You can easily get admitted into any university with the right academic CV for scholarships. Lots of universities are currently offering scholarships to international students. Knowing how to craft the right resume and the right template to use is key.
The CV (Curriculum Vitae or Resume) is essential when applying for a scholarship. It serves as the first evaluation filter you need to comply with the program’s basic requirements.
CVs also show that your experience is aligned with the program to which you want to apply and that you are the right fit in terms of academic, professional, and personal potential.
Well, in this reading, I’ll be guiding you through the right way to write a resume for scholarship applications. I’ll also provide you with templates and examples of modern academic CVs for scholarships.
Let’s begin!
Contents
Tips to Write a Resume for Scholarship Application
Just as earlier stated, a CV (Curriculum Vitae or Resume) is a crucial document in scholarship applications, serving as the first evaluation filter. It should meet basic requirements, align with the desired program, and showcase academic, professional, and personal potential.
A short, specific CV should use Times New Roman font, bullets, bold, and capital letters, and be in chronological order. Avoid clichés and showcase unique aspects of yourself.
The CV’s role is to capture the scholarship provider’s attention, leading to a Motivation Letter that emphasizes your candidacy. An ill-planned CV can lead to scholarship denial.
Therefore, the CV is a vital document in the evaluation process. Let’s go deep!
Review and Refine Your Academic CV
Before crafting your CV, it’s important to assess your professional, academic, and personal experience. Gather as much information as possible to gain a broader view of your skills and experiences.
Research the scholarship provider and their profile to select and highlight the most relevant skills and experiences in your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Start by reading the scholarship description and requirements thoroughly, as well as checking profiles of fellow scholars studying on the scholarship. Analyze their profiles, often published articles or institutional videos, to understand their experiences.
Identify keywords and write them down to address your CV, focusing on academic, professional, or personal skills and experiences. This can help you identify areas to highlight, such as your role as a researcher, leader, creative, or socially aware.
The Standford University scholarship is currently ongoing you can apply for here!
Organize Academic CV for Scholarship
A professional CV should consist of three main sections: contact information, education, and professional experience. It is essential to write a CV that includes your full name, contact information, education, work experience, languages, and personal skills.
For a CV, it is crucial to include your contact information at the top of the page or in the header, without using words like “CV”, “Curriculum Vitae” or “Resume”.
Educational experience should be written first, as it allows you to show that you meet basic entry requirements. For example, if applying for a PhD, you should have completed a Master’s degree or an undergraduate degree.
Work experience should not only describe tasks but also include achievements and measurable results. Write it in the first person, avoiding the use of “I” and referring to facts.
Languages should be listed with their respective levels, and personal skills should be mentioned alongside technical skills to demonstrate self-knowledge and balance.
Organizing publications, awards, certificates, extracurricular activities, and software skills in another section can help the reader quickly identify relevant characteristics.
This will help the reader recognize the profile that interests them and demonstrate self-knowledge and balance.
A professional profile is a crucial section of a CV, often used as a presentation. However, it can become repetitive and may not be included in the CV.
To maintain conciseness, it is recommended to write only one paragraph or five lines of text. A professional photo is also recommended, as it helps the reader understand the speaker’s personality.
The photo should be friendly and happy, with a friendly and happy gesture, and avoid forced smiles and serious gestures. The inclusion of a professional photo in the CV depends on the call, institution, and country of application.
You can learn how to write a compelling RESUME to land your dream job!
How to write a CV for Scholarships?
Follow the instructions below to write a winning academic CV for a scholarship in 2025:
1. Keep It Concise and Specific: Most readers spend only about 30 seconds reviewing a CV. Aim to condense your content into a maximum of two pages.
2. Maintain a Simple Yet Effective Format: Use bullets, bold text, and capital letters to highlight key information. A clean layout with multiple columns and separated sections enhances readability. Avoid unconventional designs or excessive colors unless applying for an arts-related program.
3. Be Precise: Include details such as institutions, titles, and dates. Organize information in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent achievements.
4. Use Appropriate Tense: Ensure past activities are written in the past tense, while current activities remain in the present tense. Though it seems simple, errors in tense are common.
5. Check for Spelling and Grammar: Accurate spelling reflects your communication skills and language proficiency. Have peers or professors proofread your CV for errors, as self-editing may not catch everything.
6. Avoid Clichés: Steer clear of generic statements like “I am passionate about…” or “If given a chance, I will prove my mettle.” Instead, showcase unique aspects of your experience or personality.
7. Use a Professional Email Address: Avoid unprofessional or quirky email addresses like [email protected] or [email protected]. Create a simple email address with your name for a polished impression.
8. Ensure Consistency: Stick to a uniform font throughout your CV. Times New Roman, size 12, is a professional choice, with slightly larger fonts (e.g., size 14) for section headings.
FAQs
How do you write a scholarship resume?
Quick grab on how to write your scholarship resume:
- Personal information. This includes your name, location, and contact information (usually email and phone number).
- Educational History. What schools have you attended?
- Extracurricular Activities.
- Involvement outside of school.
- Honors and awards.
How do I write a CV for a student scholarship?
- Resume Heading. FIRST AND LAST NAME.
- Resume Objective.
- Academic Experience. Institution Name.
- Work Experience. Position title.
- Awards & Honors. Include significant academic awards, such as previous scholarships, winning competitions, writing publications, and achieving the Dean’s list.
- Key Skills.
What should be the objective of a resume for a scholarship application?
The scholarship objective is the introduction of the resume. It’s a short paragraph that summarizes your academic record, volunteer work, achievements, and career goals.
The scholarship resume objective should only be 2-3 sentences long, so narrow down the best parts of your resume and include them in this section.
How to write a CV for a Chevening scholarship?
With this in mind, move your “Education” section to the bottom of your CV, but highlight your year as a Chevening Scholar at the top, like you would with a job. Make sure to include any extra-curricular activities you took part in
How to make a CV for a foreign scholarship?
You can follow the list below on how to organize your scholarship CV:
- Personal Information and Contact Details.
- Objective/s or Professional Summary.
- Educational Background / Academic Qualifications.
- Past Work Experience in chronological order (if any)
- Highlights on soft and technical skills/abilities.
