Writing an Academic CV: Template, Example, and Tips

In some places, people use the terms resume and CV interchangeably. Although, a general resume/CV that we commonly know and that is used more widely around the world is different from an academic resume/CV. The core difference is its length and format. A general resume/CV is usually one page or two at max. On the other hand, people seeking positions in the academic fields use academic CVs with a length of more than 2 pages to list out extensive information such as publications, awards, and experiences. 

In this article, you will learn about what to include in an academic resume and how long an academic CV should be, while providing some tips, samples, and templates as guidance to make your own academic CV.

An academic CV is a comprehensive document that highlights your educational background, research and teaching experience, publications, grants, fellowships, awards, and other achievements. 

An academic CV is most often used by researchers and scholars when applying for education, scientific, or research positions, and academic programs. In general, there are three instances when an academic CV would be required:

Applying for postgraduate programs

When undergraduates apply for postgraduate programs, an academic CV usually is part of the application requirement. Instead of submitting a short CV, an academic CV is required for Master's and Ph.D. applications, as institutions usually go through a stricter selection process when admitting candidates to their postgraduate schools.

Applying for grants or scholarships

Undergraduate and graduate students may also use academic CVs to apply for grants or scholarships. This is because, in comparison to a short CV, academic CVs provide more extensive information about a grand/scholarship candidate’s achievements & performance.

Applying for academic and research jobs

When applying for a position in a college, university, or a research institution, a professional would prefer using an academic CV over a resume to show his or her qualifications. CVs allow scholars and researchers to include educational credentials such as publications, research, and conferences they’ve done, which could take a few pages to list out all the information.

Here is a general format of the order of things to include in an academic CV, with examples for each element. The order could be changed depending on the relevance and significance of the achievement to the role you are applying for. But every item under each section should be in reverse chronological order.

Below are the essential elements to be included in an academic CV:

This section should be the first one that is shown on your CV. You want the readers of your CV to be able to reach out to you easily, hence why this section should be placed where it is the most visible.

In this section, include your:

• Full name (make sure it is the largest font on your CV)
• Location
• Phone number
• Email (use a professional address such as [email protected])

Here’s an example:

In this section, you want to briefly summarize your key accomplishments to show your suitability for the position applied. You could also mention the position you are applying for and the value you can bring with the skills and experience you have.

Example of a researcher's curriculum vitae objective:

List your most significant academic backgrounds in reverse chronological order, including the undergraduate and graduate degrees you earned. For each degree, list the degree name, majors/minors, institution, date of graduation, and any relevant details. If applicable, include your dissertation or thesis title and your advisors’ names.

Example of a Ph.D. student curriculum vitae education section:

List the teaching or research experience on your CV that showcases your skills and working expertise. You can further group experiences into categories such as research, teaching, and administration to enhance the organization of your academic CV.

For each position, include the job title, organization, location, dates, and bullet points that highlight your duties and accomplishments. Remember to list out the most recent or most important positions you’ve held to keep the CV relevant and concise.

Example of an academic resume experience section:

Include any publications such as books, articles, reviews, and other academic writings. If applicable, divide peer-reviewed and other publications into two sections. Add relevant details including the writer name (if multiple), article title, name of journal/magazine/book, date of publication, and page numbers (if applicable). Stay consistent with one bibliography style.

Example of an APA style curriculum vitae research publication:

Being invited to speak at an event requires deep knowledge and expertise in a certain field, which is not something that just anyone could do. If you have such experiences, make sure to list any presentations or speaking events that you have given or are invited to speak at in your academic CV.

Example of listing presentation experiences on an academic CV:

Include any awards you have received that are relevant to the position you are applying for. They are great for academic CVs as they showcase your excellent performance in the field of your expertise.

Example of graduates CV award section:

The elements listed from here below are optional. Depending on the role’s requirements, you can choose to add them to your academic CV in the order of importance. 

List any institutional service you have done in the past, such as supervising students, managing an office or department, or giving any other academic assistance. Teacher volunteers and other service activities that you did in relevance to your field of expertise can also be listed in this part of your academic CV.

