Creating an international student CV can feel daunting when you’re applying to study or work abroad. You may be unsure how your qualifications translate to and outside the UK, what employers expect, or which international CV format is correct. 

This guide will help you write a CV for international students that showcases your global experience as an invaluable strength.

 Regardless of what kind of opportunity you’re seeking, this guide has you covered. You’ll find:

  • Practical tips for an international student CV
  • An international student CV example
  • Ready-to-use international student CV template to help you structure your CV, highlight your skills, and make a strong impression.

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    International student CV example

    International Student CV Example

    Zara Bond
    Bristol, UK
    07912 345 678
    zara.bond@example-example.co.uk
    linkedin.com/in/zarabond
    zarabondportfolio.com

    Personal Statement

    Motivated international student studying Business Management with strong communication skills and experience working in fast-paced environments. Recently boosted customer satisfaction scores by 15% during a part-time hospitality role by improving service efficiency. Fluent in German and English, with proven teamwork and problem-solving abilities gained through university group projects. Eager to contribute to a customer-focused role while developing UK work experience.

    Education

    BSc Business Management
    Expected graduation in August 2026
    University of Bristol – Bristol, UK

    • Relevant modules: International Marketing, Data Analytics, Global Economics
    • Completed a first-year project analysing consumer behaviour across five markets
    • Achieved a 72% average in latest assessments (UK First-Class equivalent)
    • Member of the International Students’ Society and Business Case Study Club

    Charlotte-Wolff-Kolleg
    Abitur – A-Level Equivalent (June 2021)
    Berlin, Germany

    • Specialised in Economics, English, and Mathematics
    • Graduated with a 1.9 GPA (equivalent to ABB at A-level)
    • Completed a capstone research project on EU trade dynamics
    • Awarded a certificate of merit for academic performance

    Work Experience

    Administrative Assistant
    07/2024 – 11/2025
    K&T Logistics – Bristol

    • Managed incoming customer queries, achieving a 98% response rate within 24 hours.
    • Updated delivery schedules and reduced weekly processing time by 10%.
    • Coordinated leaflet distribution to 50+ households, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
    • Supported inventory checks and improved record-keeping accuracy across the team.

    Skills

    • Microsoft Excel
    • Data analysis
    • Customer service
    • Email management
    • Communication skills
    • Teamwork
    • Problem-solving
    • Time management
    • Adaptability

    Languages

    • German – Native
    • English – C1 (Advanced)
    • French – B1 (Intermediate)
    • Spanish – B1 (Intermediate)

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    International student CV templates

    My Perfect CV offers a range of tools to help you get started, including professional international student CV templates that show you the ideal layout and structure. Each CV template is designed to follow the correct international CV format, helping you create a CV that makes a strong first impression with employers or universities.

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    The best international CV format for a student

    Choosing the right international CV format is one of the most important steps when applying to study or work abroad. 

    As an international student, the two most effective CV formats are the chronological CV and the skills-based CV. Each offers unique advantages depending on your experience, confidence in your work history, and the type of role or programme you’re applying for.

    Chronological CV

    The chronological (also called a reverse-chronological) CV format lists your education and experience from most recent to oldest. It is the most widely accepted format in the UK, Europe, and many English-speaking countries, such as the USA.

    It’s best for international students who have relevant work experience, internships, or volunteer roles. It highlights academic progression and recent achievements, and it’s a format that is familiar to global employers and universities.

    Pros:

    • Easy for recruiters to scan.
    • Preferred in most countries.
    • Clearly shows growth and recent accomplishments.

    Cons:

    • Can expose gaps in employment.
    • Less suitable if your experience is very limited.

    Skills-based (functional) CV

    The skills-based CV format focuses on what you can do rather than experience. It highlights transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, languages, adaptability, and other qualities that international students often excel in.

    It’s best for international students who have minimal work experience or are changing careers. It emphasises skills gained through studies, languages, or extracurricular activities.

    Pros:

    • Great for showcasing strengths when experience is limited, or when you have gaps in employment.
    • Allows you to emphasise international CV skills (e.g., multilingual ability, cross-cultural communication).
    • Ideal for internship or part-time job applications.

    Cons:

    • Less familiar to some employers.
    • Recruiters prefer visible timelines.

