GO8470: New Colombo Plan Scholarship 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 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 Scholarship Program will provide scholarships for up to 19 months in eligible Indo-Pacific host locations.

The objective of the NCP Scholarship Program is to provide opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including in priority Asian languages, through immersive, long-term structured learning and internships in the region, in areas of Australia’s strategic and economic interests.

The intended outcomes of the NCP Scholarship Program include: 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 operating in the region, 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.

Applicants must be put forward by their Australian home university following an Expression of Interest; be an Australian citizen; be admitted into and undertaking an Australian undergraduate course for which the scholarship program earns academic credit; and continue to meet eligibility requirements throughout the scholarship.

Non-First Nations applicants must be aged 18 to 30 inclusive at 2027-01-01, while First Nations applicants must be aged 18 to 35 inclusive at that date.

The proposed scholarship must run for between 3 and 19 months, commence between 2027-01-01 and 2027-12-31, include at least one study component commencing within six months of the scholarship start, and take place only in eligible Indo-Pacific host locations.

Applicants must submit one complete online application, required university letters and identification documents, and one or two eligible referee reports.