What is a Student Curriculum Vitae?

A student curriculum vitae, often abbreviated CV, is a type of resume that is used in fields of research, academia, and occasionally medicine; it may also be seen in the publishing field, but generally this only refers to peer reviewed academic publishing. Though the term CV is often used interchangeably with resume, this is not accurate; a student curriculum vitae is a much longer, more detailed resume than would be used when applying for a job in other industries or fields. When a student prepares a CV, it is generally to apply to graduate or postgraduate programs, research fellowships, review boards, or academic positions at colleges.

Often, a student curriculum vitae is divided up into specific sections based on one's educational experiences. For example, coursework might be divided into specific fields, with a brief description of the work completed, or the research done in the course. Research completed outside of class or on one's own may also be included. Students generally include information about specific professors or researchers with whom they have worked as well. Academic awards and recognition may be listed, but these are generally not highlighted as much on a student curriculum vitae as they would be in a traditional resume.

Other important experience includes any articles or books that have been published, as well as any grants that you have received as a student or researcher. Of course, if you are applying to a master's program, this might not be applicable yet. In this case, volunteer work, internships, experiences studying abroad, or even workshops a student has taken can be included. All of this information naturally makes a student curriculum vitae much longer than most resumes, which should be capped at two pages. A CV can be three to five pages or more depending on the experience the student chooses to include.

Employment history generally concludes a student curriculum vitae. Professional certificates and licenses may also be included, as well as personal information, such as any additional languages spoken. It is important to make sure the resume is neat, completely free of grammatical errors, and easy to follow and read. This is why dividing it into sections is often the best path to follow, because it makes it easier for those reading the CV to understand it. It is a good idea to have someone from the same field read over the student curriculum vitae, and point out any confusing areas or mistakes before handing it in.