprehensive funding. Tuition fees are covered up to a maximum of 30,000,withupto30,000,withupto15,000 per semester or 10,000pertrimester.Languagetrainingiscoveredupto10,000pertrimester.Languagetrainingiscoveredupto10,000. Scholars receive a one-off travel allowance of 3,000(3,000(1,500 before travel and 1,500uponreturn),aone−offestablishmentallowanceof1,500uponreturn),aone−offestablishmentallowanceof3,000 for settling in costs, and a monthly scholarship allowance of up to 3,000forlivingexpenses.

Selectedfellowsreceivea3,000forlivingexpenses.Selectedfellowsreceivea1,000 fellow allowance. Mental health support is available up to $3,000 reimbursed. Travel and medical insurance is provided under an existing policy.

Priority Areas for Selection

Priority will be given to applicants proposing programs in certain host locations, languages, and sectors. Priority host locations include India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste for expanding linkages, as well as China, Fiji, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand for maintaining engagement.

Priority Asian languages include Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Priority sectors include Economics and Business, Environment and Primary Industries, Infrastructure and Climate and Energy, Law and Asian Studies and Culture and Human Development, and Technology and Innovation.

For applicants interested in other Australian government scholarships, see Australia's latest scholarships in 2026.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed against four criteria. The first criterion, alignment with Australian Government priorities, carries a weighting of 35 percent. Applicants must describe how their scholarship program aligns with and will contribute to government priorities, and describe the linkages they will develop while undertaking their scholarship. The second criterion, focus on Indo-Pacific languages, carries a weighting of 15 percent. Applicants must describe how they will incorporate language study and outline how they will use and maintain language proficiency after the scholarship.

The third criterion, personal attributes, carries a weighting of 30 percent. Applicants must describe the challenges and risks they might face and why they have the attributes to deal with them. The fourth criterion, future impact, carries a weighting of 20 percent. Applicants must describe how they plan to use their NCP experience after completing the scholarship and how they will maintain their Indo-Pacific links.

How to Apply – Step by Step

The first step is to contact the NCP International Liaison Officer (ILO) for Scholarships at your home Australian university. Only students nominated by their university can apply.

If nominated, you will receive an email invitation from DFAT or the contractor to complete an online application.

Prepare your application, including responses to the assessment criteria (300 words per criterion), two referee reports (at least one academic), evidence of Australian citizenship (passport or citizenship certificate), a letter of current enrolment and official academic transcript, evidence of affiliation with your proposed host institution, a letter from your home university faculty endorsing the feasibility of your study component, a current CV, and photo identification.

Submit your online application by 23 September 2025 at 11:30 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview between October and November 2025.

Successful applicants are notified in December 2025 and sign a scholarship agreement.

Commence your scholarship program between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026.

For additional financial aid options across Australia, explore financial aids for students in Australia.

Eligible Host Locations

Scholarship programs must be conducted in eligible Indo-Pacific locations. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Key Dates

Applications open on 12 August 2025. Australian universities nominate students from 12 to 26 August 2025, with nominations closing at 11:30 PM AEST on 26 August 2025. Nominated students receive an invitation to complete an online application from 27 August to 23 September 2025. Applications close at 11:30 PM AEST on 23 September 2025. Applications are shortlisted between late September and October 2025. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed between October and November 2025. Selections are finalised and outcomes notified in December 2025. Scholarship agreements are executed in December 2025. Scholars are announced and their details published on the NCP website in December 2025. Scholars commence their scholarship between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026. The 2026 NCP Scholarships Program cohort completion date is 31 July 2028.

Final Thoughts

The New Colombo Plan Scholarship is a transformative opportunity for Australian undergraduate students to gain immersive experience in the Indo-Pacific region.

With generous funding, priority for strategic locations and languages, and a focus on developing Asia literacy, this scholarship can launch your career in international engagement. Speak to your university’s NCP ILO and apply by 23 September 2025.

For a complete list of open scholarships in Australia, visit list of all open scholarships in Australia.

Apply Now for New Colombo Plan Scholarship