New Columbo Plan Scholarship

The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program is a prestigious Australian Government scholarship scheme that provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake semester-based study, language training, and internships or mentorships in 40 identified Indo-Pacific locations.

This highly competitive scholarship program awards approximately 120 scholarships Australia-wide per annum to strengthen Australia’s connections with the region.

The total value can be over $70,000, so if you are considering studying at any University in the Indo-Pacific region, you should seriously consider applying for an NCP Scholarship!

Find out more about the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program

You must apply/or have applied to undertake one or two semesters of study at a university in the Indo-Pacific region in 2025, with the option of completing language training, internships and/or mentorships for a total duration of up to 19 months.  You can nominate to study at any university in your chosen location, there is no requirement to study at Charles Sturt partner university.

Each Australian University can nominate up to 15 students per year. All nominated students will be invited to complete an extensive NCP application. If you are shortlisted based on your NCP application, you will then be invited to attend an online interview.

To get a better idea of what the New Colombo Plan Scholarship is and what it will mean to you, watch our recent information session video.

2025 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Information Session

What is the value of an NCP Scholarship?

An NCP Scholarship includes:

  • Overseas tuition fees - up to $10,000 per semester or $6,666 per trimester for a maximum of one Academic year
  • Language training - up to $10,000
  • Monthly stipend - up to $3,000 per month of the Scholarship for a maximum of 19 months
  • Travel allowance - up to $3,000
  • Establishment allowance - up to $3,000
  • Mental health allowance - up to $3,000
  • Travel insurance for the duration of your program
  • Private sector sponsorship
  • Dedicated NCP Case Manager who provides advice prior to departure and for the duration of the program

Where can you study?

You can either choose to study at one of Charles Sturt University’s existing exchange partner universities or you can also nominate any other higher education provider, in the following locations:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

Many universities in these locations teach in English!

To be eligible for an NCP Scholarship, and to remain eligible during your Scholarship Program if awarded, you must:

  • have been nominated for the NCP Scholarship Program by Charles Sturt University.
  • be an Australian citizen.
  • not be a current citizen or permanent resident of your proposed Primary Location or any Secondary Location.
  • be enrolled in and undertaking, until completion of all Study Components, at least one Bachelor Degree or Bachelor Honours Degree unit at an on-shore campus of Charles Sturt University.
  • 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 2025.
  • have achieved a minimum 70 per cent graded average or equivalent for your undergraduate course at the time of Application, as determined by Charles Sturt University.
  • not be a previous recipient of a Scholarship under the NCP Scholarship Program, and
  • not be an employee of the branch of DFAT that administers the NCP.
  • Successful applicants are not permitted to commence another Australian Government funded offshore scholarship or mobility grant (including under the NCP Mobility Program) while undertaking their Scholarship Program.

If you are eligible to apply, you will receive an email from Charles Sturt Global inviting you to submit an NCP Scholarship Nomination Form.

If you have received this email, please follow these steps:

Step 1: Contact your Course Director (via ask@csu.edu.au) as soon as possible and determine whether you can receive credit for external study before submitting your nomination application.

You will be required to transfer the equivalent of three to four subjects (min. 24 CP) from your host university towards your Charles Sturt degree for each semester of study overseas. Your course director will be able to confirm if this is possible and provide guidance about studying overseas in Session 1 or 2 next year.

Step 2: Visit the Global Society's YouTube page to view videos providing advice on writing NCP scholarship applications.

Step 3: Complete your NCP Scholarship Nomination Form and submit to csuglobal@csu.edu.au.

Explore more

Overseas opportunies

Partner Programs