New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program

The NCP Scholarship supports students to design a bespoke and intentional program that helps them achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals in the Indo-Pacific.

Enrich your education

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship offers a unique opportunity to complement your academic studies with immersive overseas experiences. You will gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and languages while developing new perspectives that go beyond classroom learning. Many scholars return to ANU with fresh insights, expanded knowledge, and renewed motivation for their studies.

Enhance Your Career Prospects

International study experience in the Indo-Pacific region will add value to your academic achievements and strengthen your CV. Engaging in an internship or mentorship during your program will provide hands-on experience and industry insights that could set you apart when applying for jobs or graduate programs.

Personal Growth & Development

Living and studying overseas fosters independence, adaptability, and resilience. The challenges and experiences of navigating a new environment will enhance your problem-solving skills, confidence, and resourcefulness. You may also discover new interests and passions that shape your future career and personal life.

Build Stronger Regional Connections

As an NCP scholar, you will play a role in strengthening Australia’s relationships with the Indo-Pacific by building connections with local communities, institutions, and businesses. These relationships could open doors to future career opportunities, research collaborations, and postgraduate study options.

Expand Your Professional & Social Network

The NCP Scholarship is not just about study—it’s also about making lifelong connections. You will have the chance to meet fellow scholars, professionals, and mentors, forming valuable networks that extend beyond your time overseas. The active NCP alumni community provides ongoing opportunities to stay engaged with the Indo-Pacific region.

Experience Culture & Travel

Studying abroad is more than just an academic experience—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture. From language and traditions to food, music, and historic landmarks, you will gain first-hand exposure to the diversity of your host country while exploring new destinations.

To apply for the NCP Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be an Australian citizen
• Not be a current citizen or permanent resident of your proposed host location(s)
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree at ANU and
• Have at least 6 ANU units remaining in your degree program following your proposed Scholarship program
• Be between 18 and 30 years of age (inclusive) for non-Indigenous applicants or between 18 and 35 years of age (inclusive) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
• not be an employee of the branch of DFAT or the contractor that administers the NCP

Applicants must also be undertaking an approved Exchange, Year in Asia, Independent Learning Abroad (Study Abroad) or Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs (Ritsumeikan University) program in an eligible NCP location (see below) commencing in Semester 1 or Semester 2 of the relevant year for the program.

For example, if applying for 2027 NCP Scholarship you must be planning to commence your program in Semester 1,2027 or Semester 2, 2027.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are strongly encouraged by DFAT to apply for this scholarship. 

For full eligibility details, please refer to the NCP Scholarship Program Guidelines on the DFAT website.

How to Apply and Timelines

Planning an NCP Scholarship Program requires time and consideration. Global Programs strongly recommends students start planning their program early and having conversations with the relevant areas of ANU and

Picking a host location

ANU students should select a host location(s) that align to your goals and interests in the Indo-Pacific. Students are able to choose from 38 host locations: 

A primary host location is the host location for which the scholarship is awarded. The most substantial study component and the majority of the duration of the scholarship program must be completed in the primary location to ensure the scholar has a genuinely immersive experience. 

In exceptional circumstances, a scholar may undertake their scholarship program in more than one host location and/or at more than one host institution or host organisation. If an applicant plans to undertake part of their scholarship program in a secondary host location, the applicant must outline in their application the rationale for including the secondary host location. Secondary host locations must be proximate to the primary location. 

Key changes made in 2026 (Phase 2 of the New Colombo Plan)

In 2026, DFAT introduced priority areas for selection. Student’s programs that will be undertaken in the priority host locations, languages and sectors will be prioritised by DFAT for an NCP Scholarship. 

The NCP strongly encourages students to undertake longer-term immersive experience, and the NCP will often prioritise applications that include multiple program components allowed under the Scholarship. 

It is recommended that students actively consider how internships, language training, mentorships and other components such as research may complement their student and contribute to their overall overseas program, goals and motivations. 

There are 4 main ways in which you are able to undertake overseas study through ANU that is eligible under the New Colombo Plan Scholarship. 

Exchange

ANU has partner universities in some eligible NCP locations. You may choose to study at an ANU exchange partner university for one or two semesters. 

Exchange is popular for students wanting to study in China, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Caledonia, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore. 

Independent Learning Abroad

If you are not able to locate a suitable ANU exchange partner, or we don’t have any partners in the location your wish to study in, you can select a non-partner university to study with for one or two semesters. This is called Independent Learning Abroad (Study Abroad). 

The NCP can help financially support you in paying tuition fees at the non-partner university as part of Independent Learning Abroad. 

This option is popular for students wanting to study in Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam. 

Year in Asia

Year in Asia is the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific’s flagship program for overseas study. It is your opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the language and culture of your chosen country for up to 12 months.

Whilst participating in Year in Asia you will take at least 50 per cent of your courses increasing your proficiency of, or studying in, the host country's language and up to 50 per cent of your courses in disciplinary subjects to help meet your own Year in Asia goals.

Year in Asia is popular for students improve their proficiency in Mandarin (China), Japanese (Japan), Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesia), Korean (South Korea).

Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs (BAPAF)

The Australian National University (ANU) has partnered with Ritsumeikan University (RU) to offer this innovative dual degree program - the Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs and the Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts.

This undergraduate program (4 years full-time) provides you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Asia-Pacific region through studying in Australia and Japan, and graduating with two distinct university degrees from ANU and RU in Osaka, Japan.

Find out more here.

Internships can be credit or non-credit bearing practical experiences overseas. In most cases for ANU, the internships taken as part of a Scholarship program will be non-credit bearing, however there are some cases where students may be able to receive credit for their participation. Internships can include (but are not limited to) clinical placements, practicums or artist residencies.

Students are to take initiative to locate, apply and participate in internships themselves. 

DFAT strongly encourages students to research and undertake an internship as part of your New Colombo Plan Scholarship program. Based on previous experience, Global Programs has seen that students who have included internships as part of their Scholarship program tend to be more successful in the application process with DFAT. 

It is recommended that students reach out to potential organisations at your host location to explore internship possibilities.

Internships and mentorships do not need to be confirmed at the time of application.

DFAT strongly encourages scholars to undertake formal language training as the first component of their scholarship program (in addition to any language learning that may be part of the scholar’s study component).

Language training as part of a scholarship program must be undertaken in the same host location as study or internship components, and in an official language (or a commonly spoken language or dialect (other than English)) of your host location.

Language training can be taken as full-time or part-time component, and is only considered a separate component if not taken as part of semester based studies at a host university. 

A mentorship may only be undertaken alongside another full-time component (ie. Study, Internship, or Language Training) and must not incur a cost to the scholar. 

A mentorship is negotiated between the scholar and mentor and can be undertaken face-to-face or via remote methods. There is no minimum time commitment for a mentorship.

From time-to-time, research can be supported through the NCP when included as part of study or internship components. 

All mentorships and other components must be approved by DFAT through the relevant channels before commencement.