Scholarship Resume Template and Examples for 2024

Colleges are expensive. And having to work while studying is, in many cases, a necessity. But, there is another method of getting paid while at the university.

I’ll show you how to write a scholarship resume to help you secure an additional source of income to pay for the costs of college education.

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Looking for a similar type of resume? Check out the following guides: 

• College Graduate Resume
• Graduate School Application Resume
• High School Graduate Resume
• High School Student Resume
• Internship Resume
• PhD Resume
• Resume for College Application
• Student Resume
• Teen Resume

What Is a Scholarship Resume?

A scholarship resume outlines your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and other relevant accomplishments, proving your qualifications for receiving a scholarship. It provides scholarship committees with a comprehensive view of your strengths, potential, and contributions.

Scholarship resumes are not universally required for all scholarship applications, but they are often recommended or requested by scholarship committees. And I also recommend you write it. You wouldn’t want to lose out on thousands of dollars because of a single sheet of paper, would you?

Scholarship Resume Example

Now I’ll walk you through each step of writing a resume for scholarships like this one:

1. Set the Best Scholarship Resume Format

Before you start writing your scholarship resume, do the prep work. This document is potentially worth a ton of money, so it can’t be messy. Spend some time to format the resume for a scholarship correctly:

• Pick the reverse-chronological resume style that draws attention to your latest achievements. This applies to all sections of your scholarship resume.
• Use simple resume fonts. Aim for the range between 10–12pt. Write simple headings. Embrace white space with 1-inch resume margins to avoid clutter.
• Keep it short and sweet. Your scholarship application consists of numerous documents. So, think of your resume as a concise summary. Ideally, fit the resume on a single page.

As for what to include in a resume for scholarships, follow this order for the main parts:

• Contact information
• Resume objective/career goal
• Education/academic experience
• Work/internship experience
• Skills on a resume

But these are just the basics, so consider adding other resume sections, such as:

• Leadership experience
• Awards and honors
• Societies
• Languages
• Community involvement
• Volunteering on a resume
• Athletic achievements
• Visual/performing arts

These additional sections will help your scholarship resume stand out among other top-tier students.

Expert Hint: To make sure the formatting of your scholarship resume stays intact, save your resume as a PDF file.

2. Write the Perfect Academic Experience Section on Your Scholarship Resume

Only about 7% of students are likely to receive a scholarship, and only 1.5% will receive a full scholarship. This means you’re up against the elite of your university. But you’re also a top contender.

Put extra work into your scholarship resume’s education section. Include:

• Graduation date or expected graduation date
• School name
• GPA score
• Thesis title
• Favorite areas of study
• Extracurricular activities

Including points 1 through 3 is a must. Points 4 and 5 add an extra dimension to your academic interests and make you come across as a well-rounded scholarship candidate.

Meanwhile, extracurricular activities are a broad term for “anything else that’s relevant.” That could mean your participation in clubs and events, taking part in impressive projects, etc. You know what you did best, so don’t hesitate to show those things.

Also, how far back should you go on a resume for a scholarship?

• If you’re applying for a freshman scholarship—put your high school education.
• If you’re a college student preparing a scholarship application—add high school education if you graduated in the past five years.
• When looking for a Ph.D. or postgraduate scholarship, include both your BA and MA education. Skip high school entirely.

See the examples of a scholarship resume:

Sample Scholarship Resume—University Education Section

Education

Bachelor of Science, Cognitive Science

Graduated in: June 2024

UCLA

GPA: 3.95

Thesis title: Scientific Hypotheses as the Most Accurate Forms of Precognition

Favorite areas of study:

• Anthropology
• Linguistics
• Statistics
• Communication

Extracurricular activities: Freelance contributor to 5 independent online music magazines.

Club activities:

• President, Cognitive Science Student Association (CSSA)
• Member, UCLA Debate Team

Projects:

• Developed a linguistic analysis tool as part of a team project in the Computational Models of Cognition course.
• Conducted a comprehensive study on the impact of social media on language evolution for an independent research project.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Cognitive Science

Graduated in: June 2024

UCLA

GPA: 3.95

Favorite areas of study:

• Anthropology
• Linguistics
• Statistics
• Communication

The second example only shows the necessary elements, so it pales in comparison to the first sample. Remember, you’re applying for a scholarship, and your education section cannot be brushed aside to just what’s needed.

