New Colombo Plan Scholarship

A life-changing scholarship opportunity in the Indo-Pacific region

The Australian government’s New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program (NCP) offers a prestigious scholarship opportunity for Australian undergraduate students to undertake study, language learning, and internships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Want to find out more? The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has asked previous NCP scholars to answer all your questions.  

Key selection criteria

UTS will shortlist, select and nominate the most suitable student applicants to the New Colombo Plan Secretariat by mid-July each year. 

To be selected, you must:

• be an Australian citizen (dual citizens may not study in the country of their other citizenship)
• 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 that NCP Scholarship year
• be able to study for at least one session in one of the listed 40 Indo-Pacific countries, for academic credit toward your UTS degree
• have mandatory units to enrol and undertake in your UTS degree after you return to Australia following the end of your NCP scholarship program
• demonstrate a clear study plan at the host institution you will study at
• demonstrate an interest in learning an Indo-Pacific language
• demonstrate leadership and community engagement skills
• demonstrate adaptability and resilience skills
• understand and show an ongoing commitment to the international goals of the New Colombo Plan
• demonstrate the ability to represent UTS and Australia

Special consideration may be given to applicants from diverse groups including: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from low socio-economic status backgrounds, students from regional/remote areas, students from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, students with a disability and students in non–traditional fields taking overseas study.