Facilitating meaningful overseas experiences
UQ staff are encouraged to submit applications for the 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility and Semester Program. DFAT will be accepting applications for the next round for face-to-face delivery. This page is for UQ staff members.
If you're a student interested in the NCP Scholarship Program, please refer to the scholarship program page. If you're a student interested in available mobility programs UQ has to offer, please refer to our current mobility grants table below.
Overview
Since 2014, over 2,000 UQ students received over $6 million in grants to participate in short-term and semester-based programs.
Grants ranging in value are available to support Australian university undergraduates to participate in study, practicums, internships/mentorships and research in the Indo-Pacific region.
All project applications are welcome but applications that have demonstrated links strengthening existing partnerships or developing new ones will be particularly well-received.
The funding covers mobility projects undertaken during the grant period of the respective program. Mobility projects must provide students with academic credit or count towards the course requirements for the student's course of study.
Global Partnerships provides a range of resources to support the promotion and development of NCP opportunities and can assist academics with developing applications, provide advice on key partnerships, existing projects, and current agreements in the region.
Global Partnerships will submit UQ applications through ISEO, the NCP online portal. UQ staff may submit a complete application forms for both the Mobility and Scholarship programs by 16 September 2025.
NCP Mobility Program
NCP Mobility Program Priority Areas
It is anticipated that $8.17 million in funding will be available for the NCP Mobility Program for the 2026 grant period, including 10 per cent administration funding for universities.
Priority in the selection processes for the 2026 NCP Mobility Program will be accorded to:
- Mobility projects which are to be undertaken in the priority host locations outlined in section 6.1 of the NCP Mobility Program Guidelines. These priority locations for the 2026 round align with Australian Government foreign policy priorities for engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with Pacific host locations, and will be reviewed annually.
- Mobility projects which create Vietnamese language pathways, with a view to building a pipeline of students wanting to pursue employment or cultural connections with Vietnam.
- Mobility projects where the main focus is for the study of an Asian language (in addition to Vietnamese). In the 2026 round, all NCP programs (including the NCP Mobility Program) will have a language target set at 15 per cent.
Submit completed application forms and supporting documents to sponsored.students@uq.edu.au by September 16, 2025.
NCP Semester Program
NCP Semester Program Priority Areas
It is anticipated that $23.76 million in funding will be available for the NCP Semester Program for the 2026 grant period, including 20 per cent administration funding for universities.
Priority in the selection processes for the 2026 NCP Semester Program will be accorded to:
- Projects which are to be undertaken in the priority host locations, languages and sectors outlined in section 6.1. These areas are consistent with Australia’s foreign policy priorities for engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, including as outlined in Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and A New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India. These priorities will be reviewed annually.
- Projects where the main focus is for the study of an Asian language. In the 2026 round, all NCP programs (including the NCP Semester Program) will have a language target set at 15 per cent.
Submit completed application forms and supporting documents to sponsored.students@uq.edu.au by September 16, 2025.
Contact us
sponsored.students@uq.edu.au