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Academic CV: a complete record, arranged so a reviewer can scan it

An academic CV is a full record of your education, appointments, research output, funding, teaching and service, arranged so a search committee can check each claim quickly. Unlike a short resume, it usually runs longer and lists every publication and grant in a consistent format, with the dates and status a reviewer needs. Start from the job or fellowship's instructions, because expected sections and their order differ between fields and countries.

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Section outline

Sections in a typical order, with word budgets

  1. Contact and current post

    Your name, current appointment, professional email and the institution's address. Leave out personal data the application does not ask for.

    40 words

  2. Education

    Degrees, institutions and years, with the dissertation title for doctoral work. Usually the most recent degree comes first.

    80 words

  3. Appointments and positions

    Academic and research posts with the institution, the title, the dates and the main responsibilities, one line each.

    120 words

  4. Publications and outputs

    Peer-reviewed articles, books, chapters, conference papers and other outputs, each with its status: published, in press, under review or in preparation.

    300 words

  5. Funding, teaching and service

    Grants with your role and years, courses taught with the term, and committee or editorial service, each in its own short list.

    200 words

Total: 740 words

Example excerpt

A sample set of entries, with fictional names

Sample section

Illustrative example. The person, institutions and entries are fictional. EDUCATION Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Northfield University (fictional), 2024. Dissertation: Sensor placement for urban stormwater monitoring. M.S., Civil Engineering, Lakeview State University (fictional), 2019. APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Research Associate, Water Systems Lab, Northfield University, 2024 to present. Research Assistant, Water Systems Lab, Lakeview State University (fictional), 2017 to 2019. Built the sensor calibration log used in two later publications. PUBLICATIONS Peer-reviewed articles Ames, J., and Chen, L. (2025). Placement of rain gauges for flood alerts. Journal of Urban Water Studies (fictional), 12(3), 201 to 219. Published. Ames, J. (under review). Stormwater sensor networks: a comparison of three designs. GRANTS Co-investigator, flood sensor pilot, funded by [funder name], 2025 to 2027. Award amount as stated in the award letter: [amount]. TEACHING Instructor of record, Hydrology 201, spring 2025. Designed the weekly laboratory sequence. SERVICE Member, graduate admissions committee, Northfield University, 2025 to present. Reviewer, manuscripts on urban monitoring networks, 2025 to present.

Weak and strong wording

Replace counts and vague phrases with checkable entries

Weak: Published several papers on water quality.

Strong: Two peer-reviewed articles on stormwater sensor placement, 2024 and 2025, with the journal, the year and your place in the author list.

A count hides what you did. Name each item and your role so a reviewer can check it.

Weak: Taught some courses.

Strong: Instructor of record, Hydrology 201, spring 2025. Designed the weekly laboratory sequence.

Teaching is easier to assess when each entry gives the course, your role and the term.

Weak: Received grant funding.

Strong: Co-investigator, flood sensor pilot, funded by [funder name], [years], [amount as stated in the award letter].

Name the funder and your role. List only awards you held or were named on, and use the amount the award states.

Weak: Involved in many committees.

Strong: Member, graduate admissions committee, [department], [years].

A service entry names the body and the years. Keep to roles you can document.

Quality checklist

Check the CV line by line before you send it

  • Every entry has a date, and the order within each section matches the job's instructions.
  • Each publication states its status: published, in press, under review or in preparation. Nothing under review is listed as accepted.
  • Author lists match the papers, and your name appears the way it does on them.
  • Grants list the funder, your role and the years, and show only amounts that the award letter states.
  • Teaching, service and supervision sit in separate sections, so a reviewer can find each one.
  • Contact details are your professional ones, and personal data such as a home address or date of birth is left out unless the application asks for it.
  • Section headings use the language of the job advertisement, so a reviewer finds each part quickly.
  • The CV meets the application's length and file rules, checked against the current instructions.
Format notes

Keep the format steady across a long list

One pattern for every entry

Use the same order for each item, such as authors, year, title, venue and status. A long list is readable when every line follows the same pattern.

Lead with the strongest recent work

Many reviewers read the top of each section first. Put the work closest to the position at the top, unless the job asks for a strict chronological list.

Explain unusual outputs in a short note

A dataset, a software release or a preprint may need a brief note on its status or version. Keep it to a line, and state only facts you can verify.

Keep a shorter version alongside the full one

Many applications ask for a shorter CV. Keep a second version with the same entries and fewer lines, rather than deleting items from the full record.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an academic CV and a resume?

An academic CV is usually longer and lists every publication, grant, teaching role and service item. A resume is short and tailored to the job. Some employers outside academia ask for a resume, and some academic jobs ask for both, so check the instructions.

Is there an academic CV template for Word?

This page gives the section outline and sample entries, which you can copy into your own word processor. Content Creator makes a self-contained HTML page and does not produce a Word file, so a Word version has to be made in Word or another editor.

Can I use an academic CV template for a master's application?

Yes, for the structure. A master's application usually asks for education, research or work experience and any relevant projects. Leave out the publications section if you have none, and never list work as published when it is not.

Should I download a free academic CV template?

Free templates vary a lot in quality. Use one only if its sections match the application's instructions and it does not add content you did not write. Check that the file opens cleanly before you send it anywhere.

Should an academic CV include a photo or personal details?

It depends on the country and the field, so follow the application's instructions first. If the instructions say nothing, leave out personal details the application does not need, such as age or marital status.

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