    European CV formats and Europass CV

    If you’re applying within the EU or EEA, you may encounter the European CV format, often referred to as the Europass CV. This is a standardised layout used widely across Europe, designed to make qualifications comparable between countries.

    The Europass CV is structured, detailed, and heavily focused on education, language skills, and previous roles. It’s helpful for international students applying to European universities or mobility programmes (like Erasmus), but it can feel restrictive if you want a more modern job CV.

    Read more: If you’re aiming for top UK universities, you may need to follow even more specific CV expectations. Explore our dedicated resources: read our guide on crafting an Oxford CV to understand the structure and academic focus Oxford prefers, or visit our Harvard CV article if you’re applying through international programmes with US-style requirements.

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    How to write a CV for an international student

    Now that we’ve covered the best international CV formats and templates, it’s time to look at content! In the following sections, we’re going to explain how to write a CV for an international student from start to finish, filling any gaps in your knowledge along the way.

    Here’s an overview of what’s coming up:

    Add contact details to your international student CV

    Employers and universities need to know exactly how to reach you; that’s why your contact information should be prominently displayed at the top of your international CV.

    Start with your full name, placed at the top of the page in a bold, slightly larger font. Beneath it, list your current UK address (or your home-country address if you’re applying from abroad), your telephone number, and a professional email address you check often. If you’re still using a casual email from years ago, now is the perfect time to create a new one.

    For some international student CVs, you can include your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or personal website links. These are ideal if you’re applying for creative, technical, or research-based roles where projects speak louder than words. Just make sure any links you add are up to date and easy to access.

    Example contact section for an international student CV

    Zara Bond
    Bristol, UK
    07912 345 678
    zara.bond@example-example.co.uk
    linkedin.com/in/zarabond
    zarabondportfolio.com

    Write your international student CV personal statement

    Your personal statement sits just below your contact details and gives employers or universities a quick snapshot of who you are.

    Keep it short (3–4 sentences) and focus on your skills, academic strengths, international experience, and what you can offer. Instead of repeating your entire international CV, give a confident overview that connects your abilities to the role or programme you’re applying for.

    If you’re an international student, this is also the perfect place to mention:

    • Your degree subject.
    • Language skills.
    • Any achievements that show adaptability or cross-cultural communication.
    • A clear career or academic goal.

    Strong personal statement examples for an international student CV

    Motivated international student studying Business Management with strong communication skills and experience working in fast-paced environments. Recently boosted customer satisfaction scores by 15% during a part-time hospitality role by improving service efficiency. Fluent in Spanish and English, with proven teamwork and problem-solving abilities gained through group projects and volunteering. Eager to contribute to a customer-focused role while developing UK work experience.

    OR

    Organised international Computer Science student with a strong academic record. Improved data classification accuracy by 18% using Python and machine learning techniques. Skilled in analytical problem-solving, academic writing, and cross-cultural collaboration, with fluency in Mandarin and English. Eager to join an AI programme at XYZ university to deepen my technical knowledge, contribute to research initiatives, and engage with a diverse academic community.

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    Outline your education on your international student CV

    For international students, the education section is often the most important part of the CV. Universities and employers rely heavily on your academic background to understand your level, skills, and suitability for the company and the role.

    This section can be tricky because your qualifications may come from a different education system. The key is to present them in a way that UK recruiters can easily understand, while still showing the value of your academic achievements.

    Don’t leave international qualifications off your CV. Instead, translate or clarify them to help the recruiter understand the equivalent level in the UK. You can do this by briefly noting the UK comparison (e.g., “A-level equivalent” or “UK Level 3 equivalent”). This prevents confusion and strengthens your application.

    Present your international student CV education in a clear format. For each entry, list:

    • Dates (month/year or year only; use “Expected” if not yet complete)
    • Qualification level (degree, diploma, A-level equivalent, etc.)
    • Institution and location
    • Additional notes (relevant subjects, key achievements, high grades, exchange programmes, scholarships, academic projects, etc.)

    Including bullet points beneath each qualification helps your international student CV look more detailed and be more competitive.

    If you’re applying for part-time jobs, employers simply want to understand your academic level. Aiming for university programmes? They will want more detail about subjects, coursework, and academic strengths.

