New Colombo Plan Scholarship

Key scholarship details

Application status

Not open yet

Applications open

16 Apr 2026

Applications close

24 May 2026

Eligible study level

Undergraduate

Eligible student type

Domestic students

Eligible study stage

Current study

Benefit duration

One or more years

Summary

The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program is a prestigious Australian Government funding scheme which provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake semester-based study, language training, and internships or mentorships in 38 participating Indo-Pacific locations. This highly competitive program aims to strengthen Australia's connections with the region. Scholars will develop a study, language training and internship plan for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 19 months, with a study component of at least one semester/trimester, and not more than one Academic Year.

Benefits

The NCP Scholarship benefits may include:

Tuition for overseas study component of scholarship up to $10,000 per semester or $6,666 per trimester for a maximum of one Academic year
Up to $10,000 for language training
$3,000 living allowance per month, up to 19 months
$3,000 Travel Allowance
$3,000 Establishment Allowance
Up to $3,000 Mental Health Allowance

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

Be an Australian citizen
Not be a current or previous citizen or permanent resident of your proposed host location(s)
Remain enrolled full-time in a Bachelor Degree at The University of Melbourne during your New Colombo Plan Scholarship
Be between 18 and 30 years of age (inclusive) for non-Indigenous applicants, or between 18 and 35 years of age (inclusive) for Indigenous applicants on 1 January of the year your Scholarship commences
Have achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% at the time of application to DFAT.
Not be a previous recipient of an NCP scholarship
Not be an employee of the branch of DFAT or the contractor that administers the NC

Please ensure you have read the NCP Scholarship Guidelines.

Selection criteria

Criteria:

Alignment of application with the Australian Government’s geographic and sectoral priorities in the Indo-Pacific region (35%)
Focus on Indo-Pacific languages, especially priority languages (15%)
Personal attributes for successful completion of scholarship (30%)
Future impact of NCP experiences focused with regards to you maintaining engagement with the Indo-Pacific (20%)

It is recommended that you have read and understood the Advice to applicants and the NCP Scholarship Guidelines.

Study level:

Undergraduate

Student type:

Domestic students

Study stage type:

Current study

Study area:

Agricultural and veterinary sciences; Architecture, building, planning and design; Arts, humanities and social sciences; Business and economics; Education; Engineering; Environment; Health; Information technology and computer science; Law; Music, visual and performing arts; Science

Application

How to apply

Stage 1 - University of Melbourne Expression of Interest

You must submit an expression of interest to the University of Melbourne to be considered for nomination to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) by completing the application by the deadline.
Stage 1 criteria, questions and assessment are based on DFAT application, so it is recommended that you have read and understood the Advice to applicants & the NCP Scholarship Guidelines.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online consultation with the committee.
Successful candidates will progress to Stage 2.

Stage 2 - Australian Government’s Selection Process

Candidates nominated will receive an invitation to complete an online Application.
Candidates will be invited to participate in a suite of application support activities offered by the Student Success team throughout the application period.
Application must be submitted along with supporting documentations by the deadline.
A panel of external assessors appointed by the Australian Government will assess and score applications on the basis of the Selection Criteria weighting.
Shortlisted Applicants will be invited to attend a virtual interview

When will I know the outcome?

Stage 1 – University of Melbourne selection process:

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview around June
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by late July.

Stage 2 – Australian Government selection process:

Nominees will need to apply in June
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview between September-October
Successful scholars will be notified between November-December.

Submit an application

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.

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