The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a Level 3 qualification, equivalent to half an A Level and worth up to 28 UCAS points.
It allows students to choose a topic they’re passionate about, conduct independent research, and produce either:
• A 5,000-word report, or
• A creative artefact (e.g., architectural drawing, design, computer game, illustrated cookery book) with a shorter report.
Students will follow a taught skills programme which teaches all the basics about how to develop a narrowly focussed title which will facilitate analysis of an issue to come to a successful conclusion. They will then learn how to research this, reference it properly and produce a clearly structured and articulate essay or produce the artefact within the timeframe.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
• Research & Writing Skills: You will learn how to conduct academic research and write a 5,000 word essay or create an artefact with a supporting report. You will also be taught how to reference your resources correctly.
• Time Management: Juggling an EPQ alongside A Levels teaches you how to plan, prioritise, and stay organised.
• Presentation Practice: You will present your findings to a small group, which builds confidence and communication skills.
PERSONAL GROWTH
• Explore Your Passion: You can choose any topic that excites you - from ethical debates to designing and building a robot, coding a computer game, or crocheting a blanket to represent the novels of the Brontë sisters.
• University Prep: It is a great rehearsal for the kind of independent study you will complete at university.
• Sense of Ownership: You are in charge of the whole project, which can be incredibly rewarding if you pick something meaningful.
ACADEMIC AND UNIVERSITY ADVANTAGES
• UCAS Points Boost: An EPQ is worth up to 28 UCAS points, which is half an A Level.
• Lower Entry Requirements: Some universities may offer reduced grade requirements if you achieve a high EPQ grade, although it’s best to check with your chosen institutions.
• Personal Statement Power: It makes your UCAS application stand out by showing initiative, passion, and independent learning and you can talk about your research and findings if called to interview.
The Extended Project will develop and extend from one or more of the student’s study areas and/or from an area of personal interest or activity outside their main programme of study. It will be based on a topic chosen by the student and agreed by the School.
Students are required, with appropriate supervision, to:
• choose an area of interest.
• draft a title and aims of the project for formal approval.
• plan, research, and realise the project.
• deliver a presentation to a non-specialist audience.
• provide evidence of all stages of project development and production for assessment.
TITLE IDEAS
• With a focus on three separate case studies, is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights still appropriate and relevant for the world today?
• Assess whether governance is the most important factor that causes urbanisation to result in economic growth in Shanghai, China, and Kinshasa, DRC.
• Can physical and mental exercise be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?
• A critical analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
• Assess the causes of Brexit.
• What evidence is there for curved spacetime?
• Drawing a fractal in order to explore the combination of a dragon curve and Apollonian gaskets.
• Build a bipedal robot.
• Produce a short, self-illustrated cookbook.
• Design and make a multimedia blanket inspired by the landscapes in the novels of the Brontë sisters.
• Investigation of AI challenges in ophthalmology, radiology, and pathology with ethical considerations.
• Design, reconstruct, and play the Hounds and Jackals game – blending historical research with creative design and hands-on construction.
• Write a three-segment story set in the 19th century about Jack the Ripper, influenced by Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
• Can an economy thrive under a dictatorship?
• Investigate social media’s role in rising misogyny among younger western men since 2000.
UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER LOWER GRADES FOR EPQ STUDENTS
BATH
LANCASTER
READING
BIRMINGHAM
LEEDS SHEFFIELD
BRISTOL
UWE
LIVERPOOL
SOUTHAMPTON
CARDIFF
NOTTINGHAM
YORK EXETER
QUEEN MARY, LONDON
*Based on 2022-2024 EPQ students