    Example of education for an international student CV

    BSc Business Management
    Expected graduation in 2026
    University of Bristol – Bristol, UK

    • Relevant modules: International Marketing, Data Analytics, Global Economics
    • Completed a first-year project analysing consumer behaviour across five markets
    • Achieved a 72% average in latest assessments (UK First-Class equivalent)
    • Member of the International Students’ Society and Business Case Study Club

    Charlotte-Wolff-Kolleg
    Abitur – A-Level Equivalent (June 2021)
    Berlin, Germany

    • Specialised in Economics, English, and Mathematics
    • Graduated with a 1.9 GPA (equivalent to ABB at A-level)
    • Completed a capstone research project on EU trade dynamics
    • Awarded a certificate of merit for academic performance

    Detail work experience in your international CV

    Even if you’re still studying, you likely have work experience that’s more valuable than you think. Part-time jobs, internships, tutoring, volunteering, and campus roles all help demonstrate transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, and reliability.

    Where your work experience appears on your CV depends on the international CV format you chose, as well as your level of experience. If you’re making a CV with no work experience, or a functional CV, this part will go under your education, or get removed from your international student CV completely. If you have some years of experience already, place this section right under your personal statement.

    Set out your roles clearly so UK recruiters and admissions teams can understand your background at a glance. For each position, include:

    • Job title.
    • Employer name and location.
    • Dates of employment (month + year).
    • 3–5 bullet points highlighting achievements or responsibilities.

    Quantified results where possible (international students benefit greatly from showing measurable impact). Start each one with a CV power word.

    Strong example of work experience for an international student CV

    Administrative Assistant
    07/2024 – 05/2025
    K&T Logistics – Bristol

    • Managed incoming customer queries, achieving a 98% response rate within 24 hours.
    • Updated delivery schedules and reduced weekly processing time by 10%.
    • Coordinated leaflet distribution to 50+ households, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
    • Supported inventory checks and improved record-keeping accuracy across the team.

    List skills in your international student CV

    Even with strong education and work experience, your CV skills section plays a key role in showing what you can offer as an international student. The right skill list helps recruiters understand your strengths, especially if your experience comes from different countries or education systems.

    On a skills-based CV, this section appears near the top and includes short examples showing how you’ve used each skill. You can even rename it to “core competencies” to put extra emphasis on them. On a reverse-chronological CV, skills appear as a simple bullet-point list beneath your work experience, whichever one is lower on your international CV.

    See these examples for an international student CV:

    Core competencies

    • Office administration: Managed filing, data entry, and document preparation for a team of 8 staff, maintaining accurate records and reducing document retrieval time by 20%.
    • Customer service: Handled 30–40 phone and email enquiries per day, resolving routine issues independently and escalating urgent requests appropriately.
    • Microsoft Office: Created reports, spreadsheets, and presentations using Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, supporting weekly meetings and academic or departmental reporting.
    • Time management: Balanced full-time studies with 15–20 hours of part-time administrative work per week, consistently meeting deadlines in both areas.
    • Communication: Communicated daily with colleagues and external contacts from multiple cultural backgrounds, ensuring clear information flow and professional interactions.
    • Organisation: Maintained calendars and scheduling for multiple supervisors, helping reduce meeting clashes and missed appointments.

    OR

    Skills

    • Office administration
    • Record keeping
    • Customer service
    • Front-desk support
    • Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
    • Scheduling and coordination
    • Written and verbal communication
    • Time management
    • Organisation

    In both cases, it’s important to highlight a balanced mix of hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal qualities). Some popular skills for international student CVs include:

    Hard skills for an international CV student

    • Microsoft Excel
    • Data analysis
    • Customer service
    • Email management
    • Cash handling
    • Social media management
    • Python
    • Graphic design
    • Research methods
    • CRM software (e.g., Salesforce)
    • Academic writing
    • Web editing (e.g., WordPress)

    Soft skills for an international CV student

    Bonus sections for an international student CV

    Adding bonus sections is a powerful way for international students to stand out, especially if you have limited UK work experience or want to highlight achievements that don’t fit neatly into the main sections of your CV. 

