Grad School Resume Examples, Template & Writing Tips

Use our 13 grad school resume examples to see how successful applicants structure their experience, academic background, and research interests.

You'll find resume samples organized by field of study, career stage, and applicant type as well as expert tips underneath to help you target your resume for graduate admissions committees.

Then build your own using one of our resume designs or our AI-powered resume tool.

July 20, 2025

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Grad school resume examples by graduation status

Current undergraduate student A grad school resume example

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Job-specific resume examples will come in useful if you're looking for part-time work to support your studies.

Table of Contents

Grad school resume template (text format)

A quick way to build your resume is to paste the text version below into a resume template and then tailor it to fit your situation.

[Your Address], City, State, ZIP

[Your Email Address] • [Your Phone Number]

[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

Professional Summary

Undergraduate Political Science student (3.8 GPA) with competencies in polling research and data analysis.
A detail-oriented scholar seeking admission into Yale University’s Master’s program in Political Science.

Skills

Problem solving
Adaptability
Collaboration
Time management
Critical thinking

Professional Experience

Student Researcher

The Election Process and Public Opinion, NYU Seminar, New York City, NY | Oct 20XX – May 20XX

Developed a thesis proposal for a statewide public opinion poll on tort reform
Awarded a $1,000 grant to expand and execute my polling research
Formulated a series of 47 questions designed to reduce bias
Polled over 1,000 New York residents, reaching the threshold for statistical significance
Organized the resulting data and presented my findings to the NYU Political Science department

Volunteer

Tom Suozzi for Congress, New York City, NY | May 20XX – Nov 20XX

Made and distributed campaign materials to supporters
Helped lead get-out-the-vote efforts in local neighborhoods, knocking on over 800 doors
Wrote scripts for other campaign volunteers to follow when phone banking
Excelled in a fast-paced, demanding environment

Education

New York University | Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Expected Graduation: May 20XX

Relevant Coursework: International Politics, Economics, Public Polling, Data Analysis, Electoral Process

Honors:

Magna cum laude
Dean’s List at NYU (Last 3 Semesters)
Tau Sigma Honors Society

More grad school resume templates by situation

We’ve created 11 additional grad school resume samples, each tailored to different fields and application scenarios. Explore them below:

SLP grad school resume

Apply for a speech language pathologist graduate program with a resume based on the example below:

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Grad school resume for STEM students

STEM applicants should emphasize technical skills, research experience, and relevant internships, just like the example resume below:

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We offer more guidance on putting internships on your resume if you’re struggling with how to frame them.

Grad school resume for humanities students

Humanities students should focus on elements like their dissertation and relevant coursework to give admissions committees a clearer picture of their academic interests and areas of specialization:

A humanities grad school resume example.

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MBA grad school resume

MBA applicants often bring significant work experience, so your resume should highlight those accomplishments, using numbers to showcase impact and results. This helps demonstrate your value and makes a strong case for one of those competitive program spots. Here’s an example that does that:

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See more MBA resume examples for even more ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Public health grad school resume

Applicants to public health programs should highlight their clinical experience to demonstrate their readiness for graduate-level study in the field, whether at the master’s or doctoral level:

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Grad school resume for international applicants

As an international student, presenting your academic results using a US-style GPA on your resume is important to help grad schools clearly understand your academic strengths:

A grad school resume example for international students.

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If you’re from a country whose first language isn’t English, you may also need to prove your English language skills on your resume, for instance with a TOEFL certificate (along with a score).

Grad school resume for research-track applicants

If you’re aiming for a career in academia or a research-focused role, make sure to highlight your research experience prominently on your grad school resume:

A research track grad school resume example.

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Grad school resume for professional-track applicants

Oftentimes, a master’s degree is required to open up new opportunities in your career. While it’s important to highlight your previous academic achievements, you should also show your workplace accomplishments on your resume.

A professional-track grad school resume example.

