How to write an academic CV: Examples and tips.
Whether you’re a researcher or aspiring PhD student, craft your own academic CV with professional examples and tips today.
If you’re applying for university or a research-based role, then you’ll need an academic CV. This type of CV highlights your educational achievements as well as research activities and publications, so it can be longer than a standard CV.
From Master’s applications to academic researcher and senior lecturer job roles, discover how to write an academic CV with our top tips. Create your own academic CV with ideas and templates from Adobe Express.
What is an academic CV?
An academic CV is a type of CV that’s used when applying for academic jobs or higher education, such as a Master’s or a PhD. These CVs require you to highlight research, grants, publications, licenses, awards and any other details that demonstrate your competency for research or faculty positions.
If this sounds exhaustive – that’s because it is. Unlike other CV examples, academic CVs have no page limit. This is because all the details mentioned above are mandatory to include. An academic CV also follows a reverse chronological format with more emphasis on research interests than a personal profile.
Editable academic CV examples.
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Sections to include in an academic CV.
Academic CVs follow a specific format that focuses on your academic abilities and experiences, but you shouldn’t miss out the basics. Here are some key elements to include in your academic CV.
- Contact information. This includes your mobile number, email address, LinkedIn URL and website or portfolio. Write these across the top of your CV to save space.
- Personal statement. Your personal summary is optional, but here you can include your research objectives and relevant crowning achievements.
- Education. Education is arguably one of the most important parts of your academic CV. List your undergraduate and graduate institutions in reverse chronological order. With each degree, include your dissertation or thesis title.
- Professional appointments. This focuses on positions related to academia. List each position in reverse chronological order with details and dates. You can separate these by field. For example, one section for administrative experience and another for teaching experience.
- Research publications. This section of your academic CV details peer reviewed publications and other publications. You can divide your publications by books, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles and contributions to edited volumes. These should present like an appendix with full citation details.
- Relevant training. If applicable, include details of research methods training, teacher training, management skills training and more.
- Awards and honours. List any awards, prizes or honours you have received for academic merit. Include the award name, the year received, and the institution that granted it. This will demonstrate how your skills were officially acknowledged.
- Fellowships and grants. Similar to your awards section, list your grants and fellowships and include the years they spanned, as well as the name of the institution or entity that provided them.
- Professional memberships. Highlight any relevant memberships – for example, the British Association of American studies or the Royal Society of Chemistry. These can be in reverse chronological order with dates included.
- Teaching experience. This includes any courses you taught as a teacher’s assistant, such as exam marking or supervising research projects. List theses with the name of the institution, your department, your teaching role and the dates you taught in this position.
- References. References hold a lot of weight in academic CVs. Include recent references from those who have worked closely with you, including an instructor, professor or a colleague. Include their full name and academic title, telephone number and email address.
This structure is by no means absolute, and you can tailor the CV format however you like. Just make sure to include the most relevant sections at the top of your academic CV, such as education, research publications and professional appointments.
How to bring your academic CV to life.
Top tips on how to write an academic CV.
However you decide to structure your academic CV, you should carefully consider which sections to include that show you’re the best candidate. Here are some top considerations when crafting your CV.
1. Consider your CV structure and length.
The length and structure of your CV really depends on your level of experience and what you’re applying for. If you’re just starting out in your field, you may not necessarily have much information on research funding or grants just yet.
Some jobs or institutions may have a page limit, while others allow for multiple pages. Always check the application details for conditions and tailor your academic CV around it.
2. Keep your audience in mind.
Always tailor your CV to suit your audience. Analyse the job listing or institution requirements if available. This will tell you what they’re really looking for and how best to present yourself.
For example, an employer might value teaching experience over publications, while a university might traditionally favour publications.
3. Get feedback from others in your field.
If you have a professor, instructor or trusted colleague in your field, ask them to look at your academic CV and provide some feedback. Every academic department has a different idea of what this should look like. You can even ask them to share a sample academic CV with you for reference when building out your own template.
4. Make your CV easily digestible.
Your academic CV should be professional in both content and format. Include ample margins on all sides and allow enough space between each section to keep it uniform and tidy. You can also include bullet points in sections to make your CV easier to follow.
Font is another crucial factor. Times New Roman in a size of about 12-pt looks professional and is also easy to read. Always use bold to highlight titles and names, but avoid italics and underlining.
5. Proofread and edit before sending.
Academic CVs should be polished and error free. This will showcase your diligence and attention to detail. Read over your CV for any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, then read it again for good measure. You might spot something that you initially missed. Ask a friend or family member to look over it and offer any final pointers.
Examples of an academic CV for a PhD application.
An academic CV for a PhD application outlines your academic qualifications, research experience and skills relevant to the PhD program. This normally accompanies a personal statement and cover letter. A PhD application should also highlight your experience and any key skills that demonstrate your ability to undertake a PhD.
These PhD application CV templates are a good starting point to crafting your own.
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Examples of an academic CV for a Master’s application.
An academic CV for a Master’s application focuses on supporting applications for postgraduate study. This includes your academic letter of recommendation, in which your professors will vouch for your academic achievements and skills. A Master’s CV will need to be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the admissions team.
Here are some Master’s application CV templates to get you started.
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