Here’s an example:

If you’ve received any grants or fellowships, it means that your research has been proved valuable enough to attract funding. You can also combine this section with the honors/awards section in your academic CV to make it look more organized.

Include the title of the grant, name of the funding institution or agency, date received, and/or name or purpose of the research project. Generally, it is more common for business and scientific CVs to include the exact amount of funding.

Here’s an example of how you want to list it on your academic CV:

List all relevant certifications with their names and date received. Briefly mention any strengths or skills that are relevant to the job but are not suitable to be included in any other sections of your academic CV.

Here’s an example:

Include the languages you know in an academic context and the level of proficiency for each language. However, it’s not necessary to include languages with lower levels of reading proficiency.

Indicate your level of proficiency accurately by applying one of the effective frameworks such as LinkedIn, ILR, CEFR, or ACTFL. Or highlight the specific skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) that you have confidence in.

Here’s an example:

List the relevant professional organizations that you are a member of, whether it is national, regional, state, or local. Include the title of any position you’ve held on the board. Student memberships are also appropriate to be included in the academic CV.

Example of listing associations on an academic CV:

This section could be added to a dedicated research experience section if you have one. Include the title, description, and date of the research projects that you’ve conducted or are in progress.

Here’s how you want to include your research in your academic CV:

Include any volunteer work or community services you’ve participated in, such as working with churches, shelters, institutions, non-profits, and other community organizations. Having community involvement demonstrates your willingness to go the extra mile and help out places in need, which is an important quality for educators and people in the academic field.

Here’s an example:

While it is optional, this could be the final section of your academic CV. Include 3-5 professional or academic references. List each referral’s name, title, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. Although it is unlikely that the mailing address will be used, following the traditional format would be the safer way to go.

Here’s an example:

Here are some tips to keep in mind when composing an academic CV.

💡 Tailor your academic CV.

Some positions or programs may emphasize research or teaching experiences, while others may value publications more.

You need to target your academic CV to the position or program you are applying for. This will require you to research what the organization or institution values most from their candidates.

A curriculum vitae in research may focus differently from a scientific CV. Showing relevant skills and experiences will greatly increase your chances to be considered for the position.

💡 Pay attention to academic CV formatting.

Choose reasonable and effective formatting, and keep it consistent and easy to read. Use 1-inch margins on all sides of your academic CV to look good when printed out.

Serif fonts are easier to read in print, while sans-serif fonts are clearer when viewed digitally. Times New Roman would be a safe choice if you aren’t sure which to choose.

Arrange your font sizes and styles to highlight the titles and subtitles while showing the difference. For instance, use ALL CAPS or boldface to make your headings stand out and separate sections. You could also add double-blank lines before all headings to guide readers to the important parts.

💡 Be consistent and accurate when citing publications.

Stick your publications to one bibliography style (i.e. MLA, APA). Don’t switch styles as it will confuse the reader on the elements and authenticity of each publication.

💡 Avoid using technical jargon.

It is recommended to ensure that the readers could quickly read and understand your qualifications. Avoid technical jargon and abbreviations or unclear wording, and keep your academic CV concise when describing any necessary information.

💡 Add a footer and put down page numbers and your name there.

In case the pages get separated, or for quicker reference, it is advised to include a footer on each page with page numbers and your last name. This is especially important if you are submitting a printed copy of your academic CV.

💡 Save your academic CV in PDF format.

PDF is the most commonly used file format when it comes to transferring documents online. It keeps your formatting intact so you don’t have to make further alterations. If you try to transfer a Word document to a Google Doc, the formatting might get messed up. However, do make sure you are following the application requirements, as sometimes the recruiter/hirer might have different requests.

💡 Ask someone in your field to review your CV.

Have someone review and proofread your academic CV. It could be an advisor or mentor in your field, or someone who worked/is working in the organization you are applying to. This person should have a better understanding of the expectations of the position and could give you advice on how to better format or choose the right content to tailor your academic CV.

There are many tools with academic CV templates that one can utilize to build an academic CV online. Here is an evaluation of the pros and cons of some common tools:

✨ CakeResume

✨ MS Word

✨ Google Docs

For your reference, here is a researcher curriculum vitae example:

--- Originally written by Sandy Tuo ---