How to List Your Degree on Your CV as a Recent Graduate is one of the most common questions new UK graduates ask when they begin preparing a professional CV. Whether you have just completed university or are still awaiting your final results, knowing how to present your degree in a clear, confident, and employer-friendly way is essential. The education section of your CV plays a major role in early-career job applications, so it needs to be accurate, well-structured, and aligned with what UK hiring managers expect.
In this detailed guide, you will learn exactly how to display your degree professionally, including format examples, UK-specific guidance, and helpful tips to make your CV stand out without over-writing it.
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How to List Your Degree on Your CV as a Recent Graduate
Understanding How to List Your Degree on Your CV as a Recent Graduate is important because your degree is usually the strongest part of your early-career profile. At this stage, employers expect your CV to highlight your academic background clearly, especially if you have limited work experience.
This section explains why listing your degree correctly matters and how UK recruiters read this information when shortlisting candidates.
Why Listing Your Degree Correctly Matters in the UK Job Market
In the United Kingdom, the education section carries significant weight for recent graduates. Since many entry-level applicants have limited professional experience, employers look directly at your degree to assess:
- Whether you meet the basic qualification requirements
- Your academic strengths or specialisms
- Your commitment to completing higher education
- Whether your field of study matches the job role
A well-presented degree suggests professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine suitability for the job. Even small formatting mistakes can look unpolished, so clarity and structure are essential.
Read Also: Switching Careers? Here’s How to Rebrand Yourself on Your CV
How UK Hiring Managers Read the Education Section
UK hiring managers tend to scan CVs quickly. Most spend less than 10 seconds on an initial review. This means your degree must be:
- Easy to find
- Clearly formatted
- Listed in reverse chronological order
- Free from unnecessary detail
Recruiters are not looking for long paragraphs. Instead, they prefer clean bullet-style formatting with degree title, university name, dates, and grade.
They also appreciate brief, relevant additions such as key modules, a dissertation title, or academic achievements when they relate directly to the role.
Correct Format to List Your Degree as a Recent Graduate
Your degree should appear near the top of your CV, ideally before your work experience section. This is because, as a new graduate, your degree is your strongest asset.
The basic UK format should include:
- Degree title (for example: BA (Hons) English Literature)
- University name
- Location (optional)
- Dates of study
- Grade or predicted grade
A clean structure looks like this:
BA (Hons) Business Management
University of Manchester
2021–2024
Achieved: 2:1
If you want, you may add relevant modules, your dissertation title, or academic awards beneath the core information.
How to Present Predicted Grades, Actual Grades, or Incomplete Degrees
If you have your final grade:
List it clearly, as follows:
BSc (Hons) Computer Science
University of Leeds
2020–2023
Achieved: First Class
If you are awaiting results:
Use the wording:
- Predicted: First
- Expecting: 2:1
- Pending final classification
Example:
BA (Hons) Media and Communications
Cardiff University
2021–2024
Predicted: 2:1
If your degree is incomplete:
You should still list it, especially if you completed at least one full year.
Example:
BSc Psychology (Incomplete)
University of Reading
2022–Present
Completed first year modules and progressed towards final qualification.
Recruiters appreciate transparency, so do not hide incomplete degrees. Simply present them clearly and honestly.
How to List Your Dissertation, Modules, or Relevant Coursework (UK Style)
As a recent graduate, adding your dissertation or modules can strengthen your CV, especially if you lack experience. However, the key is to include only information that is relevant to the role.
Dissertation
You may list it like this:
Dissertation:
Exploring the Impact of Social Media Marketing on UK Consumer Behaviour
Dissertations are most useful when applying for analytical, research-based, or specialist roles.
Key Modules
Present modules in a clean, grouped style:
Relevant Modules:
Digital Marketing, Consumer Psychology, Market Research, Data Analytics
Avoid listing too many modules. Select only those that directly support your career goals.
Coursework or Academic Projects
You can add these if they demonstrate skills linked to the job. Example:
Academic Project:
Designed a digital advertising campaign for a UK charity, including audience analysis, content strategy, and performance measurement.
This type of detail is especially useful for fields such as marketing, business, tech, or graphic design.
Examples of How a Recent Graduate Should Format Their Degree on a CV
Below are clear, UK-style examples recent graduates can copy directly.
Example 1: Standard UK Format
BA (Hons) English Literature
University of Warwick
2020–2023
Achieved: 2:1
Relevant Modules: Modern Literature, Creative Writing, Language Studies
Example 2: Candidate with Predicted Grade
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
King’s College London
2021–2024
Predicted: First
Dissertation: The Role of Gene Editing in Future UK Healthcare
Example 3: With a Professional Focus
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Bournemouth University
2020–2023
Achieved: First
Key Projects: Developed branding concepts for local UK businesses
Example 4: Incomplete Degree
BSc Chemistry (Incomplete)
University of Nottingham
2022–Present
Completed Year 1 with strong grades in Organic Chemistry and Laboratory Skills.
These formats work well across all UK CVs because they are scannable, structured, and tailored to early-career applications.
Tips for Making the Education Section Stand Out Without Over-Writing
Many UK graduates try to over-explain their degree, which makes the CV look text-heavy. To avoid that, use these tips:
- Keep each point short and relevant
- Highlight achievements that matter to employers
- Add only 2–4 key modules
- Include your dissertation only if it supports your job goals
- Use clean subheadings to break up information
- Avoid full sentences or paragraphs in the education section
Remember: recruiters value clarity more than length.
Common Mistakes UK Graduates Should Avoid
New graduates often make avoidable errors when listing their degree. Steering clear of these mistakes can make your CV much stronger:
Do not:
- List your GCSEs or A-levels above your degree (degree must come first)
- Add too many modules or irrelevant details
- Hide predicted grades
- Use inconsistent formatting
- Write long paragraphs
- Forget to include dates
- Use non-UK spelling on a UK CV
A clean, structured education section is far more impressive than a cluttered one.
Conclusion
Understanding How to List Your Degree on Your CV as a Recent Graduate is one of the most important steps in preparing a professional UK CV. By using a simple format, adding relevant academic details, and avoiding unnecessary information, you can present your education in a way that is strong, confident, and aligned with what UK employers expect.
Keep it clear. Keep it accurate. Keep it relevant to the job you want.
FAQs
1. Should my degree appear before my work experience?
Yes, if you are a recent graduate. Your degree is your strongest selling point at this stage.
2. Do I need to include my dissertation?
Only if it is directly relevant to the job you are applying for.
3. Should I list every module from my course?
No. Choose only three or four modules that reflect the skills required for your target job.
4. What if I am still waiting for final results?
Use “Predicted” or “Pending classification” to show transparency. UK employers accept this.
5. Should I include A-levels and GCSEs?
Yes, but place them below your degree in a short list.
