You are applying to a university programme, not a job, but the document in front of you still looks like a CV. That is because most graduate admissions teams expect one. A cv for university application graduate template gives you a starting structure, but the real work is deciding what belongs in each section and what has to change before you send it. This guide walks through the template section by section, explains the formatting rules that keep your file readable, and shows you what to adjust so the CV sounds like you rather than a form.
Choosing the right cv for university application graduate template
Not every graduate CV template suits a university application. A template built for sales or operations will push the wrong information to the top. You want a layout that puts education, research experience, and academic interests first, then uses work and volunteering to show transferable skills. Look for a single-column structure, clear headings, and enough white space for a tutor to scan quickly.
Two formats dominate. The reverse-chronological template lists your education and experience from most recent to oldest. It is the safest choice for most applicants because admissions teams already know how to read it. A skills-based template groups evidence under headings such as research, communication, and project management. It can work if your paid work is unrelated to your subject, but it risks hiding the academic thread that admissions tutors are looking for. If you are unsure, start chronological and adjust later.
When you compare templates, check three things: whether the headings match university expectations, whether the file exports cleanly to PDF, and whether you can edit it without breaking the layout. A template that looks elegant on screen but collapses when you add a long module title will cost you time. Our Resume Templates collection is organised so you can filter by purpose and pick a structure that fits a graduate application rather than forcing an unrelated design to work.
Tip: choose a template with a simple heading hierarchy. If you cannot tell where one section ends and the next begins at a glance, an admissions tutor reading their fiftieth CV of the day will not either.
Section-by-section layout guidance
A graduate CV for university applications usually follows a predictable order. The exact headings can vary, but the logic should not. Here is a practical layout you can adapt.
Header and contact details
Put your name, a professional email address, a phone number, and your city or region at the top. If you have a portfolio, GitHub, or academic profile that is relevant to the programme, add one link. Do not include your full street address, date of birth, or a photo unless the institution explicitly asks for them.
Professional summary or academic profile
This is a short paragraph, three to four lines, that states what you are applying for and what you bring. It is not a life story. It should name your subject area, your strongest academic evidence, and the direction you want to take. Here is an illustrative example, not a template to copy word for word:
Final-year psychology student applying for an MSc in Organisational Psychology. Two research assistantships, one peer-support role, and a dissertation on workplace motivation. Seeking to deepen quantitative research skills and contribute to applied projects in employee wellbeing.
Notice that it does not claim achievements the applicant does not have. It names the degree, the target programme, the evidence, and the goal. You can use the same shape with your own facts.
Education
List your degrees in reverse-chronological order. Include the institution, the qualification, the dates, and your grade or predicted grade if it is strong. Add relevant modules only when they support your application. A long list of every module you have taken adds noise. Three or four that connect to the programme are enough. If you completed a dissertation or major project, give it a line and mention the topic.
Research and academic experience
This section is where a university application CV differs most from a job CV. Include research assistantships, lab work, fieldwork, conference presentations, and independent projects. For each entry, say what you did and what came out of it. Use concrete detail rather than adjectives. If you are struggling to describe your contribution, our guide on mastering resume accomplishments can help you turn duties into evidence.
- Conducted 12 semi-structured interviews for a final-year dissertation on student belonging, coding transcripts thematically and co-authoring a 6,000-word analysis.
- Supported a departmental study on reading comprehension by recruiting 40 participants, managing consent forms, and cleaning response data in Excel.
- Presented a poster on first-generation student retention at an undergraduate research symposium, answering questions from faculty and peers.
Work and volunteering
Paid work matters, even when it is not academic. It shows reliability, communication, and time management. Keep this section shorter than your academic sections unless your work is directly relevant. Describe responsibilities in a way that reveals transferable skills rather than listing tasks. Our article on effective strategies for writing resume responsibilities explains how to do that without inflating your role.
- Volunteered as a peer note-taker for students with accessibility plans, coordinating with the disability office to ensure materials met agreed formats.
- Tutored two GCSE students in mathematics weekly for one academic year, planning sessions around past-paper gaps and tracking progress with a shared log.
