GO8467: New Colombo Plan Semester Program 2027 Round

The strategic objective of the New Colombo Plan (NCP), 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 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.

The 2027 NCP Semester Program will provide funding to Australian universities to leverage their partnership arrangements to support 1 to 2 semester-length experiences for Australian undergraduate students.

Credit-bearing internships and other programs that contribute to mandatory course completion can also be undertaken.

The objective of the NCP Semester Program is to provide opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to build their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including Asian language learning, through semester-length structured learning programs in areas of Australia’s strategic and economic interests.

The intended outcomes of the NCP Semester Program include: 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, and alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region.

Only Australian universities may apply.

An Australian university is a registered higher education provider under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth) that is registered in an Australian University category.

Universities may apply individually or as a consortium, with a lead Australian university submitting the application and entering the grant agreement.

Proposed projects must include study, in-location face-to-face language study, internships (including clinical placements, practicums or artist residencies), and/or research; provide credit or otherwise count towards undergraduate course completion; be undertaken in an eligible NCP host location; and comply with DFAT safeguard principles.

Universities must ensure each student receiving a grant is an Australian citizen, is enrolled at or receiving credit towards studies at an Australian onshore campus while undertaking an undergraduate course, receives course credit or course-completion recognition for the project, is at least 18 before participation, and meets the stated student eligibility requirements.

At least 70% of funded participating students must be aged 18 to 28 inclusive at project commencement, subject to the stated treatment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and possible DFAT exemptions.