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3. Show Practical Knowledge in Your Work Experience Section

You’re not applying for work, so you’re not going to show bags of professional experience on your scholarship resume, but it’s not the point. The point is to show the scholarship committee members that you’ve already put the theory into practice.

Make sure your professional experience resume section doesn’t go unnoticed. Use strong resume verbs to communicate your accomplishments and skills clearly. Go for such words as supported, cooperated, conducted, formulated, or analyzed. Don’t use the clichéd “responsible for” as it doesn’t communicate much.

Put your professional accomplishments into a couple of strong resume bullet points. This will make the value of your scholarship resume skyrocket.

Resume for College Scholarship—Work Experience

Work Experience

Website Intern

FYI.com

June 2020–September 2021

• Improved website traffic by 25% through optimization and revamping of online content across the site.
• Increased article engagement by 30% by collaborating with SEO teams to identify relevant keywords and restructure articles.
• Conducted A/B testing: formulated hypotheses, set up tests, and analyzed results.

Work Experience

Website Intern

FYI.com

June 2020-September 2021

• Optimized websites.
• Performed team projects.
• Conducted tests.

As you can see, phrasing and adding numbers make all the difference. Yes, you want the bullet points to be short and sweet, but they must still be descriptive. The first sample shows this balance perfectly.

One more thing. I often hear the question: “What counts as work experience?” For a scholarship resume, consider:

• Volunteering
• Part-time gigs
• Side jobs
• Community service
• Freelancing
• Internships
• Full-time employment

Remember to list only the things that showcase relevant work experience. If you’re pursuing a scholarship for a Master’s course in rocket science, you’ll likely not find relevant accomplishments if you work as a cashier.

4. List Important Skills on a Scholarship Resume

When I discuss skills for a resume, I usually touch on the subject of resume keywords. But this time, there is no concrete job posting you’re trying to appeal to. So, how should you choose the skills you’d like to showcase on your scholarship resume?

First, pick a couple of the most important hard skills. Think about those that have the highest relevance to the type of scholarship you want to receive.

Next, focus on a couple of vital soft skills. Let relevance be your guide again, but if it’s unclear which skills would fit best, choose from the most highly sought-after ones.

Or, consult with the list I prepared, with some of the most universal skills to include on a scholarship resume:

Skills to Put on a Scholarship Resume

• Leadership Skills
• Verbal and Written Communication
• Teamwork
• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Research
• Public Speaking
• Adaptability
• Organization
• Collaboration
• Interpersonal Skills
• Project Management
• Analytical Skills
• Technical Proficiency (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Suite)
• Creative Thinking
• Conflict Resolution
• Attention to Detail
• Multitasking
• Self-Motivation
• Networking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Digital Literacy

Expert Hint: Put up to 10 strong skills on your resume. Choose only the ones you have a good grasp of, don’t mention the skills you don’t feel very confident about. This way, you’ll avoid the so-called presenter’s paradox.

5. Showcase Awards, Honors, and Other Sections

The strength of your scholarship resume depends on your academic and personal achievements. Don’t fail to mention any.

When it comes to the “other” sections of a resume for scholarship, the world is your oyster. You can showcase sections such as:

• Certifications: List any relevant certifications demonstrating your expertise and dedication in a specific area.
• Specialized Training: Include specialized training programs or workshops attended that are relevant to your field of study.
• Volunteer Experience: Showcase volunteer work, especially roles that demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and relevant skills.
• Professional Memberships: Include memberships in professional organizations or academic societies that are relevant to your field.
• Publications: List any articles, research papers, or blog posts you have authored or contributed to, particularly those related to your field of study.
• Conferences: Mention any academic or professional conferences you have attended or presented at, including the topics covered.
• Projects: Detail significant projects, research, or independent studies that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in your field.
• Extracurricular Activities: Highlight involvement in clubs, sports, arts, or other activities demonstrating your leadership, teamwork, and diverse interests.
• Languages: Mention any additional languages spoken, along with proficiency levels.
• Research and Teaching Experience: Include details of research projects, teaching assistantships, or tutoring roles.
• Honors & Awards: Include additional awards or honors you received within or outside academia to demonstrate your achievements and recognition.
• Leadership Experience: Detail any leadership roles you have held in academic, extracurricular, or community settings, highlighting your responsibilities and accomplishments.

