How to Write Your Education on a CV (+Examples)

There are several set formats you could use to structure your CV. For the three main CV formats—chronological, skills-based, and combination—the education section is identical, and it is reverse-chronological. Academic CVs handle the education section differently.

Whether you use an academic CV format or one of the remaining three, you should detail your education by starting from your most recent qualifications and working your way back to the earliest. Not sure how? Don't worry. In this guide, you'll get the best advice on how to detail your education on a CV. You'll also see expert CV education examples you can use as models. On top of that, you'll learn how to write GCEs on a CV and different types of degrees.

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Example education section on a CV

1. High school education on your CV

GCSEs in Mathematics and English are generally considered to be the bare minimum level of education needed to perform almost any job. Does this mean that everyone who has these GCSEs should include that fact in their CV education section?

If high school (whether GCSE- or A-level) represents your highest formal academic qualification, then you should definitely include it in your CV (especially if writing your first CV). If you’ve completed one or more post-secondary qualifications and have some work experience under your belt, though, then you can leave high school off your CV entirely.

Use the following education section CV templates to set out your high school education:

A-levels: [Subject Name 1], [Subject Name 2], [Subject Name 3]

[School Name], [School Location], [Years Attended]

[n] GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)

[School Name], [School Location], [Years Attended]

where n is the number of GCSEs you completed.

This is all you ought to include in your school leaver CV. There’s no need to mention grades and list GCSEs (aside from making it clear that you passed Maths and English). Include a country only if you studied abroad, otherwise it’s assumed that your school was in the UK.

Check this example to better understand how write GCSEs on a CV:

CV high school qualifications

2. NVQs and other tertiary qualifications in your CV education section

Do you have an SVQ, NVQ or similar tertiary qualification? Whether an award, certificate, or diploma, post-secondary qualifications are treated the same in your CV. There’s no need to list subjects or grades. Include an expected completion date if you’re still studying. Stick to the following example:

[Degree Type] [Degree Name], [Years Attended]

[Institution Name], [Institution Location]

NVQ diploma on a CV

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3. Adding university degrees to your CV education section

University degrees are, of course, tertiary qualifications. They’re treated just like other kinds of post-secondary awards with the only difference being that some degrees have degree classes associated with them. BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons), for example, are awarded classes. Include the class only if it’s a first or 2:1.

Use the following education CV template to list your degrees in reverse-chronological order: 

[Degree Type] [Degree Name](Degree Class), [Years Attended]

[University Name], [University Location]

Once again, don’t list individual subjects or thesis topics (unless you’re writing up an MPhil or research PhD or DPhil) and don’t get into any grades other than the degree class. You may also want to explore further tips on writing a student CV.

University degrees on a CV

4. A CV education section for academic CVs

Things get a little different when writing an academic CV education section. For non-academic CVs, regardless of the CV format used, the focus is always on experience and skills. In an academic CV, though, it’s education that takes centre stage. This means that your education needs to be elaborated a little.

Stick with a reverse-chronological order for your academic qualifications. Use the template below to generate a subheading for each degree. Populate each subheading thus created with one or two bullet points that add relevant details to each degree—extracurricular activities, achievements, accolades, scholarships, thesis topics, etc.

[Degree Type] [Degree Name](Degree Class), [Years Attended]

[University Name], [University Location]

If you’re still completing your latest degree, then include an expected graduation date.

Academic CV education example

5. Remember to include a cover letter with your CV

No matter how great your CV education section is, it’s not going to do you any good if no one even glances at your CV. Not including a cover letter can mean that your CV is passed up without it so much as being read. The only exception here is if you’ve been specifically asked not to include a cover letter.

A properly set-out cover letter will follow the standard UK business letter format. This means that it’ll include a proper cover letter header, the right kind of salutation, and an appropriately matched sign-off. You should end up with a cover letter that’s roughly 250–400 words long and fills an A4 page.

The body of your cover letter is where you’re unconstrained by the business letter format, it’s where you can make a case for why you’re the best candidate for the job. Open your letter strong, with an attention-grabbing paragraph that gets recruiters hooked. Showcase your achievements and then wrap up and end on a CTA.

Keep these pointers in mind before sending off your CV

Before a recruiter pores over your CV education section, they’re going to react to the overall look of your CV. After forming an impression based on the way your CV looks at arm’s length, they’ll inevitably scan around and read a little.

Make sure recruiters keep reading long enough to get to your CV education section. To this end:

• Use subheadings and plenty of white space to clearly break your CV down into sections. Opt for a simplistic CV design and choose from our recommended basic CV templates.
• Choose an appropriate CV font like Noto, Garamond, Liberation or Calibri and keep the size to 11–12 points.
• Stick to a maximum overall length of one page per decade of relevant experience, capped at two pages no matter how much experience you have.
• Proofread and check your CV for grammar mistakes. Use any web apps that might help you create a perfect, polished CV.
• Always send your CV in PDF unless asked for a different format. Attaching your CV as PDF will protect your formatting and layout and should be your go-to format if there are no other instructions.

Lastly, if it’s been a week since you submitted your application, call up or fire off a quick email to follow up.

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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I hope this article has done away with any niggling doubts you had regarding writing up your CV education section. Is there anything I’ve covered that you’d like more information on? Any comments or experiences to share? Drop us a line in the comments section below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

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.