The guidelines for producing a curriculum vitae (CV) for a Master's application differ from those for a typical employment application. You'll want to demonstrate to the admissions committee that your talents and qualifications make you a suitable fit for their programme in your academic CV.

The following pointers will assist you in creating a faultless CV for your future Master's application:

1. What is the distinction between a resume and a curriculum vitae?

While both documents offer a brief history of your activities, a resume emphasises professional successes, whilst a CV emphasises academic achievements. As a result, most Master's programmes will request your curriculum vitae. The only exception is if you are applying for an MBA programme, in which case most universities would request your resume.

2. Concentrate on your educational background.

A golden rule of any Master's application CV is to prioritise academic achievements above career accomplishments. Professional experience should undoubtedly be mentioned, but your education should be discussed in greater depth.

You should list some of the most relevant courses you completed and academic prizes you obtained, particularly those most related to your field of study, in addition to your alma mater, diploma, and graduation date.

However, don't go too far with your descriptions! Within two to four bullet points, each entry in your CV should only contain important information.

3. Volunteering and internships are more important than you would imagine.

Internships or volunteer work demonstrate to admissions officers not only your interests, but also your willingness to work hard for causes other than monetary gain. Volunteer work or internships can help you bridge the gap between your present and intended specialisations if you want to change academic subject areas.

Instead of focusing on what you think it says about you, describe what you've done. Give the admissions officials the information they need to make their own decisions.

Teaching experience is what impresses admissions committees, because it is half of what academia is about. So make a point of include any volunteer, internship, or paid teaching or teaching assistant positions you've held.

4. Use strong language and a well-organized structure.

A CV should be no more than two pages long. Conclusion? A CV is not the place to squander words and fill it with worthless nonsense. You should carefully select your words so that they express a lot about your accomplishments in a small amount of space.

Avoid internet clichés culled from CV templates or examples, which will just serve to inform the admissions committee that you read a CV writing article. This includes terms like "detail-oriented," which the commission has overheard a few 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 defined sections with headings to emphasise technical content e.g. ‘relevant work experience’, ‘areas of scientific interest’, ‘laboratory skills and techniques’
• descriptions (usually as bullet points)
• entries in reverse chronological order (most recent to earliest)

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)
• Computer Skills: mention skills you master, and which might be necessary for your programme
• Language Skills: Mention grades of your language tests (TOEFL, GRE, etc.)
• Memberships: Mention if you are member of any particular organization that is related to what you want to study

6. Proofreading is necessary.

Your CV is your ‘business card’. Everything you put in should be presented in a careful and polished manner. That means adapting it for each application and editing it to make 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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