How to List Education on a Resume (Template and Example)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 17 September 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Hiring managers usually consider education to be a valuable credential for candidates. It can outline their knowledge and skills in their field of study, along with their capabilities to learn complex processes and procedures. Understanding how to discuss your education on your resume can help you develop an engaging job application showcasing your theoretical and practical knowledge. In this article, we provide several tips on how to list education on a resume, detail resume formatting for education sections, provide a resume template showing education and share some resume examples for current and past students.

How to list education on a resume

Below, you can explore six steps on how to list education on a resume:

1. Discuss your education in your professional summary

Your professional summary is typically the first section on your resume showcasing your suitability as a candidate. If you're new to the workforce and have no work experience, your education might be your most impressive credential. A professional summary is usually only two to three sentences long, so you can dedicate a sentence of the summary to your education. If you have work experience, your education might still be your most impressive credential, so you can discuss it in your professional summary. This can immediately show the hiring manager your competence, as it's likely the first section they read.

2. Identify the importance of your education

Depending on the job position you're applying for, the organisation might value your education more than your work experience and skills. Education might also be a formal requirement, depending on the job and the hiring organisation's preferences. You can usually determine the importance of education for a job role by reviewing the job description. This description typically outlines the favourable traits, skills, experience and education required for a successful candidate. If the hiring business deems education highly valuable, you can consider listing your education underneath your professional summary.

Related: What to Include In a Resume

3. Determine if your education is relevant

You might have extensive education, but it might not relate to the job position. For example, if you're applying for a finance role and have a degree in biology, hiring managers may have little interest. The value of an unrelated education can depend on the job and the hiring manager. Even though your education may be irrelevant, it can still outline your ability to learn new processes and commit to several years of self-development. An unrelated education might also help explain an employment gap. In most situations, though, it's typically better to include education relating to the job role.

4. List your education in a reverse-chronological order

If you have several qualifications, it's usually a good idea to list them in reverse-chronological order, provided they relate to the job role. This means you list the most recent education first, followed by the second most recent. Similar to listing work experience in reverse-chronological order, it can help the hiring manager identify your most recent achievements and developments.

5. Include education in progress

If you're currently progressing through an educational course, such as a bachelor's degree, you can list it in your education section. Listing relevant education, regardless of its completion, can show the hiring manager your commitment to gaining new knowledge and skills. If you're studying full time, you might not have the capacity to gain employment, so listing education in progress can help you explain your current unemployment. If a vacant job requires formal education, but your course has a month or two remaining, it can show the hiring manager you may be a suitable candidate in the near future.

6. Mention certifications in a separate section

Online certificates and short courses might not constitute a formal education, but they're still a type of education. Short certificates might only take several days or weeks to complete, but they can still provide you with excellent knowledge specific to industry processes and procedures. When detailing your certificates, it's usually a good idea to dedicate a section to them. You can outline the certificate names, date of completion and course provider.

Resume formatting for an education section

Below, you can explore several methods for listing your education on your resume:

Recent graduate

Below, you can explore appropriate formatting for your education if you're a recent graduate:

Education
[Qualification], [Major if applicable] | [Date of graduation]
[Name of University/TAFE/Institution]

Experienced candidate

Here, you can examine an education section formatting for education you completed several years ago:

Education
[Degree and major] | [Name of institution]
[City], [State]

Current student

If you're currently studying an educational course, you can use the following formatting to display your education on your resume:

Education
[Qualification], [Major if applciable] | Expected graduation, [Expected date of graduation]
[Name of Institution]

Resume template showing education

Here, you can examine a complete resume template outlining where you can include an education section if you're a recent graduate:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an entry-level professional.]

Education
[Degree], [Major] | [Date of graduation]
[Name of School or University]

Certificates
[Certification Name], [Host organisation], [Year completed or expiration date]

Experience
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Resume examples showing education

Here, you can explore two resume examples detailing an education section:

Recent graduate resume example

Here, you can explore a resume example for a recent graduate:

Tim Tanto, Bachelor of Civil Engineering 046-346-6235 | Tanto@email.com.au | Perth, WA

Professional Summary
A recent graduate from Delvon University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, applying for a junior engineering position with Civil Constructs. Completed one year as an engineering intern with Tinto Construction, assisting project engineers to conduct daily duties. Excited to commence my career in engineering and utilise my degree in a professional setting.

Education
Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 2022 Delvon University

Certificates
Engineering fundamentals 101, Construction Training Provider, 2021
Compliance and Codes: The Fundamentals, Engineering Training Institute, 2021
CAD Works 3D Modelling Design Skills, Design Specialists, 2020

Experience
Engineering Intern | Jul 2021-Jul 2022 Tinto Construction | Perth, WA

Interpreted blueprint designs
Identified specification and compliance requirements
Assisted engineering professionals in conducting daily duties
Helped analyse budget goals and cost estimates
Evaluated potential project improvements

Work Placement | Jul 2021-Dec 2021 Santos Engineering Services | Brisbane, QLD

Assisted an engineering project manager to complete their daily duties
Reviewed budgets to determine potential cost-inefficiencies
Reviewed parts classification and compliance codes for engineering products

Current student resume example

Below, you can examine a resume example for a candidate currently progressing through their education:

Sarah Hartman 048-375-8357 | Hartman@email.com.au | Brisbane, QLD

Professional Summary
A current student at Melvon University studying for a Bachelor of Environmental Science, applying for the position of research assistant at Pendlegree Research Institute. Has three months of coursework remaining before graduating with honours. Excited to complete my degree and begin a professional career as an environmental researcher.

Education
Bachelor of Environmental Science | Expected completion, Nov 2022
Melvon University

Certificates
Researching 101, Science Training Provider, 2021
Environmental Impact: The Fundamentals, Hamil Research Institute, 2021
Identifying Experiment Variables: Online Course, Research Specialists, 2020

Experience
Intern Research Assistant | Jan 2022-Jul 2022 Williamson Institute | Brisbane, QLD

Followed protocols set by senior research members
Collected extensive data and organised it into data sets
Analysed data sets for relationships and discrepancies
Used advanced management software for organising research resources
Reviewed past experiments and academic literature

Volunteer Research Assistant | Jul 2021-Dec 2021 Kramer Research Center | Brisbane, QLD

Collected and analysed data
Helped conduct research interviews
Helped create research presentations