Tips | Curriculum Vitae for Undergraduates

1. Curriculum Vitae Overview

As you begin to compile your CV, here are some questions to consider:

• What skills and experiences does the admissions committee prioritize?
• What relevant experiences do I possess? (Look under “Suggested Sections of the Curriculum Vitae” for ideas on what constitutes relevant experience)
• What key aspects of my experience should I emphasize?
• Have I completed significant assignments or projects in my intended graduate field?
• Am I a member of any field-related associations or student clubs?
• Have I overlooked any potentially relevant information including academic and non-academic projects, extra-curricular activities, and employment?

2. Curriculum Vitae Suggested Sections 

The following are suggested CV categories. Select and order them strategically to emphasize your relevant skills, experiences and achievements aligning with the priorities of your intended program of study. When organizing the information within each category, present information in reverse chronological order, with the most recent items first. 

Personal Information

Include your name, email and phone number. When applying to programs in North America, do not include marital status, dependents, religious affiliation, gender, or ethnicity. For applications outside of North America, consult the program for specific requirements regarding this information.

Research Interests

List your specific research interests using bullet points. This section should demonstrate a clear alignment with the research topics and areas of the program you are applying to, as well as the research of faculty members you are interested in learning from or being supervised by.

Academic Information

Education: For each degree, include the date (conferred or expected), degree name, program of study, institution name. You may also list relevant coursework related to your intended field of study or research. 

Honours and Achievements / Academic Honours and Awards / Awards and Certificates

List academic awards, accomplishments and/or certificates you have received since high school.  For unfamiliar awards or certificates, provide a brief explanation. You may also include the value of the significant awards or  scholarships.

Research Experience

List research experiences (paid and/or volunteer) and significant research projects. For each entry, include the project title, supervisor’s name, and the lab or centre name if applicable. Provide detailed information regarding your specific role. Consider including independent research courses projects (IRPs), Research Opportunity Program (ROP) experiences, research internships, relevant upper-level coursework (300 / 400 level), research -focused work-study positions, and your undergraduate thesis. 

Teaching Experience

List relevant teaching experiences, such as instructorships, teaching assistantships, Facilitated Study Group Leader roles or experiences as a marker or invigilator. For each entry, include your title, the course title, the course code/level, the supervising professor’s name, and the dates. Briefly describe your responsibilities, including class size and an overview of tasks. Also, if available, include metrics of your teaching effectiveness.

Publications, Major Reports, Senior Thesis or Literature Reviews

Detail any published works using standard academic citation. For publications that are in progress, note them as “pending” along with the anticipated publication date and journal.  Consider including unpublished reports from IRPs, ROP experiences, and 300/400 level research reports (including literature reviews unless already mentioned elsewhere).

Conference Presentations or Major Presentations or In-Class Presentations

Enumerate your relevant presentations, encompassing conference presentations, presentations in senior-level courses, poster presentations, and community outreach. For each, specify the title of the presentation, the name of the class or organization, the city or university where it was delivered, and the date of presentation.

Conferences Attended

You can also include the name, location and dates of conferences, symposia or enrichment seminars you attended outside of regular classes that are relevant to your intended program of study.

Associations and Affiliations or Clubs and Memberships

List any memberships in university/student clubs, academic associations or professional associations. They do not have to be directly relevant to your areas of research interest. Indicate your title (e.g. member, VP Marketing), organization name, institution or city, date. Provide a brief description, which includes the skills you used and the results you achieved.

Professional Experience (Paid Work)

List title, company/organization, city and dates. Provide brief description for each experience including skills used and results achieved. Be sure to highlight research, data analysis, teaching, presenting skills, collaboration and project management.

Include only experiences that you gained during university. Work experiences unrelated to your intended discipline may be included. If they are unrelated to your intended program, highlight transferable skills such as collaboration, communication, and organization skills. 

On-Campus Involvement / Community Involvement / Volunteer Experience

Detail your activities on campus and in the community. For each, provide your role, the name of the organization, the institution (if relevant), the timeframe of your participation, and a brief description of your skills and achievements.

Relevant Skills

You may want to highlight any additional skills that may bolster your application, even if you have mentioned them elsewhere in the document, especially if they are research relevant. Examples include specific lab skills, software skills, fieldwork or interviewing skills & statistical expertise.

Languages

This category is most common for scholars in the humanities and social sciences and allows you an opportunity to specify your reading, writing and oral fluency in foreign languages.

References

List name, title of referee, department or company, institution or city. Three references with at least two who can attest to your academic potential (e.g. professors) are optimal. TAs are not a strong substitute for professors as referees, so start networking with your professors early. See the tip sheet on Academic References for more information.

3. Additional Resources, UTM Career Centre 

Information is subject to change. Refer to the original sources for the most up-to-date information.

Updated May 2025