Closed Grant Opportunity View - GO8470: GrantConnect

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Closed Grant Opportunity View - GO8470

New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program 2027 Round

Contact Details

New Colombo Plan Secretariat

Email Address: ncp.secretariat@dfat.gov.au

Web Address: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/new-colombo-plan/new-colombo-plan-scholarship-program

Grant Opportunity Documents Submit Application

GO ID:

GO8470

Agency:

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Close Date & Time:

4-Aug-2026 11:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Show close time for other time zones

Primary Category:

191002 - Higher Education

Secondary Category:

191006 - Scholarships

Publish Date:

9-Jun-2026

Location:

ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS

Selection Process:

Open Competitive

Description:

The strategic objective of the New Colombo Plan (NCP), as described in Program 1.5 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Portfolio Budget Statement is to advance Australia’s interests and bilateral relationships through enduring people-to-people, institutional and business links with the Indo-Pacific region.

The intended outcomes of the NCP are:

for participants to acquire Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy
to foster deeper people-to-people and education relationships between Australia and the Indo-Pacific, and
to increase Australia’s economic engagement with the region by supporting NCP participants to build job-ready skills, and supporting NCP alumni to maintain their ties to the Indo-Pacific.

The 2027 NCP Scholarship Program will provide scholarships for up to 19 months in eligible Indo-Pacific host locations.

The objective of the NCP Scholarship Program is to provide opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including in priority Asian languages, through immersive, long-term structured learning and internships in the region, in areas of Australia’s strategic and economic interests.

The intended outcomes of the NCP Scholarship Program include:

scholars strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy in areas of Australia’s strategic interest, including in priority host locations, languages and sectors
scholars are supported to engage with Australian business operating in the region, including through internships, to build the cohort of work-ready, Indo-Pacific capable Australians and to increase Australia’s economic engagement with the region, and
program alumni maintain their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, and undertake continued engagement with the Indo-Pacific.

Eligibility:

Refer to the NCP Scholarship Program 2027 Round Guidelines (sections 4 and 5).

Grant Activity Timeframe:

The 2027 NCP Scholarship Program will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 July 2029.

Total Amount Available (AUD):

$20,361,000.00

Instructions for Application Submission:

During the Expressions of Interest (EOI) period, Australian universities are required to put forward all eligible students who submit an EOI in the 2027 Round of the NCP Scholarship Program, through SmartyGrants. EOIs must be provided by 11 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on 7 July 2026. For further information on the EOI process, see section 4.2 in the NCP Scholarship Program 2027 Round Guidelines.

Following closure of the EOI period, the application period will open on 8 July 2026. Eligible students who expressed interest will receive an invitation to complete an online application via SmartyGrants. The application must be completed by the application closing time (11 pm AEST on 4 August 2026). Referee report(s) are due by 11 pm AEST on 18 August 2026.

Other Instructions:

Industry Briefing: New Colombo Plan 2027 Round

The NCP Secretariat will hold a webinar for Australian universities on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss the 2027 Round.

NCP Secretariat staff will be able to take questions during the webinar. A summary of the Q&A will be published as an addendum on GrantConnect.

The briefing will be held via Microsoft Teams, with details below.

Date: Monday 15 June 2026

Time: 1 pm to 2.30 pm (AEST)

Location: Online via Microsoft Teams

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246544454752244?p=EgHByzCEWlwxaB20nK

Meeting ID: 246 544 454 752 244

Passcode: Mq3hK3xw

Addenda Available: