New Colombo Plan (NCP)

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a signature initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) that was piloted in 2014 to four locations and now celebrates 10 years to 40 locations across the Indo-Pacific.

NCP aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia, and build a diverse cohort of Australian alumni with deeper Indo-Pacific knowledge, capability and connections;

NCP supports Australian undergraduate students to study and undertake internships in the region through three programs: NCP Scholarships, NCP Mobility and NCP Alumni.

The Program provides a fantastic opportunity for JCU students to develop cultural awareness and language skills and build relationships with our Indo-Pacific neighbours while completing their undergraduate program.

Over the past 10 years JCU has sent out more than 1300 undergraduate students from different backgrounds and fields of study, on more than 100 different NCP programs to more than 20 different locations in the Indo Pacific.

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program provides flexible funding support to support short-term study tours, internships, mentorships, practicums & research as well as semester-based study. In 2025 priority was given to projects whose main focus was for a study of language, with long-term immersive experiences in the Indo-Pacific and had been developed in partnership with the Indo-Pacific host institutions particularly those that include collaborative research, Pacific engagement and other Australian government priorities. Minimum program is four weeks (previously two weeks).

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program is a prestigious program that involves semester-based study combined with an internship and language study between 3- 19 months, with a total value of $107,000 (subject to the specific program components and program duration of each scholar). Program is highly competitive. One JCU student was successful for 2025. For 2025, NCP removed the cap on student nominations from universities to encourage a wider pool, prioritizing language study and JCU is encouraging more students to apply. International Partnerships manage this process directly with students and faculties.

2025 Japan Scholar and James Cook University Bachelor of Advanced Science student Kathleen Ryan will be studying marine biology and aquaculture at Tohoku University, Japan.

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Alumni Program

New Colombo Plan (NCP) Alumni Program program helps students maintain a connection to each other, the NCP and the IndoPacific as they progress in their lives and careers. Each year NCP alumnus have the opportunity to apply to be the JCU NCP Alumni Ambassador to represent NCP and support NCP alumni promote the New Colombo Plan and the value of Indo-Pacific study and work placements. The JCU NCP Alumni Ambassador for 2025 is Seth Shoubridge

Learn more

Get in touch

• Email us at ncp@jcu.edu.au

NCP program discovery

• View entire list of JCU NCP Trips

Follow JCU NCP social media

• JCU NCP Instagram
• JCU NCP Facebook