Record Surge in New Colombo Plan Scholarships Sends Young Australians Deeper into Asia
Australia boosts New Colombo Plan to record scale, deepening young Australians’ links with Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. The 2026 round sharply increases scholarships and long-term study grants, with a strong focus on Asian language training and immersive experiences in key regional economies.
Record places for 2026 round
- The 2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) round will offer 328 scholarships to Australian undergraduates, almost 50 per cent more than in 2025 and the largest cohort since the program began.
- In addition, 1,247 student grants will be delivered under a new Semester Program and 1,635 grants through the existing Mobility Program, supporting both long-term and short-term study and internship experiences across the Indo-Pacific.
Focus on Asia capability and languages
- The next phase of the NCP, outlined by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in July 2025, places a deliberate emphasis on building Asia capability by prioritising longer in-country study, internships and structured language learning.
- A record number of students in the 2026 intake are expected to study priority Asian languages, including Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Japanese and Vietnamese, reflecting the government’s push to lift Australia’s Asia literacy and regional understanding.
Long‑term reforms and 2040 strategy
- The reforms will progressively lift NCP scholarship numbers to 500 per year by 2028, aligning the scheme with the government’s broader Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which calls for deeper people-to-people, education and business ties.
- New selection settings favour long-term, immersive placements in priority locations and sectors, including opportunities at Australian universities’ offshore campuses, with an aim to produce graduates who are work-ready and Indo‑Pacific‑capable.
Indo‑Pacific impact and university response
- Since its launch in 2014, the NCP has supported more than 56,000 Australian undergraduates through study, internships and language training in Indo‑Pacific economies, building a growing alumni network across the region.
- Universities such as the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia report record NCP allocations for 2026, enabling hundreds of students to engage in intensive language study and industry placements in destinations including Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Pacific Island countries.
Significance for multicultural Australia
- For multicultural communities in Australia, the expanded NCP promises more young leaders with lived experience in Asian and Pacific societies, better equipped to engage diaspora communities, translate regional trends and build commercial and cultural partnerships at home.
The push for language proficiency and cross-cultural capability is expected to strengthen links between Australian businesses and Indo Pacific markets, supporting sectors such as education, tourism, creative industries and technology that are central to many migrant and multicultural enterprises.
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