CV Examples for Students (With Fill-In Template)

Below, you’ll find several CV examples, a customizable template, and practical tips to help you write a standout CV — even if you have no work experience.

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College student CV example

This undergraduate CV example shows how to make a strong case for yourself using the experience you already have. It highlights your most relevant qualifications, presents them with confidence, and guides the reader through a clear story of your growing skills and interests.

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High school student CV example

If you’re a high school student, your CV should focus on your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any volunteer work or part-time jobs you’ve held.

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Internship CV example

When applying for internships, focus your CV on relevant coursework, academic projects, and skills that match the internship’s requirements.

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Grad school CV example

A CV for a grad school application should emphasize your academic achievements and research experience.

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Academic CV example

An academic CV is used for positions in academia or research and is more detailed than a standard CV.

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Corissa Peterson

Include information about any grants, fellowships, or funding you’ve received. List your professional memberships, academic honors, and relevant skills, such as language proficiency or specialized research techniques.

Because an academic CV can be longer than a standard CV, you should provide more detail about your scholarly achievements and contributions to your field.

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Research CV example

If you’re applying for a research role, include all relevant research projects, conference presentations, publications, and lab work on your CV.

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CV template for students

Here’s a student CV template you can use when applying for jobs or internships:

How to write a student CV

Here are some tips to help you start writing your CV.

1. Include the right sections

One of the key benefits of a CV is its flexibility. You can adjust the layout to highlight your strengths, whether academic, extracurricular, or project-based, even if you lack formal work experience.

Start by including the essential sections, then add optional sections to showcase your potential and create a well-rounded impression.

Necessary sections for a student CV

While you can customize your CV, you should always include these core sections:

• Contact information: Place this at the top. Include your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if relevant), and city/state.
• Education: Include your degree, university name, expected graduation date, GPA (if strong), and relevant coursework or academic honors.
• Experience: Include internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or leadership roles.

Optional sections for a student CV

Depending on what you want to emphasize, adding optional sections can strengthen your CV and help it stand out:

• Personal statement: A brief 2–4 sentence introduction highlighting your academic focus, career goals, and key strengths.
• Skills: A list of relevant technical or hard skills.
• Certifications: Any licenses, short courses, or certifications that align with your target role or industry.
• Extracurricular activities: Include student government, clubs, sports, or event planning roles.
• Projects: Highlight school, personal, or freelance projects that show your skills in action.
• Awards and honors: Scholarships, academic awards, or other forms of recognition.
• Publications: Particularly useful for students in journalism, writing, or research-heavy fields.
• Languages: If you’re multilingual, include your language proficiency level.

2. Expand your education section

As a student, your education is likely your strongest asset, so make sure your education section stands out. List details relevant to the job, such as:

• Academic honors like cum laude
• Dean’s list
• GPA (if it’s 3.5 or above)
• Awards or scholarships
• Relevant coursework
• Projects

Here’s a great example of an effective education section for an aspiring journalist:

3. Detail your relevant experience

Instead of a traditional work experience section, create a “relevant experience” section. Include only roles or projects that directly relate to the position you’re applying for.

This approach lets you highlight internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and academic projects that demonstrate your qualifications for the role.

Quality over quantity: Early-career academics often feel the pressure to amass as many publications or teaching experiences as possible. Instead, focus on fewer but significant contributions that you can speak passionately about.

Dr. Andrew Stapleton of Academia Insider

For each experience, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Focus on transferable skills and quantifiable results whenever possible.

This helps demonstrate your qualifications even if you lack extensive formal work experience.

Here’s an example of a relevant experience section:

4. Focus on your transferable skills

Even if your previous experience is limited, you’ve likely developed valuable transferable skills through your studies, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experience.

Transferable skills: Highlight any non-academic experience that has equipped you with skills relevant to research, teaching, or service.

Dr. Andrew Stapleton of Academia Insider

Identify the skills listed in the job description that match your own and list them on your CV.

While your skills section should be tailored to the position you’re applying for, here are some common transferable skills that can strengthen your CV:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Data analysis (Excel, R, SPSS)
• Image editing software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Statistical analysis
• Negotiation
• Customer service
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Project management
• Research skills
• Presentation skills
• Public speaking

From classroom to career

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Frequently asked questions about student CVs

Here are the answers to some common questions students have about writing a CV:

What is a CV vs. a resume?

A resume is typically one page and tailored for job applications. A CV is longer, more detailed, and commonly used for academic or research positions.

How do I write a CV with no experience?

Even without formal work experience, you can still write a strong CV by highlighting your enthusiasm to learn.

Begin with your strengths and education — include your current school, expected graduation date, relevant coursework, academic achievements, and GPA (if 3.5 or higher).

Include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, sports teams, clubs, leadership roles, and significant school projects. These additions demonstrate qualities like responsibility, teamwork, and commitment — qualities employers value highly.

Add skills you’ve developed through school, activities, or personal projects. For example, communication skills from presentations, organizational skills from managing schoolwork, or technical skills from computer classes or personal interests.

What is a simple CV format?

A simple CV format starts with your contact information at the top, followed by a brief 2–3 sentence professional summary. After that, organize your CV sections by importance:

• Education
• Relevant Experience
• Skills
• Additional relevant sections

Use dark text on a white background for a clean, professional look. Avoid graphics, bright colors, or elaborate formatting unless you’re in a creative field where design skills matter. Finally, save your CV as a PDF to preserve the formatting.

Does a CV need a photo?

No. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, you should not include a photo on your CV unless a job posting specifically requests it.

How long should a CV be?

Keep your student CV to a maximum of 1–2 pages. With limited work experience, you can showcase your qualifications effectively within this length.

Quality matters more than length: a concise, well-organized one-page CV is stronger than a weak two-page CV filled with irrelevant information. Remember, employers often spend only 6–10 seconds scanning a CV, so every word should count.

Additional resources

We’ve compiled a list of resources you may find helpful when writing your student CV:

• CV format examples and guide
• Academic CV
• How to write a CV
• CV examples
• CV templates
• CV builder
• How to list publications
• How to list references on your CV
• How long should a CV be?
• CVs vs cover letters