In this guide
Resumes and cover letters
How to list education on a resume at any stage
Where education belongs on a resume at each career stage, what to include for each qualification, and how to show unfinished study or overseas qualifications.
Where education goes on the page
| Your situation | Where it goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Still studying or recently finished, little relevant work | Near the top, after a short profile | It is the strongest evidence you have |
| Several years of relevant work | After experience | Your work now proves more than your qualification |
| Retraining for a new field | Near the top if the new qualification is what makes you eligible | The reader needs to see it before your older work |
| Role requires a specific degree or qualification | Wherever a recruiter will see it quickly | Meeting a hard requirement should never be missed |
England's National Careers Service gives the same rule of thumb: lead with education early in your career and with work history once you have more of it.
What to include for each qualification
- The qualification's full name, including the subject.
- The institution and, if it helps, the town or country.
- Dates attended or the year completed. Month and year is clearer when the study overlaps with work.
- The grade or classification when it is strong, when the advert asks for it, or when it is a stated requirement.
- Two or three relevant modules, a dissertation or a project, but only early in your career or when they connect directly to the role.
Experienced applicants can often shorten older or less relevant qualifications to a single line each.
Unfinished, paused and in-progress study
Study you did not finish still counts as learning, and in-progress study can show where you are heading. The rule is to describe it as it actually stands so nobody reads a completed qualification into it.
Illustrative example
Study that did not reach completion
Before
BSc Computer Science, Northfield University
After
BSc Computer Science, Northfield University, completed first two years (2021–2023). Modules included databases and software engineering.
The 'before' version reads as a finished degree, which a background check would contradict.
Illustrative example
A qualification still in progress
Before
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting
After
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, in progress (two of four units passed; completion expected summer 2027)
Grades and classifications
Include a grade when it is a requirement, when the advert asks for it, or when it strengthens your case. Leaving out an unremarkable grade is acceptable; stating a higher one than you received is not, and degree results are among the easiest facts for an employer to verify.
Grading systems differ by country, so give the result in the form your institution issued it. Where the scale is unfamiliar to the reader, a short plain explanation can help.
Qualifications gained in another country
Give the original name of the qualification and the institution, then add a brief plain-language description that a local reader can follow, such as the level and subject. Avoid renaming it as a local qualification, because that implies an equivalence nobody has confirmed.
In the UK, UK ENIC provides statements that compare overseas qualifications with UK levels. If you have one, you can mention it; some employers and professions ask for one.
When to drop school qualifications
School results matter most at the start of a career and when an advert asks for minimum grades in particular subjects. After a degree or several years of work, a single summary line, or nothing at all, is usually enough unless the employer requests them.
Common questions
Should I include dates on my education?
Usually yes, because they help the reader place your study alongside your work. Some experienced applicants give only the year of completion for older qualifications, which is acceptable as long as it is accurate.
Can I list a qualification I am about to start?
Only if it is confirmed, and label it clearly, for example 'starting January 2027'. A course you are only considering does not belong on the resume.
Sources
- National Careers Service: how to write a CV / resumeNational Careers Service (GOV.UK) · England · checked 3 October 2026
- UK ENIC: statements comparing international qualifications with UK levelsUK ENIC · UK · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
See how Luceria helps with thisDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.