New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program
The New Colombo Plan Scholarship supports students to study and learn overseas as part of their degree. As a New Colombo Plan Scholarship recipient you could be supported for up to a year at an Indo-Pacific university.
Funded by the Australian Government, this scholarship provides opportunities for around 120 Australian students aged from 18 to 30 years inclusive to engage with communities and help achieve the New Colombo Plan's goals.
Selection for a scholarship opportunity offers financial benefits to cover:
- Tuition fees
- Language training
- Travel costs
- Moving in and living costs
- Health and wellbeing provisions
- Insurance costs
- Local support
- Private sector sponsorship
JCU scholarship recipients undertaking immersive learning in the Indo-Pacific
JCU students Indus Fisher and Tomas Cooney, both from JCU's College of Science and Engineering, have been awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship for 2024. This scholarship will take them to the Indo-Pacific to study marine environments, learn a new language, and gain skills in the field through internships. Hear from Indus and Tomas about their plans for their time abroad.
Image: Left: Tomas Cooney (supplied by Tomas Cooney).
Right: Indus Fisher (supplied by Indus Fisher).
New Colombo Plan scholarships
What are the New Colombo Plan scholarships?
Key information
Each year there are many eligible host locations for students to access a New Colombo Plan Scholarship across the Indo-Pacific region.
Indo-Pacific locations include:
| B | Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam |
|---|---|
| C | Cambodia, China, Cook Islands |
| F | Fed. States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia |
| H | Hong Kong |
| I | India, Indonesia |
| J | Japan |
| K | Kiribati |
| L | Laos |
| M | Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar |
| N | Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue |
| P | Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines |
| R | Republic of Korea |
| S | Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka |
| T | Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu |
| V | Vanuatu, Vietnam |
The New Colombo Plan is an Australian Government initiative for undergraduate students to access internships or mentoring opportunities, receive language training and complete part of their degrees in various Indo-Pacific locations.
How to apply for an NCP Scholarship
Need assistance or have a question?
If you need any help with applying or want advice on tailoring your study abroad experience, you can reach out to the Global Experience team for guidance.
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As a leading innovator in renewable energy technologies, Japan is the ideal destination for James Cook University’s Bachelor of Engineering - Bachelor of Information Technology Student, Ryan Maher, who was awarded the prestigious 2022 New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
Combining his electrical engineering and IT skills, Ryan Maher will focus on current and emerging renewable energy technologies suitable for regional Australia when he undertakes his scholarship program in Japan.
“I aim to build relationships and create connections with industry and researchers involved in the cutting edge of innovation for the renewable energy technologies necessary to combat climate change,” said Ryan.
Ryan will undertake Japanese language training and complete a semester of study at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo before completing an internship to gain insights into how companies can manage large-scale electricity production and distribution while making it affordable, efficient and profitable.
Ryan will join recent 2021 New Colombo Plan Scholars, Garrett Swearingen, Tarryn O’Leary, Lauren Huet and Simona Hamilton in representing the New Colombo Plan, Australia and James Cook University as they head overseas to complete their scholarship programs.
The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government that connects undergraduate students and alumni with leaders in government, business and civil society in the Indo-Pacific through study and internships in the region.
A record number of JCU students were awarded the prestigious 2021 NCP Scholarship this year. They will take up exciting opportunities in the Indo-Pacific in 2021-2022, immersing themselves in Indo-Pacific cultures, learning languages, furthering their studies and gaining work experience. Students will study and live in Fiji, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Papua New Guinea.
The 2021 JCU NCP Scholars are:
Lauren Huet – Bachelor of Science (India)
Tarryn O'Leary – Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Arts (Fiji & Papua New Guinea)
Simona Hamilton – Bachelor of Marine Science (Fiji & Japan)
Garrett Swearingen – Bachelor of Environmental Practice (Fiji & Sri Lanka)
2020 NCP Scholarship recipients JCU Business/Law student Dennae Smith (Singapore) and JCU Engineering student Lewis Batic (Japan and Nepal) with Clare Walsh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Awards ceremony in Canberra, November 2019.
2019 NCP Scholarship recipient JCU Business/Psychological Science student Genevieve Ritchie (Vietnam) with former Minister for Foreign Affairs Julia Bishop at the awards ceremony in Canberra in November 2018.