The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government, which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting young Australians to study and undertake Internships in the region.

The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program ('the Scholarship Program') objectives in 2019 are to:

• provide up to 120 prestigious and highly-competitive Scholarships
• support more study experiences in a broad range of Indo-Pacific locations
• encourage New Colombo Plan students to undertake longer term study, language study and an Internship and/or Mentorship
• engage New Colombo Plan students, universities and other stakeholders in public diplomacy and outreach, and
• continue to develop an active alumni community for participants to share their experiences, promote the New Colombo Plan and continue to develop knowledge of and professional links with the Indo-Pacific region.

To be eligible, applicants for a New Colombo Plan Scholarship must:

• be nominated by their Home University
• be an Australian citizen. Applicants cannot undertake their Scholarship in a Host Location in which they hold dual citizenship or permanent residency; or in which they have previously been a citizen or permanent resident
• be enrolled in units at an on-shore campus of an Australian University during the application process
• be between 18 and 28 years of age (inclusive) on 1 January 2019
• be undertaking at least one Bachelor Degree or Bachelor Honours Degree when the Scholarship Program commences
• have achieved a minimum 70 per cent graded average or equivalent for their undergraduate course at the time of application, as determined by the nominating Home University
• not be a previous recipient of a New Colombo Plan Scholarship.

Successful applicants are not allowed to commence another Australian Government funded off-shore Scholarship Program or mobility grant (including a New Colombo Plan Mobility Program grant) while undertaking their New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program.