Skills
A university application CV benefits from a focused skills list. Group skills by type so the reader can find what matters. Here is an illustrative list for a social science applicant; yours should reflect your own experience:
- Literature review and synthesis
- Qualitative interview coding
- Statistical analysis in SPSS and R
- Academic referencing (APA 7th edition)
- Research ethics and participant consent procedures
Avoid vague entries such as hard-working or team player. If you cannot point to evidence for a skill, leave it out. If you want to show the scale of your work, the guide on mastering resume metrics for greater impact walks through how to use numbers honestly.
Additional sections
Depending on your field, you might add publications, conference talks, languages, certifications, or professional memberships. Only include what is relevant and current. A short, strong CV beats a long, padded one.
Formatting rules that keep the file parseable
Many universities now use online systems to collect applications, and some use software to extract text from uploaded documents. Even when a human reads your CV, a clean file is easier to process. These rules reduce the chance of your CV arriving as a jumble of characters.
- Use a standard font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 10 to 12 points.
- Keep headings consistent. If one section is bold and underlined, make them all bold and underlined.
- Avoid tables, text boxes, headers, and footers for important information. Some systems skip them.
- Save and submit as PDF unless the institution asks for a Word document.
- Use a simple file name such as Firstname-Lastname-CV-Programme.pdf.
- Do not use columns if you are applying through a system that extracts text.
- Keep bullet points to one or two lines so they do not wrap awkwardly.
If you want a file that is already built with these constraints in mind, an ATS resume builder can help you produce a clean, parseable document without wrestling with layout settings.
What to change before using the template
A template is a starting point, not a finished application. Before you send it, work through this checklist. It covers the most common cv for university application graduate template mistakes.
- Replace every placeholder with your own accurate information. Never leave example text in place.
- Rewrite the professional summary so it names the specific programme or department you are applying to.
- Check that your education section matches the qualification names used by your institution.
- Remove sections that do not apply to you rather than filling them with weak content.
- Adjust the skills list so every item is backed by evidence elsewhere in the CV.
- Proofread for consistent tense. Use present tense for current roles and past tense for completed ones.
- Ask someone who knows your field to read it and tell you what is missing.
- Check the programme's application guidance for any specific CV requirements.
One frequent mistake is copying a template's tone. If the example sounds formal and distant but you are applying to a creative programme, the mismatch will show. Another is leaving in a skills section that lists software you have never used. Admissions tutors may ask about anything you claim, so keep every line defensible.
When this template is the wrong choice
A standard graduate CV template works for most taught master's and postgraduate applications. It is the wrong choice in a few situations.
If you are applying for a research degree such as a PhD, you may need an academic CV that runs longer and includes publications, conference presentations, teaching experience, and references in more detail. A one-page graduate template will not carry that weight. If you are applying to a highly competitive professional programme that asks for a specific format, follow their instructions instead of any template. If you are changing fields entirely and have almost no relevant academic experience, a skills-based CV may serve you better than a chronological one. And if the programme asks for a portfolio or personal statement instead of a CV, do not force a CV into the application.
The goal is not to find the perfect template. It is to present your academic preparation clearly enough that an admissions tutor can see your potential. Start with a structure that fits, fill it with honest evidence, and adjust it for each programme. When you are ready to choose a layout, browse the Resume Templates collection and pick one that matches your application type. If you want help tailoring the wording for a specific programme, the AI job application assistant can support that step without inventing experience you do not have.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a graduate CV be for a university application?
For most master's and postgraduate applications, one to two pages is appropriate. If you have limited work experience, one well-structured page is enough. If you have several research projects, publications, or relevant placements, two pages gives you room to explain them without padding. Always check the specific programme's guidance first, because some departments set their own limits.
Should I include a photo or personal details on a university application CV?
In the UK, Ireland, and many other countries, omit photos, date of birth, marital status, and full home address. Admissions tutors assess your academic and professional fit, and unnecessary personal details can create bias or simply waste space. Include a professional email address, a phone number, and a city or region if location is relevant to the programme.
What is the difference between a CV for a university application and a job CV?
A job CV usually leads with paid work and targets an employer's operational needs. A university application CV leads with academic preparation, research interests, and evidence that you can handle postgraduate-level study. You may still include part-time work and volunteering, but frame them around transferable skills such as analysis, communication, and independent project management rather than job duties alone.
Can I use the same CV for multiple university applications?
You can use the same base template, but you should tailor the professional summary, research interests, and selected modules for each programme. A generic CV that mentions no specific department or research area reads as low effort. Keep a master version with everything, then trim and adjust for each application.
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