Internship guidelines for companies

Internships are an essential part of applied learning at RP. They offer students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in real-world environments while gaining industry exposure and hands-on experience. As a participating employer, you play a vital role in mentoring and guiding our students toward their future careers.

Download the full set of guidelines [PDF, 198 KB].

Your role as a company supervisor

As a company supervisor, you are responsible for providing a structured and meaningful internship experience. Your key responsibilities include:

• Assigning tasks that allow the intern to acquire or deepen skills relevant to their area of study

• Providing on-the-job training and guidance throughout the internship

• Conducting regular feedback sessions to track the intern’s progress and learning outcomes

Role of the RP Liaison Officer

Each intern is supported by an RP Liaison Officer, who will:

• Serve as the main point of contact for all internship-related matters

• Gather feedback from the company supervisor on the intern’s performance and progress

Evaluation and Grading

Near the end of the internship, company supervisors will be invited to provide performance assessments. These inputs will contribute to the intern’s final grade.

Interns will be assessed on:

• Abilities and skills

• Attitude 

• Teamwork 

• Attendance 

From Academic Year 2024, the internship module grade will count towards the student’s Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA).

Supervision and Mentorship

We encourage you to assign a mentor, who may also be the company supervisor, to provide career guidance and industry insights. A good mentor should:

• Help interns understand the business environment and sector trends

• Offer advice on career opportunities and progression in the industry

• Share personal career experiences to motivate and inspire

Refer to our Company's Guide to a Fulfilling Mentorship Journey [PDF, 225 KB]

Work arrangement guidelines

CPF and Work Permit

Student interns are not considered employees and are not required to contribute to CPF. 

Non-Singaporean interns are not required to apply for a work permit when they are on internship as long as they possess a valid student pass and their internship is part of their diploma course as required by the polytechnic.

Insurance coverage

All RP interns are covered under the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) insurance for work-related injuries or occupational diseases during the official internship period.

As a participating employer, you may extend your company's existing insurance policies to cover your interns, where applicable. This ensures added protection and aligns with your organisation's commitment to workplace safety.

Working hours

The minimum requirement is 40 hours per week, typically 5 days a week at 8 hours per day. Interns should follow your company’s standard working hours.

Please:

• Inform RP if shift work is required before the internship begins

• Provide reasonable meal breaks

• Offer overtime pay or off-in-lieu if interns work beyond regular hours or on public holidays

• Ensure working hours do not exceed 44 hours per week, in accordance with the Employment Act

Attendance and Leave

Interns are not entitled to personal leave, but the following may be granted on a case-by-case basis:

Medical Leave

• Must consult a registered medical practitioner

• Inform both company supervisor and RP Liaison Officer

• Submit the original MC to the company and a scanned copy to RP

Compassionate Leave

• Applicable for immediate family bereavement (parents, grandparents, siblings)

• Number of days follows your company’s policy

Emergency Leave

• Subject to approval by the company supervisor and RP Liaison Officer

Companies may extend additional leave benefits in line with internal HR policies.

Workplace safety

Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, you are required to protect the safety and health of all workers under your supervision, including RP interns.

Ensure that:

• Protective equipment is provided where required

• Safety training and orientation are completed before interns begin work

• Interns are supervised and not exposed to hazardous or dangerous tasks

• Accidents are reported to RP within 24 hours via the RP Liaison Officer or RP Hotline at 6510 3000

Business travel

If your intern needs to travel overseas for work, please:

• Notify the RP Liaison Officer at least one month in advance and seek official approval

• Arrange essential logistics such as visa, insurance, flights, accommodation, and transport

• Assign a staff member to accompany the intern (interns must not travel alone)

Need help?

• Read our FAQs for Employers [PDF, 152 KB].

• Submit an enquiry via our online form.