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Grad school resume for nontraditional students

If you’re returning to school after time in the workforce or pursuing a program that differs from your previous education or career path, present your experience thoughtfully.

For example, this compliance specialist is applying for a master’s degree in law:

A non-traditional student grad school resume example.

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Functional grad school resume

Functional resumes are especially helpful if you’ve gained valuable skills through unconventional paths (like volunteer work, side projects, or career changes) and want to highlight what you can do rather than where you did it. Here’s a good example for grad school programs:

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Grad school resume for architecture students

Applicants to architecture programs can use a resume like this one to highlight real-world design projects and relevant internships that showcase their practical experience:

An architecture grad school resume example.

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How to write a grad school resume

Now that you’ve seen some examples, here are four writing tips to help you write a compelling resume for your graduate school application:

1. Use keywords from the program description in your skills section

Many grad schools use applicant tracking systems (ATS) or conduct quick initial scans of resumes, so it’s worth adding the same words or phrases from the program description to your skills section.

Using keywords directly from the program description:

helps your resume pass those filters
shows you’re a strong match

All this makes you a strong candidate to admissions officers.

Example key skills section

Qualitative research methods
Data visualization with R and Python
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cross-cultural communication
Literature review and synthesis
Program evaluation

2. Highlight relevant research or projects in dedicated research/projects sections

Relevant research and academic projects show your readiness for the intellectual rigor of graduate-level study.

Listing your research experience or relevant projects on your resume demonstrates you can conduct independent work and present findings, which are core skills for most grad programs.

Example projects section

Senior Capstone Project – Behavioral Psychology
Designed and conducted a semester-long study with 50+ participants on the impact of mindfulness training on anxiety levels
Analyzed data using SPSS and presented findings to a panel of 4 faculty members
Received departmental recognition for Best Undergraduate Research Presentation

3. Showcase relevant coursework and academic skills in your education section

It may seem obvious, but grad schools want to know that you’re academically prepared for the rigors of their curriculum.

Highlighting relevant coursework on your resume along with your academic skills gives committees confidence in your foundational knowledge.

This is an especially useful addition to your education section if your major wasn’t directly related to the field you’re applying to, or if you’re transitioning from a different academic background.

Example education section

Bachelor of Arts in French
University of California, 20XX
GPA: 3.85
Relevant Coursework: French Composition and Conversation, French Literature, Francophone Cultures, Advanced Grammar and Translation
Academic Skills: French-English translation, academic writing in French, cross-cultural communication, textual analysis

4. Quantify your contributions in your experience section

Quantifying your achievements — whether in research, projects, internships, or formal work experience — helps admissions committees understand the scale and impact of your work.

Numbers provide context and credibility, making your resume more results-driven and showing that you’ve contributed meaningfully to your academic and campus communities.

Example bullet points

Tutored 25+ students over 3 semesters in calculus, improving average test scores by 15%
Organized 6 student-led workshops on public speaking with attendance of 40+ students per event
Collaborated with 3 faculty mentors to co-author a research paper presented at a regional conference with 150+ attendees

Get help making your grad school resume

Our resume builder is simple to use and crafted for future grad students. Whether you’re applying for a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree, we’ll walk you through each step so your resume reflects your academic strengths and goals.

You can store different versions of your resume in your dashboard, making it easy to revise or tailor for each program you apply to.

Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you. Highlight your education, skills, and ambitions. Start building your grad school resume today and move one step closer to your next chapter.

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Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Senior Content Editor and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at Resume Genius. In his 7+ years of experience in the careers space, he has helped hundreds of job seekers craft high-quality resumes and cover letters, ace interviews, and land their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham, England, UK, Samuel graduated with a BA in French from the University of Bristol, England, UK. Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published in numerous online outlets, including Dollar Sprout, The Enterprisers Project, and Tech Crunch. Feel free to reach out to Samuel through his LinkedIn if you’d like to collaborate. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.