How to Write a CV for a University Application: A Guide for Mature Students
Applying to university and been asked for a CV?
Don't panic. A university CV doesn't need a fancy design or pages of information. It simply needs to give the admissions team a clear and accurate picture of your education, employment and experience.
For mature students, this is especially important because your work and life experience may be just as relevant as qualifications you completed years ago.
Here's what to include.
1. Personal Details
Keep this simple:
Full name
Email address
Telephone number
Town or city
You usually don't need a photograph, date of birth, marital status or other unnecessary personal information.
And check your email address. Your teenage Hotmail era may deserve a peaceful retirement.
2. Education History
List your most recent education first and include:
Dates (month and year) | Institution | Qualification | Country, if studied overseas
For example:
January 2018 – August 2020
ABC College, London
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
Include qualifications completed outside the UK too.
Have you studied at university before?
Include it, even if you didn't complete the course.
Previous higher education study can be relevant to both your university application and Student Finance.
Don't leave it out because you think it looks bad. An incomplete course is simply part of your education history.
3. Employment History
Again, start with your most recent job.
Include:
Dates (month and year) | Job title | Employer | Main responsibilities
For example:
December 2021–Present | Care Assistant | ABC Care Services
Support service users with daily activities
Maintain records and follow safeguarding procedures
Communicate with service users, families and colleagues
You don't need to describe every task you've ever performed. Two or three useful points are usually enough.
And your job doesn't have to match your chosen degree. A chef, cleaner, delivery driver, receptionist or retail worker can all have valuable transferable skills.
4. Explain Significant Gaps
A gap in your CV isn't automatically a problem.
You may have been raising children, caring for someone, looking for work, relocating, studying or taking a career break. Just make the timeline clear.
For example:
January 2017 – December 2020 | Family responsibilities / Full-time parent
That's enough. Never invent employment to fill a gap.
5. Add Relevant Training and Skills
You can also include relevant:
professional qualifications
workplace training
certificates
volunteering
languages
industry-specific skills
Keep it relevant. Your CV doesn't need every online course you've completed since Wi-Fi was invented.
6. Provide a Suitable Reference
You may be asked to provide at least one professional or academic referee. Please have the correct details ready:
Full name
Job title/role
Company or organisation name
Business email address
Company landline number, if providing a telephone number
For example:
Maria Silva, Operations Manager, ABC Care Services Ltd maria.silva@abccareservices.co.uk | 020 1234 5678
Your referee should normally use an official business or organisational email address, rather than a personal Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo account.
If you're providing a telephone number, use the company landline, not your referee's personal mobile.
Remember to always ask the person for permission before giving their details.
Keep Your CV Simple
Admissions teams don't need elaborate graphics, colourful skill bars or five different fonts.
A simple structure works perfectly well:
Personal Details
Education
Employment
Training & Qualifications
Additional Skills/Languages
Reference
For most applicants, around two pages will be enough, although this will depend on your history and any requirements from the university.
The goal isn't to make your CV beautiful, it's to make it easy to understand.
Before You Send It
Check four things:
✓ Are all your dates correct?
✓ Have you included previous education and university study?
✓ Are significant gaps explained?
✓ Does everything match the information on your application?
Small inconsistencies can cause unnecessary questions or delays.
Want a Head Start?
We've created a free University Application Toolkit for Mature Students to help you prepare.
It includes:
University CV template
Personal statement guide
Interview preparation guide
University application checklist
Leave your email address below and we'll send the toolkit straight to your inbox.
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Need Help With Your Application?
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No pressure. No hard sell. Just guidance.
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