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Learn, serve and earn a diploma: ITE graduates can join the Police Force with full salary while attending poly
Recruits start work as Police Sergeants while pursuing a Temasek Polytechnic diploma over two and a half years – with zero course fees and full pay throughout
Muhammad Ezuwan (left) and Chew Rui Ming are officers in the Singapore Police Force's Policing-Study Diploma Programme, which allows them to work as Police Sergeants while furthering their studies at Temasek Polytechnic.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
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When the lecturers at Temasek Polytechnic ask for examples of criminal cases, some of the students do not have to ponder for long. These part-time learners have already handled real cases on the ground in their full-time jobs as Police Sergeants.
Chew Rui Ming, 25, is one of them. He is part of the pioneer batch in the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) Policing-Study Diploma Programme, which allows Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates to work full-time while earning their polytechnic diploma over two and a half years. Participants work four days a week and attend classes once a week while drawing a full-time salary.
The classroom lessons come alive for Rui Ming because he gets to apply what he learns immediately to his work.
“Recently, I responded to a family dispute case that was similar to a case study from my class,” says Rui Ming.
He steeled himself because in that case study, the dispute had ended with one party being fatally injured. But his lessons had also shown him how such situations could unfold differently, and how he could manage the conflict.
These thoughts raced through his mind as the rookie Sergeant worked to calm the angry family members. He was relieved when both parties eventually reached a consensus and he says, “It was a happy ending.”
Likewise, his field experiences enrich his classroom discussions. “I’m able to share about the cases I encounter at work and discuss them with my classmates,” says Rui Ming.
Deepening police expertise
Rui Ming was enlisted with the SPF for his National Service (NS) in early 2025, and got to know about the diploma programme during his basic police training at the Home Team Academy (HTA).
He had been thinking about furthering his studies in a sports-related field as he had received his Higher National ITE Certificate (NITEC) in sports management, but this opportunity to go further with his lifelong passion for policing was too good to pass up.
Real cases become classroom talking points, as Rui Ming (centre) shares his frontline experiences with fellow learners during weekly lessons at Temasek Polytechnic.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
Rui Ming says: “I have always wanted to be a Police officer since I was a kid and also joined the National Police Cadet Corps in secondary school. I want to be there for people in need and give back to the community.”
Today, in his polytechnic classes, Rui Ming is discovering new dimensions in upholding the law. The programme goes in-depth into a range of subjects such as Business Skills and Law, Cybersecurity and Forensics, and Criminology and Policing Skills.
In the first few weeks, the classes focused on criminal law. Rui Ming and his classmates worked in groups to analyse case studies drawn from real-world legal cases.
“These cases encourage us to think critically and consider the reasoning behind judicial decisions and sentencing outcomes,” he says. “They help us understand the laws better and how to apply them.”
Competitive remuneration package with a $35,000 sign-on bonus
The SPF’s Policing-Study Diploma Programme gives ITE graduates the opportunity to build a career while earning a diploma from Temasek Polytechnic.
Over two and a half years, participants work four days a week as full-time Ground Response Force officers and attend classes every week, with course fees sponsored.
Eligible applicants must hold a NITEC with a GPA of at least 2.0, or any Higher NITEC, have normal colour vision, and (for males) meet PES A or B1 requirements. Graduates from all ITE disciplines may apply.
Assessments are conducted through class participation, projects and tests, with no final examinations. Students will graduate with a Diploma in Policing & Security Management.
Officers in the diploma programme will receive a $35,000 sign-on bonus, a competitive remuneration package, retirement contributions and other perks.
For Full-time Police National Service (PNSF) officers, the SPF also provides opportunities to pursue a part-time diploma that allows them to gain both practical Police experience and formal qualifications while serving. Designed for those with Higher NITEC qualifications and below, these PNSF officers can emerge from service with enhanced skills and better career prospects.
Removing financial barriers
Another member of the programme’s pioneer batch is 24-year-old Muhammad Ezuwan.
Like Rui Ming, Ezuwan enlisted with the SPF at the start of 2025 and immediately jumped at the chance to join the diploma programme. It had always been his dream to obtain a diploma after completing his Higher NITEC in Automotive Engineering, but he had household bills to support, which made it challenging.
“As we get older, we have different commitments, and after I completed my NS, I just wanted to work,” he says.
Ezuwan balances frontline policing with his diploma studies, drawing a full salary throughout.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
The diploma programme now gives him the best of both worlds: pursuing a career in the SPF and furthering his studies without facing financial strain. He also gets to learn alongside the friends he made at the HTA.
“Several of my coursemates from training also signed up for this programme and it is great to meet them every week to discuss the cases that we have handled at work,” says Ezuwan.
Rui Ming also enjoys the interaction with officers from other Police Land Divisions.
“We get to exchange stories on the difficulties they are facing (with their cases),” says Rui Ming. “I would then ask – if I were in their shoes, how would I solve their difficulties? Then they would do the same for me.”
The diploma programme has no examinations and is structured around group and individual assignments. This has taught both Rui Ming and Ezuwan the importance of time management.
Learning alongside his friends from the Home Team Academy, Ezuwan (second from left) says the classes give officers a chance to discuss the cases they have handled at work.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
“I have to be disciplined and motivate myself to study because of the different assignments,” says Ezuwan. “The only time I have to do my research and complete my assignments is during my off days, but it is going to be worth it. This builds your character in terms of discipline and time management, and in the long run, helps your career progression.”
For Rui Ming, the group projects have also helped him to become a stronger team player.
“I was a very introverted person when I was studying in ITE,” he says. “But the group projects in this programme helped me come out of my shell. Now that I have stepped out of my comfort zone to discuss work with people, my perspective has widened, and I am able to learn from others.”
Interested candidates can apply for the SPF Policing-Study Diploma Programme here.
