Download CV Template for Graduate Admissions

Description

In short: A graduate CV is read by academics, not administrators. This template uses the two-page academic structure they expect, orders sections by what the committee actually weighs, and shows you how to quantify work so your contribution is unambiguous.

Who this is for

Applicants to taught Master’s, research Master’s and PhD programmes, and anyone applying for research assistantships, funded positions or graduate scholarships. Undergraduate applicants should use the undergraduate template — it follows a different structure and length.

What’s inside the file

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Two-page academic layout

Sections ordered the way review committees read them, with a variant for research-heavy versus industry-heavy profiles.

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Research & publications

Correct formatting for papers, posters, conferences and works in progress — including how to list something not yet published.

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Quantified phrasing

Examples that convert vague duties into measurable outcomes, with the numbers a committee can verify.

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Tailoring guide

What to reorder for each programme so the CV answers that department’s priorities — including what belongs near the end.

Order matters more than content

Most graduate CVs contain the right material in the wrong sequence. If you have two years of relevant work or research, that belongs above your education — leading with a degree the committee can already see on your transcript wastes the most valuable space on the page.

Rule of thumb: whatever makes you a credible candidate for this specific programme goes first. That means the section order legitimately changes between applications.

Describing research so it counts

“Assisted with research on machine learning” tells a committee nothing. What was the question, what did you personally do, what came out of it? Naming the method, your specific role and the outcome turns a filler line into evidence — and it gives your referee something concrete to echo in their letter.

How to use it

1Draft every section fully, ignoring length for now.
2Reorder so your strongest qualification for that programme sits highest.
3Rewrite each research or work line as: method → your role → outcome.
4Trim to two pages, and save a separate tailored copy per university.

Frequently asked

CV or résumé — what does a Master’s application want?

Outside the US, “CV” means the academic document this template produces. In the US the words are used loosely; if a programme asks for a résumé, keep it tighter and more industry-facing, but the same source material works.

I have no publications. Is that fatal?

No — most Master’s applicants have none, and committees know it. A well-described dissertation, capstone or lab project carries real weight. The file shows how to present unpublished work without overstating it.

Should I include my school results?

One line at most. Beyond your degree, earlier results rarely influence a graduate decision and take space from research and experience.