1/4/2021 6 Steps to Writing an Awesome CV for your Master’s Degree Application - MastersPortal.

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6 Steps to Writing an Awesome CV for your

Master’s Degree Application
23 Dec 2020

The rules for writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Master’s application are not the same
as they are for your run-of-the-mill job application. In your academic CV, you’ll want to
show the admission committee that your skills and quali cations make you a good t for
their programme. 

These next tips will help you prepare the awless CV for applying to your future Master’s:
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1. There’s a di erence between a Resume and a
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While both documents include a short history of your activities, a Resume focuses more
on professional achievements, while a CV highlights your academic accomplishments. 1  
Consequently, most Master’s programmes will actually ask for your CV. The main
exception is when
What do you want you apply to an MBA, in which case most universities ask for your 
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2. Focus on your academic background

A golden rule of any Master’s application CV is emphasising your academic achievements
over the professional ones. You should de nitely mention professional experience, but
you should go into greater detail about your education.

In addition to identifying your alma mater, the diploma you earned and when you
graduated, you should mention some of the most relevant courses you took and
academic awards you earned - particularly those most relevant to your eld of study. 

But don’t go overboard with your descriptions! Each entry in your CV should only contain
necessary details within two to four bullet points.

3. Volunteer work and internships matter more than

you think
Internships or volunteer work show admissions o cers what are your interests, but also
that you are willing to work hard for reasons other than immediate nancial gains. If you
want to change academic subject areas, volunteer work or internships can help to bridge
the gap between your current and your desired specialisation.

Here you should focus on describing what you have done, not on what you think it says
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about you. Provide the necessary information for the admissions o cers to draw their
own conclusions.
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What impresses admission commissions is teaching experience, because that’s half of
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what academia is about. So be sure to highlight any volunteering, internship or paid
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position in which YOU were a teacher or teaching assistant. 

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4. Use powerful language and have a clear structure

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The ideal CV-length is 1-2 pages. Conclusion? A CV is not the place to waste words and
add
What meaningless u . You should choose your words meticulously so as they convey a 
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lot about your achievements in a limited space. 

Watch out for internet clichés taken from CV templates or examples, which will only tell
the admission committee that you read an article about how to write a CV. This includes
buzzwords like “detail-oriented”, which the commission already heard one-too-many
times.

Structure is also an important feature of your Master’s application CV which should

include the following:

a header with your name and contact details

clearly de ned sections with headings to emphasise technical content e.g. ‘relevant
work experience’, ‘areas of scienti c interest’, ‘laboratory skills and techniques’
descriptions (usually as bullet points)
entries in reverse chronological order (most recent to earliest)

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5. Things you should include in your academic CV

Research Interests: They show that you care about the same topics that the
programme focuses on
Education: Top-Down chronological list (mention corresponding GPAs)
Publications: Consider a hyperlink for each paper's so that the commission can have
samples of your writing
Honours and Awards: Only mention really impressive things, such as scholarships
Teaching Experiences: Show your interest in an academic life/career
Work Experiences: Address your relevant professional experiences (if any)
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Computer Skills: mention skills you master, and which might be necessary for your
programme
Language Skills: Mention grades of are
What your language
you interested tests (TOEFL, GRE, etc.)
in studying?
Memberships: Mention if you are memberCheck of anyrecommended
particular organization
programmes that
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6. Proofreading is essential 1  
Your CV is your ‘business card’. Everything you put in should be presented in a careful
and
What polished
do you wantmanner.
to study? That means adapting it for each application and editing it to make 
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sure it presents you in the best possible light. A degree from ‘Cartridge’ won’t make a
lasting impression on the commission.

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What the academic CV is all about

The most important thing you need to know about the CV you craft for your Master’s
application is that it should convey how you understand your own achievements. The CV
usually goes hand in hand with academic letters of recommendation, in which professors
further vouch for what you have done and your skills.

That’s why, you should not treat the CV as just a technicality but take time to re ect on
what you have done before and what’s noteworthy about it. If you don’t believe in your
application, how can you expect others to do so?

Written by Alexandra Oanca Share on   

A graduate in Political Science and International Relations,
Alexandra has been working for several years in media and
publishing, driven by her passion for meaningful communication.
Writing for Studyportals gives her this opportunity.

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