Academic CV Template Pack — PhD, Postdoc, Faculty & Research — Word & Google Docs, Letter & A4 — Instant Download
Academic CV Template Pack — PhD, Postdoc, Faculty & Research — Word & Google Docs, Letter & A4 — Instant Download
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Where do your publications, grants and teaching go when a one-page resume is no longer enough? This academic CV template pack gives you four clear layouts for PhD and early-career applications, postdoc and research roles, lecturer and faculty applications, and a two-page research-to-industry resume. Edit the Word files or upload them to Google Docs, replace the fictional examples and follow the institution’s application instructions.
An academic CV records your scholarly experience in more detail than a targeted resume. In the US, “resume” usually means the shorter document used for non-academic jobs; UK and India terminology and institutional requirements can differ. Choose the document the vacancy requests. The guide explains the distinction before you start editing.
Why You'll Love It
- Academic sections have room to grow: education, research, publications, funding, teaching, conferences and service have clear headings.
- Publication status stays visible: examples distinguish published work, accepted or in-press articles, under-review manuscripts and work in preparation.
- Funding roles are explained: see how to identify the funder, your role, dates, currency, award status and whether an amount belongs to you or the whole project.
- Teaching gets real detail: the faculty layout gives space to courses, assessment, supervision, mentoring and service.
- An industry option is included: a two-page layout helps you select applied projects, tools and transferable contributions when a full bibliography is not appropriate.
- Simple editable structure: one column, Arial, real headings and bullet lists, with no layout tables, text boxes, photos or contact details in headers.
What's Included
- 12 editable templates (.docx): four layouts in US Letter, UK A4 and India A4.
- Two fictional worked examples (.docx): an early-career PhD CV and a postdoc CV in A4. There are 14 Word files in total.
- Eight-page Access Guide (PDF): CV versus resume by destination, editing, file access, publication and citation patterns, grants, teaching, worked-example walkthroughs and the move into an industry resume.
- Bonus one-page Submission Checklist (PDF) plus Start Here instructions and personal-use terms.
Pick Your Layout
- Early Career / PhD — three-page starting file: leads with research interests, education and research experience, then outputs, funding, teaching and service.
- Postdoc / Research — three-page starting file: leads with appointments and research contribution, with space for publication status, funding, mentoring and collaboration.
- Lecturer / Faculty — four-page starting file: gives teaching, supervision and academic service their own space alongside research and publications.
- Research to Industry — two-page starting file: puts relevant skills, experience and applied projects first, with selected education and research output.
These are editable starting lengths, not rules about how long your application must be. Add, remove or reorder sections to match your field, experience and the receiving institution’s instructions.
Who Is This For?
- PhD applicants and doctoral students preparing an academic record.
- Postdoctoral researchers, research associates and fellowship applicants.
- Lecturers and faculty applicants presenting teaching, research and service.
- Researchers moving into industry roles that request a targeted resume.
- Applicants preparing US Letter or A4 documents for institutions in the US, UK or India.
What to Include in an Academic CV
Start with contact details and the evidence the reader needs: education, appointments or research experience, publications and other outputs, funding, teaching, supervision, presentations and service. Include only sections that describe genuine work. The templates show a usable order; change that order when the role places more weight on teaching, research or another part of your record.
Use consistent citations and preserve the correct author order. Keep output status explicit. For grants, identify your contribution and distinguish a personal award from the total project budget. No published work yet? Remove empty sections and describe relevant research or clearly labelled work in progress where appropriate.
US CV vs UK Academic CV vs India
The pack includes paper-size and spelling starting points, with guidance on adapting them. It does not supply an official university, faculty recruitment or funding-body form. For India faculty applications, complete any advertised form, evidence schedule or publication list separately when required. For every destination, the institution’s instructions take priority over the sample layout.
Industry Variant for PhDs
When an employer requests a resume, select the evidence that supports that role. Describe the question you tackled, your action, the method and a useful result. Keep an output only when it helps explain your fit. The guide shows how to turn research work into clear evidence of analysis, collaboration and communication without changing a degree or group project into a claim you cannot support.
How It Works
- Download and extract the ZIP after checkout.
- Choose US_Letter, UK_A4 or India_A4 and the layout closest to your application.
- Open the DOCX in Word, or upload it to your own Google Drive and open with Google Docs. Save your own copy.
- Replace and check: update every sample detail, inspect every page, run the copy-paste test and submit the requested format.
