EPQ

Students at NSFC will complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as part of their ongoing development and study. The EPQ is highly valued by universities and employers as evidence of a range of transferable skills required for higher education and employment.

In the EPQ, students have the opportunity to choose their own topic area to research, ideally linked to future studies or career aspirations. Students will produce either a 5,000 word research dissertation on their topic or they will develop an artefact with a 2,000 word research report. They will then plan, research, develop and evaluate their project throughout the year. This is supported by sessions which build on skills such as independent study and research, organisation, time management, presentation skills and reflection.

Successful past dissertation EPQ projects include diverse projects on business marketing, psychological and biological research into Alzheimer’s and autism, causes of the Spanish Civil War, causes of the 2008 economic crash, and the development of paramedic science and dentistry. Examples of excellent artefact EPQ projects include architectural design, jewellery making, photography, creative writing and computer programming. In 2026 our students developed enquires such as: 

How has the commercialization and globalization of cricket changed its identity for the better or worse?

Navigating a global patriarchal institution: Do Gender, Glass Cliff, and Media Bias Hinder Women in Global Politics?

Overall how does AI impact jobs, image analysis, and health in diagnostic radiography around the world?

Assess the Historical, Social, and Political Dynamics  which Determined the Causes of the Rwandan Genocide

The EPQ will give you a sense of achievement, an opportunity for individual research on a topic you are interested in and a very valuable qualification for inclusion on UCAS or job applications. Our students value the EPQ. In their own words: 

William S: The EPQ has helped me personally as I have learnt significantly more about one of my favourite football teams while investigating sporting institutions and business models, covering many topic and areas of professional interest.

Lauren P: EPQ can be extremely helpful for many students who achieve a high grade in it, helping to lower some university entry requirements. The biggest help received was the pre-made PowerPoints with examples and explanations to help you understand how your own dissertation, and all of the things that go alongside it, should look. The thing I enjoyed the most was having some freedom to write about what I wanted to write about.

Universities value the EPQ not only for the grade but the skills that it develops. 

“Working on an EPQ encourages students to develop research and academic skills relevant to undergraduate study.”
— University of Oxford

“The EPQ helps students develop the independent study and research skills needed for success in higher education.”
 University of Southampton

“We recognise the value of the EPQ by making alternative offers to students who achieve highly in the qualification.”
 University of Birmingham