Course Profile

Why choose the Extended Project Qualification?

What are the benefits?

The EPQ develops your research skills, showing universities and employers that you can learn independently. Above all, it:

offers a recognised qualification.
gives the flexibility to choose a topic based on your own interests rather than one set for you.
provides experience usually only available when you are in higher education settings.
supports the learning of skills useful both in education and the workplace.
develops skills to meet your education and career goals (organisational / time management / research / presentational, as well as decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking) .

What does the EPQ involve?

Choosing a topic you want to study in depth
Completing a production log
Planning, researching and carrying out your projectPreparing a presentation on the project outcomes
Committing to 180 hours of project work (including guided and individual learning hours)

You can choose from these three options:

Writing a 5,000 word dissertation
Conducting an investigation or field study
Presenting your work as a performance or an artefact

However, as well as selecting the most appropriate approach for your topic, you will still have to complete a price of written work (up to 2,000 words). Mostly you need to pose a question and then answer it, but you can take a practical or academic approach - or combine both.