Indonesia Becomes Most Popular Destination for Australian Students Under New Colombo Plan 2026
Indonesia has solidified its position as the most popular destination for Australian university students through the New Colombo Plan (NCP). This trend reflects the strengthening of educational partnerships and people-to-people links between the two neighbouring nations.
In 2026, Indonesia made history by recording the highest number of NCP participants since the programme’s inception. Based on available data, funding has been allocated to support hundreds of students across various academic and professional mobility schemes.
It is recorded that between January 2025 and 30 June 2026, more than 1,300 Australian students began their journeys in Indonesia. They have been involved in various activities ranging from formal study programmes, internships, and research to direct engagement in community projects across the archipelago.
The Australian Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, emphasised that the New Colombo Plan is a vital instrument in building the future generation of leaders for both countries. According to her, direct field experience is invaluable for Australian students.
“Indonesia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours and partners. Through the New Colombo Plan, Australian students gain direct experience in Indonesia, build harmonious friendships, and expand professional networks that will strengthen the relationship between our two countries in the years to come,” said Kamath.
These students are not confined to classrooms. They are spread across various strategic sectors such as health, engineering, sustainability, business, and social sciences. Collaborations are conducted alongside local universities, the business world, and community organisations through innovative projects and professional internships.
A total of 26 Australian universities have received specific NCP funding for programmes in Indonesia for the 2025 and 2026 rounds. A major highlight occurred during the period of June to July this year, where RMIT University sent its largest group in history.
A total of 43 final-year students in Engineering and Computing Technology from RMIT participated in a Capstone programme at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). There, they not only delved into Indonesian language and culture but also worked with NGOs, government agencies, and industrial partners to solve challenges in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable technology.