The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Semester Program provides funding to Australian universities to leverage their partnership arrangements to support one-to-two semester length experiences for Australian undergraduate students to develop Indo-Pacific capability, including language learning and internships.
The intended outcomes of the NCP Semester Program are that:
- program participants develop their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, in line with Australia’s strategic and economic interests
- Australian universities leverage institutional partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and there is an expansion of engagement with counterpart institutions in priority host locations, languages and sectors
- alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region.
Australian universities can apply, including through consortia arrangements, for funding under the NCP Semester Program.
New Colombo Plan Semester Program 2026 Round
Applications for the 2026 round of the NCP Semester Program closed on 23 September 2025.
To access the 2026 NCP Semester Program Guidelines and related documents – which contain information about eligibility requirements, selection processes, advice on how to apply, and regularly asked questions, please download the following documents:
- 2026 Semester Program Guidelines [PDF 623 KB]
- 2026 Semester Program Guidelines [DOCX 293 KB]
- 2026 Semester Program Advice to Applicants [PDF 318 KB]
- 2026 Semester Program Advice to Applicants [DOCX 120 KB]
Contacts
DFAT is unable to accept NCP Semester Program applications from Australian undergraduate students directly.
University staff and eligible undergraduate students interested in the NCP Semester Program should contact their university's study abroad/international liaison office for more information, or DFAT’s NCP Secretariat at ncp.secretariat@dfat.gov.au.