Writing your CV for an Undergraduate Application

CV – or Curriculum Vitae (Latin for “course of life”) - is a short summary of your education, work experience and skills. It should be tailored to demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the role you are applying for.

How to Write a CV

Length: Your CV should not be longer than two sides of A4 paper, typed.

Font: Keep it black, between size 10-12, and use a common font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri.

Layout: Use headings, formatting (bolding, italics, underlining) and spacing to make the important information stand out and the text easy to read.

What to Include in your CV

1) Contact Details

Make sure your contact details are up to date and include the following:

-      Full Name

-      Phone Number

-      E-mail address

-      Address

2) Introduction

It is good to include a top line summary about yourself that is no longer than a few sentences. It should mention some of your key strengths, your future education and work plan and it should display your enthusiasm to study the subject you are applying for. You should back these up in the main body of your CV.

Example:

A creative and dedicated student with good writing and critical thinking skills. Currently taking IB HL Maths, English Language and Literature, and Psychology. Has written an original script for the school musical and completed an internship at a law firm. Enthusiastic to study law with a focus on Intellectual Property.

3) Education

Include:

-      Your level of qualification or indicate the education programme you are enrolled in

-      Subjects you have taken

-      Name of the institution

-      Date of enrolment and completion

Example:

A-Levels: Maths, Biology, Psychology

ACS International School Cobham

2019-2024

4) Work Experience

This section is to demonstrate that you have worked as part of a team or to a deadline.

If you have any part-time or full-time job or internship experience, write down:

-      The name of the organization

-      Month and year you started and finished working

-      Location

-      Your job title

-      Briefly list your responsibilities that are relevant to your application.

Example:

Palmer Law Firm, London

Internship

June 2021 – July 2021

§  Translated and wrote petitions

§  Attended trials

§  Assisted with paperwork

If you have not had a proper job before, here are some alternative examples you can use:

Academic Performance: Any standout exam or project results or pieces of coursework you are proud of or any awards you won

Academic Roles: Position as a Head Boy/Head Girl, a prefect, or a mentor at school

Extracurricular activities: Any clubs, societies, or sports teams you are part of, any volunteering experience, helping in the local community

Unpaid work experience: Helping or shadowing a family member at their workplace, taking part in a work experience organised through your school

5)  Skills

The skills section is an important section to showcase what makes you stand out, especially if you do not have much direct work experience. In this section you have the chance to demonstrate why you are equipped to be become a university student. A good way to approach it is to combine hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills would be technical skills you might have acquired through experience and learning (e.g. Computer software knowledge, graphic design, foreign languages etc.).

Soft skills are behavioural, such as being a team player or communicating effectively. 

Examples of essential skills for a university student would be efficient verbal and written communication, time management, critical thinking, attention to detail, self-motivation, and technology skills such as MS Office. You can also include presentation skills, teamwork, budgeting, or any skill you acquired in school clubs, lessons, or internships.

6) Hobbies and Interests

You can mention any hobbies you have such as playing an instrument, doing a sport, reading, writing, travelling etc. that can help showcase your personality.

7) Reference

You can simply write “References available upon request” and provide the contact details of your referee later. If you want to include a name, make sure you give enough time to ask in person or via email before your application whether it would be okay for the person you are asking to be your referee. You can ask:

-      A former employer or colleague at an internship or job

-      A teacher

-      A careers adviser

-      A sports coach

-      A figure in the local community

-      Your work experience supervisor

Your CV is a good opportunity to describe your achievements and to give a sense of your personality. You might find it useful to use online CV templates. Most templates make room for a photo, but we do not recommend including a photograph. Try to include only relevant information in your application and double check to eliminate any typos or bad grammar. It is good to ask for another person to check your CV before you submit your application. Best of luck!

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