If you are applying for a job, internship, scholarship, fellowship, university programme or research opportunity, you may be asked to submit a CV or resume.
Both documents introduce your education, skills, experience and achievements, but the terminology and expected format can vary by country and purpose. Understanding what a CV is and what a resume is can help you prepare the right document rather than sending the same version to every opportunity.
Key Takeaways
- A CV and resume summarise your qualifications, skills and experience.
- CV is the usual term for professional applications in the UK.
- Resume is more commonly used for employment applications in North America.
- Academic CVs can include research, publications, conferences and teaching experience.
- Scholarships and fellowships may have their own CV formats or page limits.
- Always follow the official application instructions.
What Is a CV?
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which means “course of life”. In practical terms, it is a structured summary of your professional and educational background. A professional CV commonly includes:
Contact Details
Your name, email address, telephone number and, where appropriate, location.
Professional Profile
A brief introduction explaining your background, strengths and career direction.
Education
Your degrees, qualifications, institutions and relevant academic achievements.
Work Experience
Employment, internships, placements and relevant responsibilities or achievements.
Skills
Technical, digital, research, communication, language or professional skills relevant to the application.
Example
Professional Profile
- Business graduate with experience in digital marketing, research and student engagement. Skilled in content creation, communication, Microsoft Office and social media management.
Marketing Intern
- Created digital content for social media campaigns.
- Monitored audience engagement.
- Supported promotional events and marketing activities.
A professional CV should focus on information relevant to the position rather than attempting to include everything you have ever done.
What Is a Resume?
A resume serves a similar purpose but is particularly common in North America. Resumes are generally concise and tailored towards a particular role. They typically emphasise relevant employment, skills and measurable achievements.
For example:
Marketing Assistant
- Produced weekly social media content.
- Analysed engagement data to identify high-performing posts.
- Supported recruitment and promotional campaigns.
Whether a document is called a CV or resume may therefore depend more on location and context than on a completely different type of document.
Professional CV vs Academic CV
An academic CV is different from a standard employment CV.
A Professional CV May Include
- Professional profile
- Employment
- Education
- Skills
- Professional achievements
- Certifications
- Volunteering
An Academic CV May Also Include
- Research experience
- Publications
- Conference presentations
- Teaching experience
- Research interests
- Grants or awards
- Academic memberships
- Laboratory or technical skills
Academic CVs can therefore be longer than standard professional CVs.
Do Scholarships Require a CV?
Many scholarships, fellowships and funded academic opportunities request a CV or résumé, although requirements differ between programmes.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship application requirements can vary by constituency. For example, official Rhodes application resources for Pakistan include specific CV guidance and a CV template.
This is a useful reminder that you should follow the scholarship’s own instructions rather than automatically submitting your standard employment CV.
DAAD Scholarships
Several German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship and research programmes require applicants to submit a full curriculum vitae in tabular form.
Some DAAD programmes currently specify a maximum CV length of three pages. For research-focused applications, additional documents such as research proposals, publication information or academic records may also be required.
Example Scholarship CV Content
A postgraduate scholarship applicant could present information such as:
Education
MSc Environmental Science
University of Example | 2024–2026
Research Experience
Master’s Dissertation: Climate Adaptation in Urban Communities
Conference Experience
Presented research at the Student Sustainability Conference, 2026
Skills
Academic Research | Data Analysis | SPSS | Literature Review | Academic Writing
A leadership-focused scholarship applicant, however, may give greater prominence to:
- Leadership responsibilities
- Community engagement
- Volunteering
- Professional experience
- Projects
- Awards and achievements
This demonstrates why your CV should be tailored to the opportunity.
CV vs Resume: Which Should You Use?
Follow the terminology used in the official application. If a UK employer requests a CV, submit a CV. If a US employer asks for a resume, prepare a resume suited to that position.
If a scholarship, university or fellowship requests an academic CV, your document may need considerably more academic detail. Never assume that one version is suitable for every application.
Common Questions
Can I Create a CV Without Work Experience?
Yes. Students and recent graduates can include:
- Education
- Academic projects
- Volunteering
- Internships
- Extracurricular activities
- Relevant skills
- Awards
- Certifications
How Long Should a CV Be?
For many professional applications, one or two pages is common. Academic CVs can be longer. However, if a scholarship or programme specifies a page limit, you should follow that requirement.
Should I Send the Same CV for Every Scholarship?
Usually not. Your core information may remain the same, but you should adjust the emphasis according to the scholarship’s eligibility criteria, objectives and application requirements.
Conclusion
Understanding what a CV is and what a resume is is the first step towards preparing a stronger application. Both documents present your qualifications and experience, but their length, terminology and content can vary depending on the country and purpose. A professional CV may focus heavily on employment and skills, while an academic or scholarship CV may give greater attention to education, research, leadership, publications or academic achievements.
The most important principle is simple: prepare your document for the opportunity you are applying for rather than using one generic CV everywhere.
FAQs
Is a CV the Same as a Resume?
They serve similar purposes, but terminology and expectations differ between countries and application types.
Do Scholarships Ask for CVs?
Yes, many do, particularly postgraduate, research and fellowship programmes. However, requirements vary.
Do I Need a Different CV for Scholarships?
You may need to tailor your professional CV or create an academic-style CV depending on the scholarship requirements.
Should I Include a Photo on My CV?
This depends on the country and programme. In the UK, photographs are generally not required for standard job applications. Always check the official application instructions.
What Is the Difference Between a CV and an Academic CV?
A professional CV concentrates mainly on employment, education and skills. An academic CV can additionally include research, publications, conferences, teaching, grants and other academic activities.
Mindship Global Tip:
Create one detailed master CV containing your education, employment, projects, volunteering, research, skills and achievements. When you find an opportunity, create a tailored version highlighting the information most relevant to that particular job, scholarship, fellowship or academic programme.
Disclaimer:
Mindship Global shares verified educational opportunities for informational purposes only. Always verify eligibility, funding, deadlines, required documents and application requirements through the official programme website before applying.