Academic CV Templates: Create a Professional CV for 2025

Start with your personal information

Before showcasing your research, teaching, or publications, begin with the basics. Your personal information anchors your academic CV, ensuring the committee knows exactly who they’re reviewing. 

Keep this section simple and easy to read. Include only essential details:

• Full name – written clearly at the very top.
• Professional title – such as PhD Candidate in History or Assistant Professor of Biology.
• Contact details – phone number and a professional email address (avoid casual email handles).
• Location – city and country; a full postal address is no longer necessary.
• Professional links – include your LinkedIn profile, Google Scholar page, ORCID iD, or personal academic website if available.

Avoid adding unnecessary information such as your date of birth, marital status, or a photograph (unless specifically requested by the institution).

Write a strong academic personal statement

After your personal information, the next section of your academic CV is the personal statement (sometimes called a profile or summary). It’s a short but impactful paragraph that explains who you are as an academic, what your specialisation is, and what you bring to the table. This section should be concise—around 3 to 5 sentences—and tailored to the role, grant, or institution you’re applying to.

Here’s what to include in an academic CV personal statement:

• Your current role or academic status (e.g., PhD candidate, Postdoctoral Researcher).
• Your area of expertise or research focus.
• A standout achievement or quantified accomplishment.
• Career goals or how your expertise can benefit the institution.

Avoid vague phrases and buzzwords like “hard-working” or “team player”. Instead, use concrete examples of your academic strengths and achievements.

Detail your education and academic qualifications

Unlike a traditional CV, where work experience is the most important, in an academic CV, your education is the backbone of your career. Remember to showcase not just what and where you studied, but also the depth and focus of your qualifications.

For each entry in your education section, include:

• Degree title – clearly list the qualification (e.g., PhD in History, MSc in Environmental Engineering).
• Institution name and location – be consistent in formatting.
• Dates of study – start and end year (or “Expected [year]” if still ongoing).
• Thesis or dissertation title – for postgraduate degrees, include the full title if relevant to the position.
• Key academic achievements – scholarships, distinctions, or awards.
• Relevant modules or projects – optional, but useful for early-stage academics.

Keep your entries in reverse chronological order (most recent first). If you’re still studying, list your current degree first, with your expected completion date.

List your research and professional experience

Research is often the highlight of your work life. These sections are where you demonstrate how you’ve applied your expertise in and beyond the classroom, whether through postdoctoral projects, teaching, or collaborative studies.

This is how to structure this section:

• Job title/position – e.g., Research Associate, Teaching Fellow.
• Institution/organisation and location – clearly state where the role took place.
• Dates of employment – list month and year.
• Bullet points for achievements – focus on research outcomes, teaching contributions, publications, collaborations, or grants secured.

When writing bullet points, highlight achievements, not just duties. Use CV action verbs like conducted, developed, supervised, published, and add quantifiable accomplishments where possible.

Add skills to your academic CV

An academic CV isn’t just about degrees and research experience. Your skills show committees what you can do day-to-day. From advanced technical abilities to essential soft skills, this section highlights the strengths that make you an effective researcher, teacher, and collaborator.

This is how to approach the skills section on an academic CV:

• Include a mix of hard skills (technical or discipline-specific abilities) and soft skills (transferable competencies).
• Avoid vague terms like hard-working. Be specific and link your skills to achievements mentioned elsewhere in your CV.
• Aim for about 6–10 skills in total.
• If you’re creating a skills-based CV, group related skills together (e.g., Research Methods, Data Analysis Tools, Languages) to make them easier to scan.

Some valuable skills for an academic CV include:

Include your publications and presentations

In academia, publications and presentations are exceedingly important. They show your contribution to knowledge, your visibility in the field, and your ability to communicate research effectively.

Show that you’re a thought leader in your field by including these sections in your academic CV. This is how to approach these sections:

• Separate into categories if you have a long list: e.g., Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles, Book Chapters, Conference Papers, Invited Talks.
• Use consistent formatting for author names, publication titles, journals, and dates. In academia, even formatting is seen as a sign of professionalism.
• List in reverse chronological order (newest first).
• Highlight your role when you are not the lead author by underlining your name or adding notes like “co-author.”

Provide DOI numbers or links where available. If you have many publications, choose the most relevant ones for the position. And if you’re an early-level academic. You can include “works in progress” or “submitted manuscripts” under a subheading.

Provide references

References are an essential part of an academic CV. Unlike many standard CVs, where references may be optional, in academia, they are frequently expected or even required.

Approach this section like this:

• Include 2–4 references from recognised academics or supervisors who can speak directly about your work.
• Choose referrers who know you well: your PhD supervisor, postdoctoral mentor, or department head are strong choices.
• Provide each referee’s full name, title, institution, email, and phone number.
• Always ask for permission before including someone as a referrer. This ensures they are ready to respond positively if contacted.

In some cases, you may have to ask one of your referrers for a full reference letter. It’s a detailed document that will go in-depth into your skills, character, and work ethic.

Format and proofread your academic CV

Even the strongest content can be overlooked if your academic CV isn’t easy to read. Committees often review dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications, so a clear format and error-free presentation are essential. Good formatting ensures your achievements stand out, while proofreading shows your attention to detail.

Here are some formatting tips for an academic CV:

• Keep it professional: Use a clean font like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial.
• Font size: 11–12 pt for body text, 14–16 pt for headings.
• Length: Unlike standard CVs, an academic CV can run several pages if needed. Don’t cut vital sections.
• Margins: Use 2–2.5 cm (about 1 inch) on all sides for readability.
• Headings: Use consistent bolding or sizing to separate sections.
• Order: Use reverse chronological order for education, research, and publications.

And this is to proofread your academic CV correctly:

• Read your CV out loud to catch awkward phrasing.
• Double-check dates, journal names, and institutional details. Accuracy is crucial.
• Ask a peer or mentor to review your CV. Fresh eyes can spot errors you may have missed.
• Watch for consistency in formatting: Committees notice mismatched fonts or spacing.