Skip to main content

New Colombo Plan Scholarships Program

Value

Up to A$87,000

Duration

7 to 17 months

Status

Closed

Closed.
Opens
28/04/2023
Closes
23/06/2023

Overview

The prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarships Program is an Australian government initiative that provides opportunities for the best and brightest undergraduate university students from Australia to study in the Indo-Pacific region.

The New Colombo Plan includes options to study in 40 participating countries and territories across the region. Annually, 120 high-calibre Australian university students will have the opportunity to undertake at least one session of study, and up to a full academic year of study in one of these destinations. An internship/mentorship component taken before or after the study component, is also a key part of the Scholarship Program.

Note: This scholarship is available to Australian citizens only.

Who is eligible?

The following are the minimum criteria for selection required by the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship. A UTS candidate must:

  • be nominated by University of Technology Sydney.
  • be an Australian citizen - applicants cannot undertake their scholarship in a host location where they hold dual citizenship or permanent residency or where they have previously been a citizen or permanent resident;
  • be enrolled in units at an on-shore campus of an Australian University during the application process.
  • 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 of the scholarship round
  • be undertaking a Bachelor Degree or Bachelor Honours Degree when the scholarship program commences.
  • have achieved a minimum 70 per cent graded average or equivalent for their undergraduate course at the time of application, as determined by the nominating home university.
  • not be a previous recipient of a New Colombo Plan Scholarship.

Selection process

Applicants will be assessed by written application and performance at interview based on the following selection criteria:

1.Academic excellence at the tertiary level (25 per cent weighting)

Assessment of this criterion will relate to the Applicant’s demonstrated higher-order cognitive skills, creativity, innovation, communication skills, problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills in their university study. Applicants may also draw on academic achievements such as academic awards and commendations, publications, or other examples of academic excellence at the tertiary level.

High school academic achievements will not be considered.

2. Leadership and engagement in the community (25 per cent weighting)

Assessment of this criterion will relate to the Applicant’s demonstrated leadership in the community, including in volunteer and not-for-profit roles, employment and/or other activities they have undertaken locally, nationally, overseas and/or at their university. Applicants should provide an example of a leadership role they have undertaken.

3. Adaptability and resilience (25 per cent weighting)

Assessment of this criterion will relate to the Applicant’s demonstrated ability to adapt to change and thrive in a different environment, and their resilience in the face of challenges.

4. Ability to contribute to NCP’s strategic objective and outcomes (25 per cent weighting)

Assessment of this criterion will relate to the Applicant’s demonstrated understanding of the Strategic objective and Outcomes of the NCP program, and how the Applicant and their proposed Scholarship program would contribute to the NCP Strategic objective and Outcomes, including on return to Australia.

Need more information? Contact...

Global Mobility Programs Team
UTS International

Email: studyabroad.exchange@uts.edu.au
Website: UTS Global Exchange | UTS NCP Scholarship
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade NCP Scholarship Program website: https://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/new-colombo-plan/scholarship-program/Pages/scholarship-program.aspx

Other information

Host university

You are strongly encouraged to apply to study at a UTS exchange partner university (opens an external site) and do the study component through the UTS Global Exchange Program or UTS International Studies Degree. That way you will continue to pay your tuition fees at UTS.

By applying to a university with which UTS has an existing relationship, you will be able to easily confirm your study placement. UTS is also able to support your enrolment into a study plan and subjects for your overseas study period.

You may apply to attend a non-partner university on the scholarship and pay enrolment fees using the NCP Scholarship. If you are considering an institution that does not have an exchange agreement with UTS, you must contact that university to apply for enrolment directly, and work with a faculty academic advisor at UTS to seek your study plan approvals.

Internship

It is the scholarship recipient's responsibility to arrange and secure an internship/mentorship before or after their period of study at the host university. However, UTS, the New Colombo Plan Secretariat and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will provide support.

Recipients are usually required to do both the study and internship components of the program in the same country in the Indo Pacific. The internship may not be undertaken in Australia.