List education as a short block with the qualification, the subject, the institution and the dates, newest first. Put it after experience if you have worked for a few years, and at the top if you are a student, a recent graduate or applying where a specific degree is required. Keep it to what helps: relevant modules, honours and a dissertation if they relate to the job. Be exact about what you finished. The section is easy to write and easy to get wrong in small ways that raise questions.
The basic format
One line per qualification works for most people.
"BSc Computer Science, University of Leeds, 2018 to 2021"
Add a second line only if it carries information: honours, relevant modules or a project.
"First-class honours. Final-year project: a recommendation engine for a university library, built in Python."
Use the same date format as in the rest of the resume, such as month and year or just years if you use years elsewhere.
Order and placement
| Situation | Put education |
|---|---|
| Student or recent graduate | At the top, after the summary |
| 1 to 3 years of experience | Near the top or after experience, depending on strength |
| Established career | After experience |
| A degree is a hard requirement | Visible near the top |
| Career change with new qualification | Near the top, with the new one first |
Within the section, list the highest and most recent first.
What to include and what to cut
Include:
- Degree type and subject.
- Institution and location, if it helps (not always needed in your own country).
- Dates of attendance or graduation.
- Honours or class, if strong.
- Relevant modules, a thesis or capstone if early in your career.
- Scholarships and awards, briefly.
Cut:
- High school once you have a higher qualification.
- Modules unrelated to the target job.
- A GPA if it is weak or if the employer would not expect it.
- Long lists of activities that belong in their own section.
GPA and grades
In the US, a GPA of about 3.5 or above is usually worth listing for early-career roles; state the scale. In the UK and many other countries, list the class of degree, for example 2:1 or first. Outside early career, drop it. If the grade is unremarkable, let projects and experience make the case.
Unfinished, ongoing and online qualifications
| Situation | How to list |
|---|---|
| Still studying | "BA Business, University of X, expected 2027" |
| Left before finishing | "Coursework toward a BA in Economics, University of X, 2019 to 2021" |
| Online degree | List it like any other, with the institution name |
| Short course or bootcamp | Under a separate heading such as "Training" or "Certifications" |
| International degree | Give the original name and a recognised equivalent if helpful |
Do not use wording that implies a degree you did not complete. Credentials are among the most commonly verified claims, and a mismatch can end an application. See resume fraud and verification for how recruiters check them.
Certifications and licences
If a certification is essential for the role, such as a nursing registration or a professional accounting qualification, list it near the top, with the issuing body and the date or expiry. Otherwise, put certifications in their own section or in a line after education. See how to list certifications.
Education without a degree
If you do not have a degree and the job does not require one, lead with experience and use education as a short line at the end. Many roles ask for a degree out of habit rather than need, and what you have done counts. Do not apologise for it on the page. If the posting lists a degree as preferred and you have strong experience, apply anyway and make the evidence clear in the summary and bullets. See job description writing for why those lists are often inflated.
Common mistakes
- Inconsistent date formats between sections.
- A graduation year that makes the page look dated or fuels bias when it adds nothing.
- Listing every school attended.
- Missing the exact name of the qualification.
- Including unfinished work without saying so.
Putting it together
A mid-career example:
"MSc Data Science, University of Edinburgh, 2020 to 2021. Dissertation: forecasting energy demand with gradient boosting. BEng Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, 2013 to 2017. Upper second-class honours."
That is two lines of facts. The rest of the page carries the work. For the full structure, see the resume writing guide, and for ordering the sections, resume format.
Formats for different situations
| Situation | Example line |
|---|---|
| Current student | MSc Environmental Science, University of Manchester, expected 2027 |
| Recent graduate with honours | BA History, University of Warwick, 2022 to 2025. First-class honours |
| Professional qualification | ACCA, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, qualified 2024 |
| Overseas degree | BEng Mechanical Engineering, Anna University, India, 2015 to 2019 |
| Postgraduate certificate | PGCert Project Management, Coventry University, 2025 |
| Apprenticeship | Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship, Cloud Academy, 2021 to 2024 |
Overseas qualifications
If you studied outside the country where you are applying, give the original name of the qualification and, if helpful, a recognised equivalent. Many countries have bodies that compare qualifications to local standards. If your employer is likely to confuse the title, one clarifying phrase is enough. Do not translate the degree into a different one.
A quick check
- Is the highest qualification first?
- Do the names and dates match your certificates?
- Is anything unfinished labelled clearly?
- Is the section shorter than your experience section?
- Does every line help with this job?
If the answers are yes, the section is done and you can return to the bullets that carry more weight.
Common inquiries regarding this topic.
Where should education go on a resume?
After experience if you have been working for a few years, and at the top if you are a student or recent graduate, or if a specific degree is a requirement for the role.
After experience if you have been working for a few years, and at the top if you are a student or recent graduate, or if a specific degree is a requirement for the role.
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