Media Release
11 September 2026
Indonesia is the most popular destination for Australian university students under the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP), highlighting enduring strength of Australia-Indonesia education partnership and connections between people.
In 2026, Indonesia recorded its largest-ever NCP cohort, with funding awarded to support 29 scholarship recipients, 170 semester program participants, and 691 mobility grant recipients. Between January 2025 and 30 June 2026, over 1,300 Australian students commenced study, internship, research, and other community engagement programs across Indonesia under NCP.
Australian Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia Gita Kamath said the New Colombo Plan is helping build the next generation of Australia-Indonesia leaders.
“Indonesia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours and partners. Through the New Colombo Plan, Australian students gain firsthand experience of Indonesia, develop lasting friendships, and build professional networks that will strengthen our relationship for years to come,” said Chargé d’Affaires Kamath.
Australian students are undertaking programs with Indonesian universities, businesses and community organisations in areas such as health, engineering, sustainability, business and social sciences. Many also undertake internships and collaborative projects that support shared learning and innovation.
Twenty-six Australian universities received NCP funding for projects in Indonesia across the 2025 and 2026 funding rounds. From June to July this year, RMIT University’s Capstone Program brought its largest-ever cohort of 43 final year Engineering and Computing Technology students to study Indonesian language and cultural immersion at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and undertake projects at NGOs, government agencies and industry partners on renewable energy, sustainability and technology innovation.
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