Crafting your CV for a Masters Application

A CV for a Masters application is slightly different to one you’d use for a job – it focuses more on your academic achievements, research interests, and relevant experience. You’ll typically need one when applying for postgraduate study, especially for research programmes like an MPhil or MRes.

Thinking about applying for a Masters and suddenly realise you haven’t touched your CV since sixth form? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create an academic CV that shows off your strengths (without sounding like you’re trying too hard). From what to include and how to structure it, to a few tips to help you make it stand out!

What is a Masters CV?

Think of your Masters CV as a quick, clear snapshot of what you’ve done so far – the key facts, laid out in a tidy format. It includes your education, any academic or research experience, and other things that show you’re ready for postgraduate study. You don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had, but if you’ve done something relevant – like working in a lab, tutoring, or even balancing ten things at once in a part-time job – that can help too.

This isn’t a document to get you hired (yet), but it should still look professional and well-put together. No wild fonts or personal logos, tempting though it may be. And while it won’t be read like a novel, it does need to make sense on a quick skim.

How long should it be?

Two pages, max. That’s more than enough to show off what matters. Keep things short and relevant – clear headings, bullet points, and no waffle. If it starts turning into your life story, it’s probably time to stop and save that for the personal statement.

What should you include in a Masters CV?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all layout, most Masters CVs include the following:

• Contact details – Your full name, phone number, professional email, and any relevant links (like LinkedIn or an academic profile – not your TikTok).
• Education – Your degrees, subjects, grades (if strong), and where you studied.
• Research interests – A short section showing what you’re curious about and why it matters.
• Academic achievements – Awards, scholarships, prizes – if it made your family proud, it probably belongs here.
• Relevant experience – Any jobs, internships, or voluntary roles linked to your subject or show transferable skills.
• Extras – This could be publications, presentations, IT skills, languages – anything that adds weight to your application without padding it.
• References – Usually two academic referees who can say nice things about you in a professional way.

Tailor each section to the course you’re applying for. If it’s not relevant or doesn’t add much, leave it out. A focused CV always beats a long one.

How to write a Masters CV

Writing a Masters CV isn’t about cramming in everything you’ve ever done. It’s about showing your best bits clearly and quickly. Here’s how to do it:

1. Introduction: Start with your name and contact details (make them easy to spot). Then, add a short paragraph about who you are – your course, what you’re studying, and maybe what you want to research or achieve.

2. Education: List your degrees in reverse order (most recent first). Include the name of the university, degree title, and dates. Highlight standout achievements – like top grades, a cool dissertation topic, or anything that directly links to the course you’re applying for.

3. Research Interests: If your course is research-based, mention your research interests here. It’s a chance to show you’ve thought about what you want to explore and why you’re a good fit for the course.

4. Relevant Experience: This is where you show off any relevant work, internships, or voluntary roles. Focus on what you’ve done that’s related to the course or that shows useful skills like research, communication, or problem-solving. No need to list every part-time job you’ve ever had – just the ones that add value.

5. Skills: Talk about the skills that matter for your course: research, data analysis, IT, languages, etc. Give examples of when you’ve used these skills – don’t just list them out like a shopping list.

6. Publications and Presentations: If you’ve got any publications or presentations, great! List them here. If not, don’t worry – it’s not the end of the world. Many applicants are still building this section.

7. References: End with two references – usually academic ones who can vouch for your work and potential. Make sure they’re happy to be listed before you put them down.

If you're still staring at a blank page wondering where to start, here are a few quick tips I’ve whipped up to help you get that Masters CV in shape – without losing your mind in the process:

• Keep it short and simple: A Masters CV isn’t meant to be your life story – just a clear, tidy snapshot of what you’ve done so far that makes you a great fit for the course.
• Start early and give yourself time to edit: Typos happen (even to the best of us), so take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes – or better yet, ask a friend to check it over. You’ll be surprised what a second pair of eyes can spot.
• Stick to a clean layout: Use one readable font, bullet points for structure, and avoid squeezing too much onto the page. The goal is to make it easy for someone to skim through – not to test their eyesight.
• Don’t just throw in big words like “motivated” or “passionate” - show it with examples: If you’ve worked hard on a project, taken on leadership roles, or volunteered your time, let that speak for you.

And finally – if your university has a careers service, use it. They're there to help, and they’ve seen every kind of CV under the sun.

You don’t need the perfect CV – just one that’s clear, honest and shows you’ve put some thought into it. And when you’ve done that? Have a well-earned break (snack of choice encouraged).

For more advice on applying for your Masters, have a browse of our postgraduate applications section, where you’ll find in-depth guides on personal statements, references, interviews, graduate admissions tests and more.

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