How to Write an Academic CV for Scholarship is one of the first practical questions every applicant must answer when preparing a scholarship application. Your CV will usually be read quickly and will therefore be expected to prove, at a glance, that you meet the programme’s basic requirements, that your experience matches the scholarship’s priorities, and that you have academic and personal potential.
How to Write an Academic CV for Scholarship (10 Examples)
Consequently, a well-crafted academic CV can open the door to the next stage of the selection, often the motivation letter or interview, while a poorly organized CV may cause an otherwise strong application to be overlooked.
Below you will find a step-by-step guide to structure and tone, followed by ten compact, ready-to-adapt CV examples for different scholarship scenarios. Transitional words are used throughout, and recommendations are given in a practical, no-nonsense style so that your CV can be both concise and convincing.
Before you start: reflect and research
First, take time to review your accomplishments. An honest inventory of publications, projects, awards, internships, volunteer roles, and technical skills is very helpful. Next, research the scholarship provider and read the call carefully: keywords that describe the profile they want (such as “research-focused,” “community engagement,” “leadership”) should help determine what to highlight on your CV.
Next, make short lists of achievements that match those keywords. It is often useful to compare profiles of existing or past fellows that are sometimes published by scholarship bodies, so that you can better align how you present your experience.
Organisation and essential sections
An academic CV for a scholarship should be short, targeted, and easy to scan. The following sections are commonly used and are placed in this order unless the call specifies otherwise:
- Contact information: Full name, professional email (use first name. last name@…), phone, city, and country. A professional link, such as ORCID, LinkedIn, or a personal academic website, may be added. Avoid using “Curriculum Vitae” or “Resume” as a heading; your name is sufficient.
- Education (most recent first): Degree title, institution, year (or expected year), city, and country. Add your thesis title or supervisor if relevant.
- Research / Professional experience: Job title, organization, dates, and 2 – 4 bullet points describing responsibilities and, more importantly, measurable outcomes.
- Publications & Presentations: If applicable, provide a short-selected list or a statement “Full list available on ORCID” with DOIs where possible.
- Awards, Grants & Scholarships: List competitive awards and dates.
- Technical skills & Languages: Software, laboratory techniques, programming languages; language proficiency described simply (e.g., Native / Advanced / Intermediate / Basic).
- Volunteering & Extracurricular Activities: Short, outcome-focused bullets.
- References: Provide referees only if requested. Otherwise, write “References available upon request.”
Optional: Certificates / Professional Training, Portfolio link (for arts/design), Projects (brief descriptions), Patents. Use a one-line professional summary only if it adds value; keep it under five lines.
Formatting rules (keep it readable)
- Font: Times New Roman (recommended) or another clear serif/sans-serif; body size 11–12 pts, headings slightly larger.
- Length: ideally 1–2 pages for scholarship CVs. Longer is allowed for senior researchers, but shorter is usually preferred.
- Layout: use clear headings, bullets, and consistent spacing. Multi-column layouts can be used sparingly for compactness.
- File name: Lastname Firstname CV.pdf. Save as PDF to preserve formatting.
- Proofread: spelling and formatting errors should be eliminated. Have a colleague or mentor review it.
Writing style & tone
- Use strong action verbs and quantify results where possible.
- Be specific with dates, institutions, and locations (city, country).
- Keep tense consistent: present for ongoing activities, past for completed ones.
- Avoid clichés such as “I am passionate about…”; concrete accomplishments speak louder.
- Tailor your CV to the scholarship by prioritizing relevant experience. Keywords from the scholarship brief should appear naturally.
Ten compact academic CV examples
Below each example is a short-format CV tailored to common scholarship profiles. Adapt wording and length as appropriate.
Example 1 – Master’s scholarship (research-focused)
Name / Contact
Education: MSc in Environmental Science (Expected 2026), University A, City, Country – BSc Hons Environmental Science, 2023, University B (First Class).
Research: Research Assistant, Climate Lab, University B (2022–2023) – designed field sampling protocol; collected and analysed water quality data for 150 sites.
Skills: R (data analysis), GIS, water sampling methods.
Awards: University Academic Excellence Award 2023.
Languages: English (native); Spanish (intermediate).
References: Prof. X, Climate Lab, University B (email).
Example 2 – PhD scholarship (lab-based)
Name / Contact / ORCID
Education: MPhil Molecular Biology, University C, 2024 – Thesis: “Gene regulation under stress”.
Research Experience: Lab Technician, Genomics Unit (2021–2024) – performed CRISPR editing and qPCR; co-authored 1 peer-reviewed manuscript (submitted).
Publications: Selected: Smith et al., “X”, Journal Y (under review). DOI: …
Grants: Student travel grant to conference Z (2023).
Technical skills: CRISPR, NGS library prep, Python.
References: Dr Y (supervisor).
Example 3 – Undergraduate scholarship (first degree)
Name / Contact
Education: High school/Secondary: Top 1% nationally; SAT 1450 (if applicable).