In the case of a scholarship resume, you might’ve added some of these sections directly to your education section. If that’s the case, don’t repeat yourself.

Here are some samples of bonus sections for a scholarship resume:

Resume for Scholarship Examples—Bonus Sections

Leadership Experience:

• Managing Editor at MindBuzz—an online magazine covering research and development in the field of cognitive sciences.
• Co-organizer and moderator—science-fiction student discussion club.
• Team Leader—English Club Grade 9–12.

Awards and Honors:

• 2023 Dean’s List
• 2022 Dean’s List
• 2021 Dean’s List

Societies

• UCLA Golden Key—Member
• Phi Theta Kappa—Member

Languages

• French—Bilingual Proficiency
• Spanish—Full Working Proficiency
• German—Conversational Proficiency

Languages

• French
• Spanish
• German

Hobbies

• Avid runner, taking part in local competitions.

Memberships

• Bass Tackler Fishing Club

It’s not that being a competitive runner or an avid fisherman is bad, it’s just much more likely than not that these two things are of zero relevance to the scholarship you’re targeting.

Keep your achievements relevant and descriptive, like in the first sample. This will make you come across as a suitable candidate.

6. Craft an Introductory Paragraph for Your Scholarship Resume

Do you remember when you wrote your thesis/dissertation? You led it with an abstract. The same rule applies to your scholarship resume. But here, you won’t be writing a resume abstract, but rather, a resume objective.

This surefire formula will help you put your best foot forward right away:

• Introduce yourself.
• Present your academic background.
• Mention your honors, awards, and societies.
• Say what kind of funding you’re after.
• Explain what research you’d like to conduct.

Here’s what a resume introduction looks like in practice:

Scholarship Resume—Objective

Objective

Fresh graduate with a BA in Cognitive Science from UCLA (GPA 3.95). Awarded Dean’s List three times. Member of UCLA Golden Key and Phi Theta Kappa. Seeks funds to pursue a Master’s Degree in Linguistics at UCLA. Plans to conduct cross-disciplinary research on language as a cognition tool, as well as the role of natural language acquisition patterns in the development of AI.

Objective

UCLA graduate with a BA in cognitive science. Wishes to pursue academic interests in linguistics. Looks for funding to obtain a Master’s Degree in Linguistics.

The good example makes it clear that you’re a serious candidate with a strong academic background, impressive educational achievements, and a clear vision of your future. The second one is way too bland to succeed.

I’ll give you one more piece of advice. Write your scholarship resume objective at the very end. The idea is to summarize your entire resume and you can’t summarize something that hasn’t been written yet.

Expert Hint: Double the impact of your scholarship resume with a cover letter for a scholarship. A well-written cover letter can tell a story that neither your scholarship application nor resume can. And we have just the article to teach you how to write a good cover letter.

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Key Points

This is how to write a scholarship resume:

• Select the best scholarship resume template.
• Keep your scholarship resume short. With the right resume template, you may be able to fit everything on a single page. Beware of cramming in too much information, and make good use of white space.
• Pay particular attention to the education section. Read this section back and forth. Make sure you’ve included every detail that makes you stand out.
• Add the professional experience section to your scholarship resume. Include volunteering work, part-time gigs, side jobs, or internships.
• Boost your scholarship resume with your extra strengths. Your skills, leadership positions, awards, languages, and membership in student societies and associations do make a difference.

Do you have any questions on how to write the best scholarship resume? Want to share advice for others struggling with a resume for a scholarship? I’d love to hear from you. Leave your comment below.

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