Extended Project

Sixth Form Open Evening- Wednesday 5th November 5-7pm

Applications Open - Now!

Applications Close - End of Term 4 2026. Please contact Mrs Silvester if you would like to apply after this date (lucy.silvester@swale.at)

Entry Requirements: - Generally 5 grade 5s or above in GCSE, including English and Maths but some subjects do vary.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

The Extended Project (EPQ) is a stand-alone qualification that is worth up to 28 UCAS points. As students have the freedom to select their subject, it can support their practical, work-related approach to learning or be an extension of their A Level studies. The Extended Project offers a range of exciting opportunities for students. It provides them with the skills that higher education is looking for, by encouraging independent study, critical thinking and teamwork. It may also be useful when they’re applying for university to help them ‘stand out from the crowd’.

Students who choose the Extended Project can complete their assignment in any topic of their choosing. This can be linked to something they are currently studying on one of their courses, or something completely different. Examples of recent project topics include: the decline of heavy metal music, whether aggression is a result of nature or nurture, and 1984 and Fahrenheit 451: Prophecy or Paranoia?.

The assessment is very different from other qualifications because there are no examinations. In fact, in the Extended Project, the learning process is more important than the outcome. That is, the skills you develop and the experiences you go through are more important than what you actually make, present, or conclude; students will achieve an outcome equivalent to an AS grade. The project involves the completion of either a 5000-word essay, centred around a question, a 5000-word report/investigation or a 1000-word essay plus an artefact or performance. They must also keep a presentation log and give a presentation of their final project.

In addition to the general entry requirements students must have a grade 5 in English and mathematics. This is an extra course that will run alongside the three level 3 courses students will be studying.

No matter what your next step in life, a carefully chosen Extended Project can help you to make sound decisions, to become more confident, and to develop important skills and knowledge. Universities particularly value the Extended Project Qualification as it helps them to select students with a commitment to their chosen subject and a head-start in the independent learning skills that higher education demands.