Academic CV for applying for scholarships and postgraduate studies

📅 2026-07-06 ⏱️ 5 minute read ✍️ CVVApp Career Team

Applying for a master’s, doctorate, or scholarship requires a special type of CV that is completely different from corporate CVs. Learn about its most important rules.

The fundamental difference between academics and companies

While companies look for efficiency, results, and numbers (and are interested in having the CV be one page), university admission committees look for (cognitive depth, research ability, and academic passion). Therefore, there is no maximum page limit for the Academic CV, and it can reach 5 or 10 pages for senior academics.

Basic Sections of the Academic CV

  • Education: It is the most important section and is placed at the beginning. List your academic degrees in reverse order, detailing the title of your thesis and the name of your academic supervisor.
  • Scientific publications: If you have articles published in scientific journals, arrange them in a uniform systematic manner (such as APA).
  • Research Experience: Explain your role in the laboratories or research projects in which you participated, and the laboratory techniques and equipment you are proficient in using.
  • Conferences And Conferences: Mention the seminars you attended or where you presented scientific posters.
  • Awards & Grants: Mention any academic excellence, honor rolls, or funding you received for your previous projects.

Make sure to use a very calm and formal template (preferably black and white) and completely stay away from modern, colorful templates when applying to universities.