Offered by Holland College in Charlottetown, Canada, Diploma in Police Science (Cadet) is a diploma in Fire, Justice & Security programme. The programme runs for 32 weeks, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 21,295 per total (CAD 21,295 per total for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Fire, Justice & Security
Duration: 32 weeks
Delivery: Hybrid
Local tuition: CAD 21,295 / total
International tuition: CAD 21,295 / total
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Offered through Holland College's Atlantic Police Academy, this accelerated diploma combines academic study with tactical law-enforcement training over 32 weeks. The program begins with a period of distance education before cadets move into an intensive, in-person phase, during which they are required to live in the Academy's residence starting in January. Coursework spans sociology, psychology, and law alongside practical training in driving, firearms use, use-of-force and control techniques, criminal investigation methods, communications, and mental health awareness. Cadets reside on campus for the duration of the program, apart from periods of on-the-job training placement. Admission is limited to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who meet minimum age and licensing requirements, including holding a valid driver's licence, and who pass background checks, medical assessments, and psychological evaluations; applicants sponsored by an Atlantic Provinces police agency receive preference. The program is designed for individuals seeking to become police constables and prepares graduates directly for entry into law enforcement agencies. Its structured, residency-based format and rigorous screening process distinguish it from a typical academic diploma, reflecting the operational demands of policing work that graduates will encounter on the job.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Beyond Holland College's general rule of Grade 12 or equivalent with credits at or above the general level, this competitive-entry program requires Canadian citizenship or permanent-resident status, an unrestricted Class 5 driver's licence, and applicants must be 19 by the program start date. Candidates undergo a criminal record check with no findings of guilt, a credit check, a driver's abstract, a social media scan, a medical assessment and vision exam, complete an immunization verification form after acceptance, provide three non-family references, sit the Police Officer Selection Test and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (at the applicant's cost), pass a polygraph interview, hold in-person Standard First Aid, CPR Level C and AED certification, and submit a resume and the program's Additional Information Form. The page defers non-native English speakers to Holland College's general language requirements (hollandcollege.com/admissions/language-requirements): IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6), TOEFL iBT 85, CAEL 60, PTE Academic 60, Duolingo 120 or Cambridge 176, among other accepted tests. Intakes run in July and January.
Application Details
Start Date:July and January
Application Deadline:Holland College applicants of all kinds apply directly through MyDashboard rather than a shared application service. For the Fall 2027 intake, application review begins October 15, 2026 for early consideration, the competitive-program review date is February 28, 2027, and the first round of acceptance offers is sent by the end of March 2027; after February 28 later applications are still assessed as seats remain available right up to the program start date. International applicants use the same MyDashboard process and Holland College publishes no separate, fixed international closing date beyond these general review dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