ATS-Friendly, Explained Honestly
The files use one column, selectable text, standard fonts, real headings and real bullet lists. They avoid layout tables, text boxes, images and contact details tucked into headers. That gives you a straightforward reading order. No template can guarantee parsing by every system, shortlisting, admission, funding or an interview. Check the exact exported file and any application portal preview.
Digital Use & Software
- Digital download only; nothing is shipped.
- DOCX templates and samples, plus PDF guidance. This edition uses downloadable Word files that you upload to Google Docs; hosted make-a-copy links are not included.
- Google Docs and Word for the web can be used with the appropriate account. Desktop Word may require a licence.
- No Canva template is included in this academic pack.
- Editing and reviewing a long CV is easiest on a computer. Check every page after conversion or editing.
- Personal-use licence for your own applications. Please do not share, resell or redistribute the files.
Questions, Answered
What is an academic CV?
An academic CV is a detailed record of education, research, teaching and other scholarly work, tailored to the application. Depending on your field and career stage, it may include publications, grants, presentations, supervision and service. Follow the receiving institution’s guidance rather than filling every section simply because it appears in a template.
How long should an academic CV be?
There is no single length suitable for every academic application. Follow any stated limit and keep the evidence relevant. The supplied academic starting files are three, three and four pages; the industry resume is two pages. Add or remove content and adjust the explicit page breaks after editing.
What should be included in an academic CV?
Include contact details, education and the experience most relevant to the opportunity. Research, publications, funding, teaching, supervision, presentations and service may be useful. Use clear section names and accurate dates. Remove empty sections and check whether the institution also requires a separate form, research statement, teaching statement or evidence schedule.
What is the difference between a CV and a resume in the US?
In the US, an academic CV usually provides a detailed scholarly record, while a resume is a shorter selection for a particular non-academic role. Some research employers outside universities still request a CV. The pack includes both academic layouts and a two-page industry option; use the document requested in the vacancy.
How do I list publications on a CV?
Use the citation convention of your field consistently. Keep author order, title, venue and publication details accurate, and add only verified DOI or output links. Separate published, accepted or in-press, under-review and in-preparation work. The guide provides a general citation pattern, rather than an official discipline-specific style manual.
Can I use it if I have no publications yet?
Yes. Remove empty publication sections and show genuine research, a thesis, relevant projects or presentations. Clearly labelled work in preparation may be appropriate for some applications. Do not present planned or submitted work as published. The Early Career / PhD layout gives education and research experience prominence.
How should I list grants and funding?
Give the funder and scheme, project title, your role, dates, status and amount with currency where appropriate. Distinguish the full project award from your own allocation. Keep pending applications separate from awarded funding. A travel award or doctoral studentship should not be presented as a principal-investigator research grant.
Can I use this academic CV template in the UK or India?
Yes. UK_A4 and India_A4 provide adaptable A4 files, alongside US Letter versions. They are starting layouts, not official institutional forms. Check each vacancy or programme’s required sections, page limits and evidence. For India faculty applications, complete any prescribed recruitment form or schedule separately when requested.
Does it work in Google Docs?
Yes. Upload the DOCX to your own Google Drive and open it with Google Docs, then save your own copy. This edition does not include hosted make-a-copy links. Inspect every page after conversion, including citations, continuation labels and page breaks. The guide walks through the editing and export process.
Is a Canva template included?
No. This academic pack contains editable DOCX files for Word and Google Docs, plus PDF guidance. Its focus is long-form academic content in a simple text structure. The four layouts include a two-page industry resume; that industry option is one of the four, rather than an additional Canva design.
Can I turn my academic CV into an industry resume?
Yes. Start with the two-page Research to Industry layout and select evidence for the job. Explain your contribution, methods and useful results in clear language. Keep only relevant publications or project links. Some research employers request a full CV instead, so check the vacancy before choosing the shorter version.
Are the sample papers, journals and grants real?
No. Every sample person, institution, publication, venue, funding body and award is fictional. No real paper, journal, DOI or grant identifier is supplied. The examples demonstrate structure and status labels. Replace all of them with your own verified record and remove any section that does not apply.
Is it ATS-friendly, and does it guarantee an interview?
The files use one column, selectable text, real headings, real bullets and standard fonts without layout tables or text boxes. Run the final-file checks and review any parsed portal fields. No template can guarantee parsing, an interview, admission, funding or employment. Academic and research selection processes vary.
Earlier in your career? Explore the Student & Internship Resume Pack.
Need help? Email waohhartz@gmail.com.
All sample content is fictional. Follow each institution’s application guidance. Independent of universities, employers, Microsoft and Google. This pack does not guarantee admission, funding, a job or an interview.