Which parts of my education should I include on my CV?

Where are you in your career right now? 

The answer to this question is incredibly important when crafting your curriculum.  

If you’re just out of uni or have been working for 10 or more years you may be wondering “what education should I put on my CV?” 

Firstly, understand that you will generally need to tailor your education section depending on:

• Your level of experience
• Your field of work

For some professional profiles, your education will be more essential than for others.

So which qualifications and educational certificates are worth listing and significant to prospective employers?

For example, do you put primary school on a CV? Should you list a PhD or relevant courses?With our creative CV builder and the information below you can remove any doubt about what you should mention in your application. With the following details and tools, we can help you impress employers right away.

Where should you put the education section on your CV?

One of the most common questions that are asked is where should the education section go on a CV.

That depends on a few different factors. Have a look at the different situations that can affect where you place your education section:

• If you are experienced: Position your education after work experience, especially if the latter is in the relevant sector.
• If you are a recent graduate: Lead with your academic credentials to emphasise recent achievements.
• Professional field: If you plan to work in a field that demands a high level of education, placing your education higher on your CV could be a good idea.

Clinical Psychologists, for example, must have certain qualifications (typically a Doctorate in the UK) and be registered with professional bodies like the British Psychological Society.

How to structure your CV academic section

How you organise your education section can significantly influence a recruiter’s first impression. 

Even if you have top-notch qualifications, a cluttered or poorly formatted section can take away from your professionalism.

Here’s a guide on how to concisely your academic background:

1. Add qualifications: Begin with the title of your qualification, to instantly provide clarity on your academic credentials.
2. List the institution: Mention the name of the university, college, or academic institution where you obtained the qualification. 
3. Add the attendance dates: Always list the start and end dates of your courses. 
4. Include relevant additional details:  Highlight any important details such as a thesis or academic awards.

Also, think about mentioning your grades if they were well above average. If you choose to omit them, ensure you’re prepared to discuss them if asked during an interview.

Education section for recent uni graduates

If you recently finished university, your main focus will be your degree or postgraduate studies.

For example, if you studied accounting and would like to work as an accountant, your education section can look like this:

BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance | University of XYZ | 2020-2023. Specialised in forensic accounting with a dissertation on “Detecting Financial Fraud in SMEs.

If you completed a PhD, you can list it before your other degrees if it is relevant to the job you are applying for. If it’s relevant you can mention a bit more about your thesis.

For example:

• PhD in Molecular Biology | University of ABC| 2017-2021
  Thesis titled “The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Plant Responses to Drought Stress.” 
• MSc in Plant Biology | University of XYZ| 2015-2017 
• BSc (Hons) Biology | University of ABC| 2012-2015
  Pass rate of 80% in all modules

By including your educational background, this way you can show anyone who is hiring that you have the required knowledge to be successful even without professional experience. 

How experienced jobseekers should write an education section

You may be thinking that since you have previous work experience, listing education on your CV is not necessary.

Well, think again. 

You should still include your education section, however, you don’t have to focus on it as much as an entry-level candidate does. 

In general, here are some things to keep in mind when including your education as an experienced job seeker:

• Main qualification: List your highest academic achievements, such as any degree and master’s.
• Examination explanation: Keep any exams that you include brief. A single line is enough.

Here is an example of how you can do this:

• MSc Computer Science | ABC University | 2020-2022
• BSc Mathematics | DEF University | 2017-2020
  First-class grade of 80%
• Optional: “A-Levels: Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science.”

Remember, there are no set rules as to how much of your education you should list on your CV. Instead, individuals may choose and decide for themselves what they feel is appropriate.

Listing unfinished courses

Whether you are experienced or not, this can be a complicated and personal topic.. 

If you decided to leave uni for whatever reason, you may be asking yourself “Should I put university on my CV if I dropped out?” 

Here’s a guideline when deciding whether to include any unfinished courses:

• Courses you dropped out of: Leave off a course that you decided not to finish, especially if it was a course that takes less than a year to complete.
• Unfinished programmes: If you’re still studying a 2 or 3-year degree go ahead and add it to your curriculum.

If you’re still studying remember to clarify that the course is ongoing, like so:

MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering | University of EFG | September 2022 – Ongoing (Expected Completion: September 2024)

• Key Modules: Energy Storage Solutions, Advanced Photovoltaic Systems, Wind Energy Technology

Key Points

Education gets a bit less attention at times, particularly from experienced applications. However, you should always know what to include depending on your circumstances. 

Remember to:

• Highlight certain information depending on your experience and sector
• Include the necessary details
• Add helpful relevant information if possible
• Mention ongoing degrees correctly and avoid courses you’ve dropped out from

Also keep in mind that using our online tools like CV templates and our builder will make the process much easier and error-free. 

For more information, read about how to write the education section of your CV or use an online CV builder to design a flawless CV.

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