Science NCP International Study Experience: China

The program fee is AUD $5,500.

Successful applicants will be awarded an AUD $4,000 mobility grant, paid directly to them. Participants will need to contribute AUD $1,500 to meet the total program fee of AUD $5,500. Further payment instructions will be provided after offer acceptance.

Any additional expenses for some meals and personal incidentals are to be paid by student participants (expected out-of-pocket expenses while in China are approx. AUD $1,000).

Program fee covers:

• international flights from Brisbane to China*
• accommodation
• learning activities and language classes
• tours and cultural activities (including admission)
• local transport, including domestic travel between cities
• some meals.

*You must travel on specified dates and to specified destinations, i.e. UQ will not assist you to extend or redirect your travel plans beyond our stipulated program.

Program fee does not cover:

• UQ course tuition fees (all NCP-funded scholars must enrol in SCIE3050, see eligibility criteria)
• some meals
• personal incidentals (e.g. shopping, some local transport).

OS-HELP loan

OS-HELP is a loan scheme available to eligible Commonwealth supported students to help cover expenses associated with overseas study. Visit OS-HELP for more details, eligibility requirements and application instructions.

Students applying for an OS-HELP loan are encouraged to consider application and payment timeframes. Applications cannot be accepted:

• any earlier than 6 months before the official start date of the overseas study
• any later than 3 months before the official end date of the overseas study.

Students will be notified of the outcome within 8 weeks of applying. After meeting any offer conditions and completing the items outlined in the offer letter, successful applicants should allow up to 20 business days for their OS-HELP loan payment to be processed.

To be eligible to participate in this mobility program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Australian citizenship
  • you will be required to submit a valid Australian passport as part of the acceptance process if successful
    • note: provisions are in place for a percentage of non-Australian citizens to apply
• age requirement
  • aged 18-28 at time of travel
    • note: provisions are in place for a percentage of students over the age of 28 to apply
• program enrolment
  • undergraduate student
  • completed at least 8 units at UQ by the time of application
  • currently enrolled, and will be enrolled in Summer Semester 2026-27, in any Faculty of Science undergraduate program (including dual programs)
  • minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0
  • have 2 units elective space available to enrol in SCIE3050 in Summer Semester 2026-27
• hold (or be eligible for) a valid Australian passport with more than 6 months validity from the date of return to Australia
• be available to attend the full length of the program (Monday 23 November – Tuesday 22 December 2026)
• be available to attend pre-trip and post-trip learning activities
• meet the conditions of SCIE3050 enrolment, which may have additional contact hours during Summer Semester (November 2026 to February 2027).

You will need to declare whether you have received an NCP short-term mobility grant previously, as this may make you ineligible for this program (we will double-check this when you apply). 

No prior knowledge of Mandarin language is required. 

Other considerations

When you apply, you will also be asked to make a preference on which Track (1 or 2) you would like to join.

This study experience will involve significant amounts of walking during site visits and on university campuses. We encourage applicants to consider the physical demands of the program and reach out if they have any concerns, or need accommodations, prior to submitting an application.

If you manage medical conditions, take regular medication for chronic conditions, or have severe food allergies, please consider your safety and assess whether travel to China aligns with your medical emergency action plan. While we strive to accommodate dietary requirements, the availability and convenience of suitable options in China cannot be guaranteed.

NCP encourages participation by students from diverse backgrounds. If you fit into any of the categories below, and do not fully satisfy one or more of the eligibility criteria above, please reach out to see how we might be able to support your application:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• low SES background
• from a regional or remote area
• first in your immediate family to attend university
• a person with a disability
• non-English speaking background.

Applications are now open and close Monday 6 April 2026.

Apply now

Application process

Participation in this program is through a competitive application process.

A selection panel consisting of academic and professional services representatives from the Faculty of Science will consider all applications and notify you of the outcome by late April.

Applicants will be assessed against the following:

1. meeting eligibility criteria
2. personal statement demonstrating commitment to the program and learning experience.

As part of your application you will need to submit a personal ptatement (not to exceed one page). This statement should outline your motivations for taking part in this study opportunity in China, including how your experience and skills might contribute to improving interdisciplinary learning for you and your peers.

Your response will be assessed by our selection panel.

If you need assistance with writing a strong application, please refer to the resources available from UQ Careers and Employability.

You will also have the opportunity to provide a reference letter from a UQ academic (not to exceed one page), that provides evidence of your academic performance, engagement in the classroom, and interpersonal skills. (Optional)

Required information

The following details will be requested during the application process:

• UQ Student ID number
• UQ email address
• degree and plan in which you are enrolled
• current year of study
• current cumulative GPA (supported with SI-net transcript)
• citizenship status.

Students participating in short-term international study tours must:

• meet all international travel requirements for China
• participate in all mandatory pre-departure activities and completion of pre-departure requirements, including the learning requirements and assessment for SCIE3050
• commit to and complete the full program duration, and engage actively during all learning activities
• comply with behaviour expectations outlined in the UQ Student Code of Conduct Policy
• be considerate and mindful that while abroad, you are representing the Australian Government, the university, and yourself.

Students who withdraw are required to reimburse UQ (up to the amount of the grant) for:

• all cancellation fees associated with flights, accommodation and other non-refundable program costs, and;
• any funds that may have been received prior to cancellation.

What are the international travel requirements?

To be considered for an international study tour, you will need to have:

• a valid Australian passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity from the end of the program, i.e. the date of return to Australia)
• the means to obtain relevant entry permission for China.

