Big news for La Trobe students! A record 10 La Trobe students have been awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship, giving them the chance to study overseas in 2026.
La Trobe has also secured $1,031,400 in funding to support 92 students through the Mobility and Semester Program grants. That’s a massive jump from last year’s $149,600!
What is the New Colombo Plan?
The NCP Scholarship is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It’s one of Australia’s most generous and competitive scholarships for undergraduates, designed to strengthen ties with the Indo-Pacific region.
This year, the Government doubled the number of scholarships available and plans to keep expanding the program in the future.
Why is this a big deal?
Recipients go through a tough, multi-stage application process, proving their academic excellence, ambition and passion for the Indo-Pacific. Scholars will gain real-world experience, language skills and intercultural knowledge that employers love – all while studying in global destinations like Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.
Dr Stacey Farraway, La Trobe’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Future Growth), said this achievement reflects the exceptional calibre of La Trobe students and the University’s commitment to global engagement:
“Our New Colombo Plan Scholars will gain real-world experience, language capability and intercultural skills highly valued by employers…”
Meet the 2026 Scholars
Here’s where our students are heading and what they’ll be studying:
Malaysia – University of Malaya
- Rhys Barwise (Wildlife & Conservation Biology)
- Sara Ali (Law/Commerce)
- Nicholas Walsh (Law/Global Studies)
Thailand – Chulalongkorn University
- Justin Johnston (Education)
- Tori Foster (Law/Arts)
Japan
- Sophia University: Asia McLaughlin (Law/Arts), Alison Tucker (Media & Communication)
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: Elley Chapman (Law/Global Studies)
- Hokkaido University: Giselle Quill-Tot (Animal & Veterinary Biosciences)
- University of Tokyo: Maddison Reynolds (Law/Global Studies)
Want to get involved?
The NCP Scholarship opens doors to language study, internships and professional networks across the Indo-Pacific. If you’re keen to apply in the future, keep an eye on the NCP Scholarship page.
NCP is just one of the overseas opportunities available – La Trobe has over 120 international exchange partners across schemes such as Semester Exchanges, overseas short programs with several grant and scholarship options available. For more information on the NCP Scholarship, or La Trobe’s other international study opportunities, see studying overseas.