New Colombo Plan 2026: Strengthening Asia Literacy and Institutional Partnerships Across the Indo-Pacific

Australian Government Boosts Scholarships and Semester Programs Under New Colombo Plan Reforms

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a flagship Australian Government scholarship initiative that supports undergraduate students to study abroad in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific region. Designed to deepen Australia’s regional engagement, the program aims to build Asia literacy, foster people-to-people and institutional links, and strengthen long-term relationships. It comprises two core streams: a competitive Scholarship Program, offering up to 19 months of study, internships, and language learning, and a Mobility Program, which provides short-term student exchange opportunities.

Applications for the 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan have now opened for Australian universities. The updated guidelines for this round were shaped by recommendations from the NCP External Advisory Group, chaired by the Hon Tim Watts MP, as reported on 14 October 2024. These guidelines also reflect key announcements made by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, on 30 July 2025, thereby aligning the program’s strategic direction with broader foreign policy priorities and Australia’s commitment to international education.

Since its inception in 2014, the New Colombo Plan has formed part of Australia’s diplomatic and educational outreach, supporting more than 55,000 undergraduate students through study, internships, and language training in the Indo-Pacific. These experiences have been facilitated through partnerships with host institutions, businesses, and governments across the region. The next phase of the program seeks to build on these relationships to further strengthen Australia’s Indo-Pacific capability and promote higher education in Australia as a regional asset.

Key Developments in the 2026 Round

• For 2026, the New Colombo Plan introduces several enhancements designed to expand its reach and impact:
• A gradual increase in Australia scholarships, with a target of 500 undergraduate scholarships per year by 2028
• A stronger focus on Asian language learning, with targets set for priority languages
• The launch of a new NCP Semester Program to support longer student experiences in the Indo-Pacific
• Greater engagement with Australia’s transnational education network, allowing NCP programs to operate at offshore campuses
• Additional program support funding to Australian universities and consortia to enhance Indo-Pacific capability and expand Asian language course offerings

These measures aim to ensure that funding helps students, universities, and partners build skills and knowledge that deepen Australia’s understanding of the region, strengthen people-to-people links, and expand engagement with organisations across the Indo-Pacific. The 2026 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program will allocate up to $22.751 million to support eligible undergraduate students enrolled at Australian universities. Scholarships will be awarded to individual students nominated by their institutions and will support study, language learning, and internships of up to 19 months. The intended outcomes include:

• Building skills and knowledge in strategic areas relevant to Australia’s regional interests
• Promoting engagement with Australian businesses through internships to create work-ready graduates with Indo-Pacific expertise
• Encouraging long-term alumni engagement with the region

In parallel, the 2026 NCP Semester Program will provide up to $23.76 million to support one- or two-semester experiences aimed at developing Indo-Pacific capability. These experiences may include language study, internships, and academic coursework. Twenty per cent of the funding will be allocated to program and administration costs. The Semester Program is designed to:

• Develop Indo-Pacific knowledge and language skills in line with Australia’s strategic and economic priorities
• Expand partnerships between Australian and Indo-Pacific institutions in priority locations, languages, and sectors
• Maintain alumni capability and regional engagement over time

The 2026 NCP Mobility Program will continue to support short-term experiences, helping participants develop Indo-Pacific knowledge and skills, including language proficiency, in alignment with Australia’s strategic interests. It also encourages universities to strengthen and expand institutional partnerships with Indo-Pacific counterparts, particularly in priority host locations and languages. Alumni engagement remains a key focus, with the program aiming to ensure that participants continue to build and maintain their regional capability.

For both the Semester and Mobility Programs, Australian universities, either individually or through consortia, may apply for funding. For the Scholarship Program, universities will nominate eligible undergraduate students, who will then be invited to submit their applications through the official portal. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will not accept direct applications from individual students.

Program guidelines and related documents, including details about eligibility criteria, selection processes, and application procedures, are available via the current grant opportunities page on GrantConnect. Access requires a registered account. Further information on the New Colombo Plan is available online, along with dedicated links for each of the 2026 funding rounds: the NCP Scholarship Round, the NCP Semester Round, and the NCP Mobility Round. University staff and students interested in the available funding are advised to contact their institution’s study abroad or international liaison office for more details.

The 2026 New Colombo Plan reforms and guidelines are expected to highlight Australia’s international education sector on the regional stage. The program’s role as both a diplomatic and relational pillar extends beyond education, continuing to support regional agreements that strengthen economic and cultural ties. These developments are aligned with recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to regional cooperation and strategic engagement.

By supporting student exchange programs, mobility grants, and study abroad funding in Australia, the New Colombo Plan contributes to a larger vision of preparing young Australians to engage meaningfully with the Indo-Pacific. It also enhances the visibility of Australian university scholarships and strengthens the appeal of studying in Australia for both domestic and international students. The New Colombo Plan remains central to Australia’s efforts to build Indo-Pacific capability through education, diplomacy, and long-term regional cooperation.

Editor’s Note:

The 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a key part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy, combining education, diplomacy, and long-term cooperation. Since starting in 2014, it has supported over 55,000 undergraduate students in study, internships, and language learning across the Indo-Pacific. This wide participation shows its success and highlights the growing role of education in foreign policy. The 2026 guidelines, shaped by the NCP External Advisory Group and aligned with Minister Penny Wong’s foreign policy, focus on deeper and longer engagement. Scholarships will gradually increase to 500 per year by 2028, aiming to build a generation of Australians with real regional experience and professional networks. The new NCP Semester Program will support longer, immersive student experiences, recognising that strong Indo-Pacific skills need more than short visits. A stronger focus on Asian language learning is also part of the plan. By setting language targets, the government underlines the importance of language skills in building cultural understanding and relationships. The guidelines also expand the program’s reach through offshore campuses, making use of existing education networks to strengthen partnerships. NCP funding will boost Asian language programs, improve administration, and help achieve strategic goals, aligning with Australia's economic and diplomatic strategies, like Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, emphasising regional stability and growth. The 2026 round signals the NCP's evolution from a student mobility program to a strategic tool fostering education, foreign policy, and economic ties through institutional strengthening, alumni engagement, and long-term cooperation. The NCP develops graduates to enhance Australia's regional ties. Universities should align with this vision by building partnerships, integrating language learning, and supporting alumni. 

Skoobuzz believes that the New Colombo Plan is a statement of Australia’s commitment to building strong relationships in the Indo-Pacific.