    These extra sections help you showcase your global background, personal strengths, and academic involvement, giving employers and universities a fuller picture of who you are.

    When choosing which ones to include, think about what supports your goals. Bonus sections should add value, not just take up space. Here are the most useful bonus sections for an international student CV:

    • Language skills: This is one of the strongest assets international students bring. List each language and your proficiency level (e.g., Fluent, Native, Intermediate, A2/B1/C1). Many employers value multilingual candidates, especially in customer service, hospitality, business, and tech.
    • Certifications & courses: Include online courses, professional certificates, or industry-specific training relevant to the job or programme. Examples: IELTS/TOEFL, Google Analytics, Python courses, first-aid certificates, financial modelling, or digital marketing training.
    • Volunteer experience: Volunteering shows initiative, commitment, and community involvement. It’s especially helpful if you have limited formal work experience, and it demonstrates adaptability and teamwork in a new country.
    • Clubs & societies: UK universities look closely at extracurricular involvement. List memberships in academic societies, cultural clubs, sports teams, or student organisations, especially if you held leadership roles.
    • Personal projects: Perfect for students in tech, business, engineering, science, or creative fields. Include academic projects, group assignments, portfolio work, or independent projects. Quantify impact where possible.
    • Hobbies and interests: This is optional, but can help humanise your profile. Choose interests that show personality or align with your goals (e.g., “International debate”, “Fitness coaching”, “Coding challenges”, “Travel blogging”).

    Before applying for a job in a different country, ensure you’re legally allowed to work. You can easily find detailed guidelines for each country on the internet. For example, here’s information prepared by the UK Council for International Student Affairs, regarding working in the UK as a student.

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    Dos and don’ts for your international student CV

    DO

    Use clear, simple language instead of long or complex sentences. It makes your international CV easier for UK recruiters to read.

    Tailor your international student CV to each job by matching your skills and experience to the job description, rather than sending the same CV every time.

    Include relevant keywords from the job listing to help your CV pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by many UK employers.

    Use a professional CV template to ensure your international student CV looks polished and well-structured without spending hours formatting it yourself.

    DON’T

    Don’t leave foreign terms unexplained. If a qualification, job title, or award is only known in your home country, give a short explanation or the country’s equivalent.

    Don’t go too far back on your CV for an international student. Focus on relevant or transferable experience. Quality is more important than quantity.

    Don’t rely on long paragraphs. Use bullet points to make your CV easy to scan, especially for busy recruiters.

    Don’t forget to proofread. Spelling or grammar mistakes can be more noticeable for international applicants. Double-check your CV or use online tools to spot all errors. 

    FAQ: International student CV

    What is an international CV?

    An international CV is a curriculum vitae adapted for applying to universities or jobs in a different country. It follows the local CV expectations, layout, and writing style of that country. For example, a UK international CV format typically uses a reverse-chronological structure, avoids photos, and focuses on education, skills, and experience relevant to the role.

    How do I write a CV for a foreign country?

    To write a CV for a foreign country, research that country’s preferred CV format and adapt your layout, tone, and content to match local expectations. For UK applications, keep your CV simple, use clear headings, translate qualifications where needed, and highlight transferable skills. Always tailor your CV to the job or university programme you’re applying for.

    Do I need to include a photo in my international student CV?

    No. For UK applications, you should not include a photo on your international student CV. UK employers and universities follow strict non-discrimination guidelines, so photos, date of birth, gender, and marital status should all be left out. Always check the guidelines for the country you’ll be writing your international CV for.

    Can I use a CV template for an international student CV?

    Yes. Using an international student CV template can make the process easier by giving you the correct structure and layout from the start. A professional student CV template ensures your document looks clean, follows the right international CV format, and meets the expectations of recruiters or admissions teams.

    How long should an international student CV be?

    An international student CV should usually be one page, especially for part-time jobs, internships, or undergraduate applications. However, if you have more relevant experience, such as academic projects, volunteering, or technical skills, a two-page CV is acceptable for UK applications.

    Do international students need a cover letter?

    Yes. International students should include a cover letter when applying for jobs or university programmes. A cover letter allows you to explain your motivation, clarify your international background, and highlight why you’re a strong fit for the role. It’s an important companion to your international student CV.

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