GO8468: New Colombo Plan Mobility 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 Mobility Program will provide funding to Australian universities to deliver 4–9 week mobility projects.

The objective of the NCP Mobility Program is to support Australian undergraduate students to develop Indo-Pacific capability by undertaking shorter term programs in the region, including structured learning, internships, mentorships, practicums and research, in areas of Australia’s strategic interests.

The intended outcomes of the NCP Mobility Program include: 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, and from the 2027 Round, strengthened First Nations engagement in the Indo-Pacific, including growing First Nations trade and investment with our region.

Only Australian universities may apply, including through a consortium of Australian universities with an appointed lead applicant.

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.

Applicants must ensure each funded student is an Australian citizen; is enrolled at, or receiving credit towards study at, an Australian onshore campus; is undertaking an undergraduate course; receives credit or course-completion recognition for the mobility project; and is at least 18 before participating.

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

Projects must be credit-bearing, run for at least 28 continuous days and no more than 9 weeks (up to 69 calendar days), be conducted in eligible Indo-Pacific host locations, include study, in-location face-to-face language study, internships, and/or research, and be completed by 28 February 2029.