Nominations are open until 10 August 2025, 11:00pm AEST

About this scholarship

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a signature initiative of the Australian Government that aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia through study and internships undertaken by Australian undergraduate students in the region.

The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program is a prestigious and competitive program (around 120 recipients nationwide annually) that provides the opportunity for Australian undergraduates to undertake up to one academic year of study in up to 40 Indo-Pacific locations. The program also includes funding for relevant language studies, internship and/or mentorship. 

Scholarship type

Merit

Value

• The scholarship amount varies according to the activity type and duration. Please refer to the New Columbo Plan Scholarship Program Guidelines 2025 for an estimate. 

Student type

Current Students 

Eligibility

This scholarship is open to applicants who meet all of the following criteria:

• be nominated by ACU;
• Citizenship: Australian citizen; 
• be enrolled at ACU during the application process;
• be undertaking a Bachelor Degree or Bachelor Honours Degree when the scholarship program commences;
• be between 18 and 30 years of age (inclusive) for non-indigenous applicants, or between 18-35 years of age for Indigenous applicants (exemptions apply);
• overseas study must be for credit and count towards the student’s degree requirements

Application process

New Colombo Plan Scholarship Guidelines 2026 will be released shortly. Currently we are accepting nominations based on the 2025 guidelines. Before applying, please ensure you read the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program Guidelines 2025.

• Eligible ACU students submit a Nomination Form  to ACU. 
• ACU will nominate eligible students to DFAT.
• Nominated students will then submit their scholarship application directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

For further information about this scholarship, please visit the New Colombo Plan page.

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed on the strength of the following criteria:

• Written statement
• Academic merit
• Leadership
• Community service
• Referee reports
• Interview with the New Colombo Plan Secretariat

Selection Process

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview and DFAT will select the successful recipients.

Further Information

For further information, please contact the Global Learning team at globallearning.outbound@acu.edu.au.