If your passport has expired or will expire in the 6 months following the program's end, you should commence the passport renewal process immediately after accepting your offer. Note: this is not a consideration in your application, but rather a general eligibility criteria. Participants are liable for their own passport application/renewal fees.

Students with pre-existing medical conditions or accessibility requirements are encouraged to apply, and this will not disqualify you from participation. Please note that dependent on the condition, participants may be required to undergo assessment by a qualified medical professional to endorse fitness for travel.

It is recommended that all applicants familiarise themselves with UQ's Student Travel Procedure prior to submitting an application.

Do I need travel insurance?

All participants of Faculty of Science study tours will be covered by an appropriate level of travel insurance under UQ’s existing policy.

All participants are required to attend a UQ Travel Insurance briefing session prior to departure. Information will be provided about such events to successful applicants.

UQ Travel Insurance covers students for activities that are part of the study tour program schedule. Some activities that participants may take part in during personal time may not be covered under UQ Travel Insurance, e.g. extreme sports, high-risk leisure activities, etc.

It is the participant's responsibility to check the UQ Travel Insurance policy to confirm what activities are and are not covered. Organise adequate personal insurance coverage as required. 

Do I need to organise my own flight or accommodation?

No. Flights and accommodation will be included in the program fees.

Do I need to apply for a visa?

Australian citizens can visit China without a visa for up to 30 days for study tours, until 31 December 2026. Each participant must ensure they meet China’s entry rules and if a visa is required (e.g. for non‑Australian citizens), cover any visa fees or costs associated with obtaining a visa.

While we’ll provide general information on visa requirements and supporting documentation, UQ and the Science International Team are unable to assist further or with the provision of information relating to the visa, aside from what is publicly available on trusted government websites.

Participants should review the Smart Traveller website for China for relevant travel advice. 

Will I have free time?

Yes, you will have some rest days and free time throughout the program, including time between activities with your host institution and Faculty of Science events. However, the schedule is structured, and you will be required to participate in all organised activities and events during the study tour.

While there will be opportunities to relax during your free time, the program does not allow enough flexibility for travel to other destinations during the study tour.

In 2025, science students embarked on 2 enriching New Colombo Plan experiences in China, immersing themselves in cutting edge sustainability, agriculture, culture and urban innovation.

In Shanghai, participants spent 4 weeks at Tongji University exploring smart and sustainable urban landscapes, learning about economic, environmental and social sustainability while practising surveying and mapping technologies, all complemented by Chinese language classes and unforgettable food.

Concurrently, another group spent their first 2 weeks at Sichuan Agricultural University, visiting commercial agricultural sites, connecting with future UQ peers, and engaging in hands on organic farming, before rejoining their friends in Shanghai.

During the shared Shanghai component, students delved into the city’s cultural heritage and modern developments, practising GIS skills through authentic urban fieldwork, engaging in coastal and marine activities, monitoring geohazards, encountering more wildlife, and, of course, enjoying even more incredible culinary experiences.

View the highlights in this video (YouTube, 04:44):

Our students visited Nanjing Normal University (NNU) to meet and spend time with the incoming cohort of 16 students studying Coastal and Ocean Science and/or Marine Biology at UQ from Semester 2, 2027.

NNU students presented an introduction to the Nanjing geography to our students, before a cultural activity where they made each other Chinese knots and exchanged gifts. Our students brought them Vegemite, koala clips, eucalyptus oil, Tim Tams, and an inflatable kangaroo.

NNU will be the School of the Environment's second cohort articulation partner and we thank all the academic staff who have contributed to building and sustaining the relationship with this important university partner.

Our students spent an entire day at CHC Navigation learning about cutting-edge geospatial technology and undertaking some mapping on their own! CHC Navigation is a leader in the geospatial industry, delivering advanced geospatial technology that transforms mapping and surveying.

CHC geospatial solutions integrate GNSS, LiDAR, UAV, and USV systems to achieve high-precision results.

The 2024 NCP Seeds of Innovation China Academic Program saw 17 of our best and brightest science students travel to China for a 2 week academic program, in collaboration with Sichuan Agricultural University.

View the highlights in this video (YouTube, 04:28):

Read more about the 2024 program

A small number of AUD $3,500 grants are available for former participants of the Faculty of Science New Colombo Plan trip to China to join the 2026 program.

To apply for this grant, check the eligibility and obligations below and submit a Forever Friends Grant Application by 6 April 2026.

For more information, please contact Dr Gurion Ang: gurion.ang@uq.edu.au

Eligibility criteria for Forever Friends Grant

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• participated in the 2024 or 2025 Faculty of Science New Colombo Plan trip mentioned above
• hold (or be eligible for) a valid passport with more than 6 months validity from the date of return to Australia
• will be a UQ student during the travel period of 1 December to 22 December. Students graduating in Semester 2, 2026 and/or commencing another program in Semester 1, 2027 are not eligible.

Participant obligations

Successful grant recipients must:

• meet all international travel requirements for China
• top-up the grant with AUD $2,000 in personal funds to cover the AUD $5,500 program fee
• be available to attend the program from Tuesday 1 December until Tuesday 22 December; you must travel on specified dates and to specified destinations, i.e. UQ will not assist you to extend or redirect your travel plans beyond our stipulated program
• support the student learning experience and engagement with stakeholders during the trip
• comply with behaviour expectations outlined in the UQ Student Code of Conduct Policy
• be considerate and mindful that while abroad, you are representing the Australian Government, the university, and yourself.

Grant recipients who are unable to fulfill these obligations are required to reimburse UQ (up to the amount of the grant) for:

• all cancellation fees associated with flights, accommodation, and other non-refundable program costs, and;
• any funds that may have been received prior to cancellation.