How to Write First Class Honours on CV: A Guide

Writing First Class Honours on Your CV

When listing your first-class honours degree on your CV, there are several things to remember. You’ll want to settle on a clear and consistent formatting for your education section that highlights your academic achievements and makes them easy to spot at a glance. Depending on whether you’re a recent graduate or someone with a body of relevant work experience, you might also want to mention your degree elsewhere on your CV. Here are some tips on how to list your degree in the most impactful way:

Listing First Class Honours in Your Education Section

If you received a first in your degree, the main place to highlight it on your CV is in the education section. This is where you’ll list your highest and most relevant academic achievements. While it’s not essential to add your degree grade to this section, if you gained first-class honours, you’ll probably want to highlight it. Fewer than one in three students achieve this grade, so it will really help your chances of success.

There are a couple of formats to choose from for your CV’s education section. To add your first-class honours degree, choose from these two formats:

For example:

The following format highlights your degree grade more than the first option, using bold text:

For example:

For each example, you could substitute ‘First-class honours’ for ‘1st’ if you would like to save space. However, this approach may draw less attention to your grade than if you write it out in full.

Mentioning First Class Honours in Your CV Summary

If you’re a recent graduate or your degree is in a specialist subject and is necessary for the role you’re applying for, you might wish to mention it in other parts of your CV. The most suitable place to mention your degree apart from your education section is in your CV summary. This is the introduction to your CV and gives you the opportunity to make a positive first impression on the reader. If your first-class honours degree is one of your greatest achievements, it’s worth mentioning it in this paragraph.

If you’re applying for graduate jobs, you might want to lead with your first-class honours degree in the opening sentence of your CV summary. For example:

If you’ve gained some work experience, but your degree is still a valuable asset to your chances of success, you might mention it in the second sentence of your summary. For example:

Including Academic Achievements on Your CV

Even if you don’t have a first-class honours degree, it’s important to list your academic achievements on your CV. Your qualifications play a key role in demonstrating your suitability for many jobs, and particularly those that require a specialist degree or professional certification. If you’re a recent graduate, consider a CV format that places your academic achievements more prominently on your document, such as a skills-based or functional format.

Any academic achievement such as a degree of any level, a vocational qualification, a professional certification or lower qualifications such as A-levels and GCSEs, can be of use to your CV. The achievements you decide to include in your application will depend on the nature and level of the job you’re applying for, as well as your own experience levels. Typically it’s only necessary to list your highest or most relevant qualification, unless specifically requested in the job advert.

The main place to list your academic achievements is your education section, but there are other places you can mention them. You could reference them in your CV summary, and also in optional sections at the end of your CV, such as certifications and training. You may also consider adding an ‘achievements’ section to your CV to list any special successes or recognition from your career. This could include academic awards and other notable achievements from your studies.

While any academic achievements can help your chances of success in your job applications, listing a first-class honours degree really sets you apart from the competition. For recent graduates, a first in your degree showcases your academic strengths more than any other achievement. It demonstrates a special level of dedication, intelligence and mastery of your subject area. It also helps to show employers that you have a strong work ethic and are committed to academic excellence.

Best Practices for Writing First Class Honours

Take note of these best practice tips when listing your degree grade on your CV:

• Capitalise each word of ‘First Class Honours’ to maintain grammatical standards and help your degree grade stand out.
• A hyphen is optional, but if you include one, make sure you add it consistently throughout your CV.
• If you have a second class upper degree, or a 2:1, list it as ‘Second-Class Honours (Upper Division), or 2:1.
• If you have a second or third-class honours degree, don’t mention your grade. You can, however, still include ‘(Hons)’ after your degree type.
• Choose a consistent format for listing your degree courses and grades, and make sure you follow it throughout your CV. Pick a format that communicates your degree grade clearly and draws attention to it without making it too prominent.

Special Cases for Listing Your Degree

There are some situations where listing your degree might deviate from the standard format. If, for example, you’ve studied a joint or dual degree, you’ll need to consider how to add this to your CV. Commonly, this involves listing both degree types and names in their entirety, separated by a vertical line or a forward slash (for example, ‘BSc Biology | BSc Zoology’). However, if the degree is a combination of two subjects in a single degree, you can list them together under the same degree (for example, ‘BA (Hons) History & Politics’).

If you’re applying for jobs before you graduate, you could still add your degree to your CV. In this case, add all the necessary details of your CV and where you would add your graduation date, write ‘expected graduation date’, followed by the date. Alternatively, you could add ‘ongoing’ where you would normally list your grade. You may also choose to list modules that you’ve studied and any predicted grades or current progress towards graduating.

If you left university with an incomplete degree, but you still think this could help your chances of success, you can add this to your CV. In this case, instead of listing your degree as ‘incomplete’, add the dates of study you completed. In bullet points under the degree, mention any reasons why you didn’t complete the degree, along with any useful or valuable modules you studied or skills you gained.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes when adding your first-class honours degree to your CV, to make sure it has the most positive impact on the reader:

• Don’t use inconsistent formatting that makes your education section difficult to read.
• Don’t highlight your degree grade too prominently. Use bold text where necessary to make your grade stand out, but don’t draw too much attention to it and let the content of your CV speak for itself.
• Don’t lean too heavily on your first-class honours degree in your CV. Make sure you list other achievements, skills and experience to set you apart from other candidates.
• Don’t skip important details of your degree, such as specialist subjects you studied, skills you gained or other awards or recognition you received while studying.

"Your qualifications play a key role in demonstrating your suitability for many jobs, and particularly those that require a specialist degree or professional certification."

Key Takeaways for Adding First Class Honours to Your CV

Including first-class honours on your CV is one of the key ways to showcase your academic excellence and stand out from other candidates. Make sure you use consistent formatting when listing your qualifications, so the reader can see your credentials clearly at a glance. CV templates from CVwizard provide the ideal canvas for creating a professional-looking CV that makes a strong impression on hiring managers. Sign up today to access CV examples and other resources to boost your chances of job application success.