Oxford CV Template: Guide & Examples

If you’re applying to an academic position or seeking opportunities in competitive industries, the Oxford CV template is an excellent tool for presenting your qualifications in the most polished way possible.

This guide studies the Oxford CV template’s format, along with expert advice and free examples to help you build a professional CV that catches the attention of academic recruiters and institutions.

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Want to research similar CV examples? Read these guides:

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Oxford CV template

What is an Oxford Curriculum Vitae?

An Oxford CV is an academic-focused document that highlights your scholarly achievements, research experience, and academic qualifications. Mostly used for applying to academic jobs, research positions, and other career opportunities, this format highlights your academic strengths and contributions.

Unlike a standard CV for work, the Oxford CV template places far more emphasis on education, research output, and academic involvement, reflecting the high standards and rigorous expectations typical of Oxford University and other leading academic institutions.

What are the key components of the Oxford CV format?

1. Education

The education section is the foundation of your Oxford CV template, outlining your academic qualifications and institutional background. It’s where you include degrees, honours, and any key research projects or dissertations undertaken during your studies.

2. Research experience

This section focuses on your involvement in academic research and demonstrates your ability to contribute to your field. It includes research projects, publications, conference presentations, and any awards or fellowships related to your research work.

3. Teaching responsibilities

For candidates applying for academic roles, teaching experience is a necessity. This section details courses taught, any mentoring or teaching assistantships, and highlights your involvement in educational initiatives or curriculum development.

4. Professional background

Although the focus of an Oxford CV is on academic achievements, relevant professional experience can also add significant value to your application. This includes positions held that are linked to your research or academic interests, such as work in research institutions or industry partnerships.

5. Additional information

The additional information section provides space to highlight other qualifications that strengthen your CV. This could include your key skills, awards, professional memberships, language proficiency, or involvement in relevant academic or community initiatives.

How to write an Oxford CV in 5 steps

Writing an Oxford CV requires a methodical approach, similar to conducting academic research and selecting the most effective research methods. Research involves careful planning, data collection, and analysis to highlight key findings. Similarly, crafting an Oxford CV will involve organising your academic achievements, research contributions, and relevant experience to showcase your expertise.

The main goal of your Oxford CV is to present your qualifications in a clear, structured way while still adhering to the high academic standards expected by universities and research institutions. Here are the main steps to follow when writing this type of CV:

1. Format your Oxford CV properly

The formatting of your Oxford CV is crucial, as it needs to be both professional and easy to read. Oxford CV format tends to be detailed, but should never overwhelm the reader with excessive text or redundant information. Your CV should be clear like a well-structured research paper, with legible headings and sections that highlight the most important aspects of your academic and professional life.

Keep these formatting tips in mind when putting together your Oxford CV template:

• Use bold headings and subheadings (e.g., Education, Research Experience, Publications) to make it easy to navigate.
• Implement bullet points, as they help break up large blocks of text and highlight key achievements or responsibilities.
• Choose a legible font like Arial or Times New Roman with wide margins for clarity.
• Keep your Oxford CV to 2–3 pages, focusing on quality over quantity.
• Be consistent with your formatting (e.g., dates, location, and job titles) to create a cohesive document.

Remember, a well-formatted CV not only facilitates reading but also reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are highly valued in academic and research contexts.

2. Write a captivating personal statement 

Your CV personal statement is the first thing that potential employers or academic reviewers will read, so it’s vital for setting the tone from the outset. It should concisely summarise who you are, what you have accomplished, and what you aim to achieve in the future. This section should focus on your academic interests, major achievements, and the direction you want your career to take.

When writing a personal statement for your Oxford CV, consider the following:

• Be specific about your research focus, career goals, and what drives you academically.
• Show how you’ve applied your knowledge through practical experiences like research, teaching, or collaborations.
• Keep it concise (around 4-6 sentences), with a focus on your most relevant achievements and how you can contribute to future academic or research roles.

3. Highlight your academic journey

The education section is the heart of your Oxford CV, where you highlight your academic achievements, including degrees, awards, and significant research. Organise it in reverse chronological order, placing your most recent qualifications at the top.

Start with your degree titles, institutions, and study dates. Include any honours or awards, such as scholarships or fellowships, and provide brief details about your thesis or major projects, emphasising key findings or contributions. Also, mention relevant modules or research topics that align with your academic and career aspirations.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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4. Showcase your practical experience

The experience section of your Oxford CV should highlight how your academic and professional roles have shaped your expertise. Include research assistantships, teaching assistantships, internships, and relevant freelance work. List these experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Be specific about your responsibilities, focusing on research contributions and any leadership roles.

Quantify your impact where possible, such as the number of students mentored or publications contributed to. Highlight collaborative efforts, especially team-based research. For academic roles, it’s important that you mention your use of research methodologies, data analysis, and how you've applied your academic knowledge in real-life situations. This shows how your experience has prepared you for the next move in your career.

4. Emphasise skills that set you apart

A strong Oxford CV not only showcases your academic qualifications but also highlights the skills that set you apart as a candidate. These abilities include both hard skills such as proficiency in software packages or laboratory techniques, and soft skills, like communication or teamwork.

When listing your skills, include specific technical proficiencies that are relevant to your field, such as Python, R, ArcGIS, or any data analysis tools you’ve mastered. If it comes to soft skills, include excellent written and oral communication, time management, problem-solving abilities, and experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These traits will show potential employers or academic committees that you bring more than just academic knowledge to the table.

Oxford CV template—skills

5. Enhance your CV with added sections

While the core elements—such as personal information, education, professional experience, and skills—are essential, adding tailored sections can boost your CV’s impact. For this purpose, the Oxford CV template offers a flexible and comprehensive framework.

Consider adding these sections that highlight a broader range of your experiences and skills:

• Research interests showcase the areas you’re passionate about and focused on.
• Publications give visibility to your academic contributions.
• Conferences and presentations highlight your engagement with the wider professional community.
• Awards and scholarships show formal recognition of your achievements and set you apart.
• Extracurricular activities demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to causes outside of work and study.
• Languages provide extra value, especially if your role requires international communication.

Extra tips to strengthen your Oxford CV

Whether you're applying for a research position, teaching role, or academic fellowship, there are a few simple yet effective ways to strengthen your Oxford CV:

• Tailor your CV: Align your CV with the specific role you’re applying for. Highlight the experience, research, and skills that directly meet the job description. If it’s a teaching role, bring your teaching experience to the forefront.
• Use action verbs: Underscore your experience with action-packed verbs like “spearheaded,” “designed,” “coordinated,” and “developed” to show how you’ve made an impact.
• Proofread meticulously: Small errors can undermine the professionalism of your CV. Proofreading is essential to ensure your whole Oxford CV template is polished and error-free.
• Include references: Academic and professional references add to your credibility. Either list them or state they’re “available upon request.”
• Focus on clarity: Make sure your CV is easy to navigate. Keep it concise, structured, and tailored to the role you’re applying for—quality over quantity is key.

And, that’s it. You’re ready to send your application with confidence!

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Thanks for reading. Do you have any tips regarding the Oxford CV template you’d like to share? Is there anything you’d like me to explain in more detail? If you’ve got any questions about the Oxford CV, please use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

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Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• Applying for academic jobs
• How to identify your research methods