A Curriculum vitae(CV) is a document that gives highlights of your education, work experience, awards, etc. This document is needed when applying for jobs or pursuing further education. When pursuing further education, it is referred to as an Academic CV.
An academic CV is a document that lists comprehensively your educational background, teaching, and research experience. It showcases your academic credentials. With this document, you show the admissions board that you are worthy of the admission you are seeking.
If you are reading this article, chances are that you are applying for your masters’ program in any of the European countries, and you are confused about what style of CV is acceptable in Europe. Or maybe you need a sample European CV for your master’s application. You’re in the right spot, just keep reading.
European CV or Europass CV?
Most applicants often find themselves in a fix wondering which style of CV to use when applying for Masters or any form of schooling in Europe. For clarity purposes, the two styles will be explained.
Europass CV is an already-made template where applicants to any country in Europe can input their details and create a CV. It was brought into existence by the initiative of the European Union as a means of giving applicants a fair chance of getting hired or accepted in any country in Europe.
The Europass CV has the advantage of being easy to use, widely accepted all through Europe, and being in 29 languages. It also has the disadvantage of being overused, poor design, making an applicant blend in instead of standing out, etc.
A European CV is a document that details the academic background of the applicant while conforming to the European standard. In other words, the CV is written with reference to the acceptable norms of a CV in Europe.
It has the advantage of giving the applicant room to be creative, to stand out, and to be able to express oneself and achievements. Also, it gives the recruiting team a sense of you investing time to make the application.
It is advisable for applicants to use the European CV except in cases where the school requires that you use the Europass CV. This is because the European CV allows you to express yourself better than the Europass CV.
Do you need help writing your European CV? If yes, then contact us here, and a professional will attend to you.
Components of a European CV
The following are the information that must feature in your European CV for master’s application:
- Personal information
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Mailing address
- Education: list your degrees starting from the most recent to the least recent. Write in the following order:
- Name of institution
- City and State
- Degree type and major
- The month and year of being awarded the degree
- Relevant Experience: list the relevant experiences to the course you are applying for that you may have. Write in the following order:
- Title
- Organization name
- City and State
- Date when the position was held
- Publications: include any publications that you may have authored or co-authored.
- Presentations: include any form of presentation that you may have done. Write in the following order:
- Title of presentation
- Name of the event
- Date and Location
- A brief description (optional)
- Honors and Awards: include any relevant honors and awards relevant to your masters’ application.
- References: a list of 3-5 names is acceptable. However, find out the number required for the application.
Below are optional headings that can feature in the CV and they are:
- Qualification or skills
- Grants Received
- Institutional Service
- Certifications: write the title of the certification and the date issued.
- Professional Association
- Recent Research
- Community Involvement
- Educational Travel
It is important to add only relevant information to your CV, this is because they all come together to boost your chances of being granted admission.
Tips for Writing Your European CV
- Be clear and concise
- Use the appropriate font size and style
- Include only relevant information
- Use action verbs when writing about your duties or activities
- Use numbers and facts when quantifying your achievements
Sample of a European CV for Masters Application

To download the European CV Masters Application sample, click here.
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