What is the New Colombo Plan?
The New Colombo Plan Scholarship at the University of Tasmania is a prestigious Australian Government initiative that gives University of Tasmania students the opportunity to study abroad in the Indo-Pacific region. Designed for high-achieving undergraduate students in Tasmania, the program supports study, internships, language training and cultural immersion, helping you build real-world global experience while completing your degree from the University of Tasmania.
For students based in Tasmania, the New Colombo Plan offers more than just study abroad, it’s a chance to live, learn and work internationally while representing the University of Tasmania. You’ll immerse yourself in new cultures, contribute to local communities across the Indo-Pacific, and develop in-demand global skills that set you apart in a competitive graduate market.
As a University of Tasmania student studying abroad through the New Colombo Plan, you’ll build lifelong international networks, gain valuable professional experience, and return to Tasmania with a global perspective that enhances your career opportunities both locally and internationally.
You’ll also join a highly respected New Colombo Plan Alumni network of over 59,000 scholars, connecting University of Tasmania students to a powerful global community of leaders, professionals and changemakers.
Take your study abroad experience further with the New Colombo Plan at the University of Tasmania.
Programs
The New Colombo Plan Scholarship offers one of the most comprehensive and flexible study abroad opportunities for University of Tasmania students, with programs of up to 19 months in the Indo-Pacific.
You’ll combine academic study with internships and language training, building valuable Asia-Pacific capability while gaining real-world global experience. The program supports your development in priority regions and industries, helping expand your international career opportunities.
In order to be eligible, you must be an enrolled student at University of Tasmania and nominated by the University for the Scholarship Program, upon which you will be invited to submit an application.
The New Colombo Plan Semester Program gives University of Tasmania students the opportunity to study abroad in the Indo-Pacific while earning credit towards their degree.
Spend 1–2 semesters at a partner university and enhance your experience through study, language learning and potential internships, building strong regional knowledge and global perspective.
The University of Tasmania manages and promotes these opportunities, with no nomination process required, making it a more accessible way to study abroad.
Where can I study?
The New Colombo Plan offers University of Tasmania students the opportunity to study abroad across 37 locations in the Indo-Pacific region.
For both the Scholarship and Semester programs, priority is given to locations where Australia is strengthening regional engagement, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Timor-Leste. Established study destinations such as Japan, Fiji, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Thailand are also highly regarded.
Where you study will depend on program availability, your field of study, and alignment with regional priorities ensuring a meaningful and globally relevant study abroad experience.
FAQ
Yes, but the host location specified in the application will be the applicant’s final host location.
Yes. You are not entitled to undertake subjects at your host university that are not credited to your home degree within the NCP.
Applicants may propose two study components at different host institutions. However, both study components must be in the same host location.
The diversity section in the application form requests applicants provide diversity information, including relating to disability. This information is used for the purposes of administering and reporting on the NCP in a de-identified manner. Scoring against assessment criteria is not directly influenced by diversity, but DFAT may may accord priority to applicants from diverse backgrounds within the moderation process. Applicants who have pre-existing medical conditions and/or a disability are strongly encouraged to describe how they will manage the condition or disability in the proposed host location. Assessment against Selection Criteria 3 may favourably consider applications that have demonstrated that they have considered/addressed such factors in developing their proposed program.
Failure to disclose medical conditions or disability may impact on the NCP’s ability to assist or accommodate that disability or medical condition or may impact on a scholar’s insurance while on the program. NCP insurance has a number of exclusions that scholars must consider carefully and does not cover ongoing treatment of pre-existing conditions. Scholars require a fitness to travel report from a travel medicine doctor before departing from Australia and should not travel against medical advice. Scholars will be required to discuss health and welfare requirements with their case manager as part of developing a risk assessment that must be approved before commencing the program overseas. Applicants are encouraged to describe any health management or disability support plan required to ensure they can safely and effectively manage any existing medical conditions or disabilities that require ongoing management and support whilst undertaking their scholarship program in the proposed location(s).