Leadership & Activities: President, Debate Club – organized regional tournament (200 participants). Volunteer tutor – raised math’s pass rate by 18% among tutees.
Awards: National Science Olympiad – Bronze (2022).
Interests: Community outreach, STEM education.
References: Teacher A (email).
Example 4 – STEM researcher with publications
Name / Contact / Google Scholar link
Education: PhD Physics, 2022; MSc Physics, 2018.
Selected Publications: 4 peer-reviewed articles (list with DOI).
Research: Postdoctoral researcher, Lab Z (2023 – present) – led project on particle detection; supervised 2 MSc students.
Grants & Funding: Early-career research grant (2024).
Skills: MATLAB, C++, instrumentation.
References: Prof. Z (email).
Example 5 – Arts & Design scholarship
Name / Contact / Portfolio link
Education: BA Visual Arts, 2022 (Honours).
Exhibitions: Solo exhibition “Title” (2024); group shows (2021 – 2023).
Awards: Young Artists Award (2023).
Relevant Work: Freelance designer for NGO campaign – developed visual identity used by 10 partner organisations.
Skills: Adobe Creative Suite, printmaking.
References: Curator A (email).
Example 6 – Public Policy / Social Sciences
Name / Contact / LinkedIn
Education: MSc Public Policy (expected 2025), University D.
Experience: Policy Intern, Ministry of X (2023) – drafted briefing notes used by senior officials; conducted stakeholder mapping for programme Y.
Projects: Led a community baseline survey (n=600) to inform local service delivery.
Languages: English (advanced); French (basic).
References: Senior Analyst B (email).
Example 7 – Professional / MBA scholarship applicant
Name / Contact
Education: BSc Economics (2016), Professional certificates: CFA Level I (2022).
Work Experience: Business Analyst, Company Q (2019 – 2024) – supported product launch that increased revenue by 12%; managed cross-functional team of 5.
Leadership: Volunteer coordinator for workplace CSR programme (budget management, 2021 – 2023).
Skills: Excel modelling, Power BI.
References: Manager (email).
Example 8 – International student / cross-border application
Name / Contact / Passport country
Education: MSc candidate (application pending), University E.
Transcripts: Official transcripts available on request; GPA: 3.8/4.0.
Language proficiency: IELTS 7.5 (2024).
Cross-cultural experience: Exchange semester at University F (6 months).
Technical skills: SPSS, survey design.
References: Academic advisor (email).
Example 9 – Early-career applicant with selected publications
Name / Contact / ORCID
Education: MPhil, 2023.
Selected Publications: Author A (2024) “Title”, Journal. DOI: …; Conference paper (2022).
Research Projects: Co-investigator on project assessing X; implemented mixed-method analysis and co-wrote final report.
Skills: NVivo, qualitative coding, and grant writing.
References: Prof. B (email).
Example 10 – Volunteer / social-impact scholarship
Name / Contact
Education: BSc Community Development (2021).
Social Projects: Founder, Youth Empowerment Initiative (2019 – present) – trained 400 young people in digital skills; programme funding secured from local NGO; impact assessed via pre/post survey.
Awards: Community Service Medal (2022).
Skills: Project management, M&E, fundraising.
References: NGO director (email).
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too long: A CV that is not concise will be skimmed. Keep it focused.
- Vague bullets: Replace “assisted with research” with “designed experiment X and analysed data from N samples.”
- Inconsistent dates or tenses: These create doubt about accuracy.
- Unprofessional email or social media: Use a professional email and curate public profiles.
- Ignoring the scholarship call: Your CV should clearly reflect the priorities and criteria listed in the announcement.
Final checklist before submission
- Is the CV tailor-made to the scholarship call?
- Is it within the recommended length (1 – 2 pages)?
- Are dates, institution names, and locations accurate?
- Are achievements quantified where possible?
- Is the file named professionally and saved as a PDF?
- Has it been proofread by someone else?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an academic CV for a scholarship be?
For most scholarship applications, a succinct CV of one to two pages is ideal. Extended CVs are allowed for senior researchers, but scholarship committees often prefer concise evidence of relevance.
Should I include a photo?
It depends on the country and the scholarship. In some regions, a photo is customary; in others, it is discouraged. If a photo is used, it should be professional and neutral. When in doubt, check the application guidelines or the practice common to that country.
Must I list every publication?
No. Provide a selected list of the most relevant publications and note where a full list can be found (ORCID, personal website). Include DOIs if available.
Should I include referees on the CV?
Only include referees if specifically requested. Otherwise, write “References available upon request” and prepare full contact details separately.
Can I use a modern design or an infographic CV?
Unless you are applying to an arts/design programme where creativity is evaluated, keep the layout simple and professional. Use design sparingly to improve readability, not to distract.
How should I tailor my CV to fit the scholarship?
Identify keywords in the call, prioritize those experiences that match, and use similar language. For example, if leadership is emphasized, place leadership achievements near the top and quantify results.
What file format should I send?
PDF is preferred to ensure formatting is preserved. Name the file clearly (Lastname, Firstname. CV.pdf).
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