How to create an academic CV to land an international scholarship

If you apply for international scholarships, your CV will be assessed for its academic merit to determine if you should receive the scholarship. To ensure your successful application, you must present yourself as the strongest candidate possible.

The first step to increasing your chances of a successful application is ensuring a suitable CV for the scholarships. An academic CV should be tailored for scholarships and academic work, containing details about publications, academic achievements, and activities such as presentations, lectures, and seminars. If you apply with a generic or non-academic-looking CV, there is a high chance it will be judged as failing to meet the academic standard required by the scholarship provider.

Top tips for writing a CV for international scholarships

1) Use robust and professional language and grammar

This is important in all CVs, particularly academic ones. Scholarship providers seek students who can clearly communicate their ideas, using strong academic language and correct grammar. Your CV is the first opportunity to show your skills in this area.
By using a formal language style, you are showing that you are serious about your career and the scholarship. You are demonstrating to the scholarship provider that you are a strong candidate. It is also important to remember that bad grammar can decrease your chances of success by making you look unprofessional and unable to communicate effectively.

2) Include updated information about your academic achievements

For every scholarship, there will be an academic component. This may involve specializing in a particular subject area or field, conducting research, publishing papers, or organizing conferences. Your CV must show that you have evidence of these achievements. In other words, it will be tough for the scholarship provider to assess whether you can do the specialized work if your CV does not include examples of this work.
The importance of the CV’s awards, publications, and projects will vary from scholarship to scholarship. For some scholarship programs, these may be the only required evidence of your academic achievements. In other words, if you are applying for a grant to support academic research (rather than an exchange program, for example), you may only need something else in your application aside from this evidence of your high level of skills and achievements.

3) Include activities that show leadership and community involvement

This is important if you are applying for an international scholarship that is looking for someone who can contribute beyond the classroom. This could include the team or individual sports, clubs, organizations, or social events. It is also essential to highlight any work experience that involved leadership or responsibility.

The more responsibility you took on in these areas, the better – demonstrating your ability to deal with large projects and handle a team of people. This is an essential skill in professional and academic settings, so it will be helpful for the scholarship provider to see that you have evidence of this.

4) Get Samples of Well-Written CVs in Your Discipline

You must get advice and help with writing your CV. Before you submit your CV for a scholarship, it is a good idea to get a sample of how other people in your discipline write their CVs. By comparing your draft with these samples, you’ll find out where you could improve and ensure that you include the relevant information that will impress the scholarship provider.
In addition, you should also get some professional help from a professional writer who understands how to write academic CVs and can help you produce a CV that meets the requirements of an international scholarship.

5) Keep your CV Brief and to the Point

A CV should be between one and two pages long, with most scholarship providers accepting a one-page CV. This allows you to cover the main details of your academic career without writing an entire essay. It’s also important to remember that scholarship providers are busy people and have many applications to read, so you must ensure that your CV is as short, concise, and straightforward as possible.
To help you do this, it is helpful to split your CV into sections. One section could be dedicated to your academic achievements, another to community involvement, and a third to other skills or interests. This will allow you to write the details in an organized and easy-to-read way.

6) Create a CV that is tailored to the Program

One of the most critical factors in applying for international scholarships is tailoring your CV and application to suit the scholarship provider’s requirements. Suppose you apply for a scholarship that is not seeking academic achievement (such as an exchange program or work experience). In that case, you can focus on other more general skills and interests, such as leadership and community engagement.
By doing this, you’ll increase your chances of being successful. This is because each scholarship provider will want to see that you have the suitable skill set and experience to be a good candidate. By showing that you meet their requirements, they’ll be more likely to accept your application and award you the scholarship.

7) Write a CV that is Persuasive and Convincing

The scholarship provider will seek a compelling reason to choose you over your fellow applicants. This is particularly important for international scholarships and is the main reason that tailoring your application to meet the requirements of the scholarship provider is so important. By using persuasive language, you can demonstrate that you have good communication skills and can communicate effectively. This means they will be more likely to accept you as a candidate and award you the scholarship.

8) Remember to Proofread and Polish!

It would be best if you always proofread your CV after writing it. This will prevent spelling mistakes and help you identify areas that can be improved. It is also essential to check your grammar. Remember, the scholarship provider will be looking for a high level of communication skills, so make sure that you show this by communicating clearly and effectively in writing.