Apply to Uni UK
Clear Guidance. Better Choices.

Do I have to put my EPQ grade on my UCAS application?

Yes, you must include your EPQ in the qualifications section of your UCAS application, including the grade if you already have it or marking it as pending if you are still completing it. You do not need to put your EPQ grade in your personal statement. The personal statement is not the place to list grades or qualifications.

Need the full personal statement process?

This article focuses on one part of your application. For the full route through planning, structuring, drafting and editing your answers, use the main UCAS personal statements guide.

Go to the main guide →

Put your EPQ in the qualifications section

Your EPQ belongs in the education and qualifications part of your UCAS application. This is where universities look for qualifications you have taken, qualifications still pending, achieved and predicted grades, dates of study, and awarding bodies.

If you have completed the EPQ, enter the result. If you are still completing it, enter it as a pending qualification.

Do not list grades in your personal statement

Your personal statement has a different job. It should explain why you want to study the course, how you have explored the subject, what you learnt from wider reading, research, projects, or experience, and how your academic interests connect to the course.

Do not use it to list your GCSEs, A-levels, EPQ grade, predicted grades, or other qualifications. Those belong elsewhere in the application.

You can mention the EPQ if it is relevant

You can mention your EPQ in the personal statement if the topic genuinely supports your course choice. This is particularly relevant to Question 2 in the 2026 UCAS format, where you are asked how your qualifications and studies have helped you prepare for the course. If your EPQ is linked to the subject you want to study, it should almost certainly be included there.

For example, if your EPQ helped you explore an academic question linked to your chosen degree, it can be useful evidence of independent research, reading, analysis, or extended writing.

But focus on the substance, not the grade. Instead of writing, “I achieved an A in my EPQ,” write about the question you investigated, why it interested you, what reading or research shaped your thinking, what you learnt about the subject, and how it prepared you for the degree.

Final advice

Put your EPQ grade in the qualifications section of your UCAS application.

In your personal statement, use the EPQ reflectively to show your academic interest and preparation for the course. This is Question 2 in the 2026 UCAS format, where you can explain how your studies have prepared you for degree-level learning. Write about what you investigated, how the project developed your thinking, what you learnt from the research process, and how it connects to the course you want to study.

Related articles

How to Answer UCAS Personal Statement Question 2: How Have Your Studies Prepared You?

Learn how to answer UCAS personal statement question 2 with clear academic examples, reflection, and relevant course links.

Read the article →

How to Reflect on Experience in Your Personal Statement

Learn how to reflect on experience in your personal statement, with clear explanations, prompts, and examples that show admissions tutors what you have learned and how you are ready for university study.

Read the article →

Balancing Academic and Extracurricular Content

Learn how to balance academic, super-curricular, and extracurricular content in your UCAS personal statement, including how to use the 2026 three-question format effectively.

Read the article →

How to Answer UCAS Personal Statement Question 1: Why Do You Want to Study This Course?

Learn how to answer UCAS personal statement question 1 with clear evidence of subject interest, wider reading and academic motivation.

Read the article →
© Apply to Uni UK 2026