I am pleased to announce the outcomes of the 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP), which is supporting record numbers of Australian students to deepen their Asia capability and expertise.
The 2026 round will see a record 328 NCP scholarships offered to Australian undergraduates, an increase of almost 50 per cent from 2025.
The 2026 round will also see 1,247 student grants offered under the new Semester Program, and 1,635 student grants offered under the Mobility Program.
The reforms to the New Colombo Plan that I announced in July this year are now in action. More NCP participants are now developing the skills and capabilities Australia needs to deepen our national understanding of the region, strengthen the ties between our people, and increase engagement with Australian businesses operating in the region.
Importantly, a record number of students will undertake long-term study programs in Asian languages, including Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Japanese and Vietnamese.
Launched in 2014, the NCP has supported over 56,000 Australian undergraduate students through study, internships and language training in the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to the continued impact of the program as more young Australians develop their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy.
I extend my congratulations to all the successful students.
Penny Wong