How To Easily Write A First-Class Honours Degree On Your CV

Achieving a First-Class Honours degree is a remarkable accomplishment that reflects exceptional dedication and academic excellence.

Showcasing it in your CV will boost your resume and make you stand out from other applicants for the same opportunity.

Strategic presentation is key to showcasing this achievement on your CV. For this, you need to learn how to write a first-class honors CV in 2024.

This guide unveils the essential steps to include your First-Class Honours degree on your CV artfully.

From highlighting relevant coursework to showing the skills and qualities honed during your studies, this resource will provide valuable insights to ensure your academic accomplishments shine through.

Discover how to succinctly convey your academic prowess and stand out to potential employers, setting the stage for a successful and impactful career journey.

We will also explain why you should tactfully include your first-class honor degree in your CV and how long it should remain there.

What is a First-Class Honours Degree?
How long do you need to include First-class Honors on your CV?
What Different Ways can you write First-Class?
Should you include your First-Class Honours degree on your CV?
How To Write A First-Class Honours Degree On Your CV
- Example Of How To Write First-Class Honours
Is It Important To State The Percentage Of Your First-Class Degree?
- When Is It Important To State The Percentage Of Your First-Class Degree?
- When is it not important to state the percentage of your first-class degree?
FAQs on How to Write First Class Honours on CV
How To Write First-Class Honours On CV: Conclusion
References
Recommendations

What is a First-Class Honours Degree?

A First-Class Honours degree is an academic distinction awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional performance and achieved the highest academic excellence in their undergraduate studies.

The criteria for receiving a First-Class Honours degree vary depending on the educational institution and the country’s grading system.

In many grading systems, such as the British system, a First-Class Honours degree is typically awarded to students with a certain percentage or grade point average (GPA) threshold, often 70% to 100%.

This level of achievement shows a deep understanding of the subject, strong analytical skills, and a consistent commitment to academic excellence.

A First-Class Honours degree holds significant value in the academic and professional worlds. It can open doors to advanced studies, prestigious scholarships, and various career opportunities, showcasing students’ dedication, intellectual capabilities, and capacity to excel in their chosen fields.

How long do you need to include First-class Honors on your CV?

Including a First-Class Honours degree on your CV is a decision that depends on several factors, including your career stage, the relevance of the degree to your current goals, and the overall content of your CV.

Here are a few considerations:

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Early in Your Career

Suppose you have recently graduated with a First-Class Honours degree and are applying for entry-level or graduate positions. In that case, it’s a good idea to include it on your CV prominently.

Relevance to Your Field

If your First-Class Honours degree is directly relevant to the field you’re pursuing, regardless of your career stage, you should include it. This is important if your degree aligns closely with the job requirements or if it’s a field where academic achievement is highly valued.

Conciseness

Your CV should ideally be only two pages long, so you may need to decide what to include based on the space available.

If you have other accomplishments or experiences that are more recent or relevant to the job you’re applying for, they might take precedence over an older academic achievement.

Advanced Degrees

If you’ve pursued further education beyond your First-Class Honours degree (such as a master’s or a Ph.D.), your focus may shift to your higher-level degree. Here, you can still mention your undergraduate achievement but might provide less detail.

What Different Ways can you write First-Class?

When referring to a “First-Class Honours” degree on your CV or in other written contexts, there are a few different ways you can write it while maintaining accuracy and clarity.

First-Class Honours: This is the standard and formal way to write it. It directly communicates the level of academic achievement.
First Class Honours: This version omits the hyphen but retains the achievement’s clarity.
First-Class Degree: This variation removes “Honours” but still communicates the high level of achievement in terms of the degree classification.
First-Class Bachelor’s Degree: This version specifies that it’s a bachelor’s degree with a first-class classification.
First-Class BA/BSc/BEng/etc.: Using the abbreviation of the degree type (e.g., BA for Bachelor of Arts, BSc for Bachelor of Science, BEng. for Bachelor of Engineering) followed by “First-Class” is another concise way to present the achievement.
Graduated with First-Class Honours: This phrasing emphasizes the act of graduating while highlighting the achievement level.
Earned First-Class Honours: This wording emphasizes the effort and accomplishment of earning the degree.
Achieved a First-Class Honours: This structure highlights the achievement itself.

Should you include your First-Class Honours degree on your CV?

Including your First-Class Honours degree on your CV is recommended, especially if it applies to the job or field you’re pursuing.

Here’s why:

Showcases Academic Excellence
Demonstrates Strong Skills
Relevance to Certain Fields
Early Career Impact
Attention-Grabbing

How To Write A First-Class Honours Degree On Your CV

Writing about your First-Class Honours degree on your CV requires careful consideration to ensure it effectively showcases your achievement and its relevance to the job you’re applying for.

Placement: Start with an “Education” section near the beginning of your CV, especially if you’re a recent graduate or your degree is highly relevant to the job.
Degree Title: Clearly state the name of your degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science) followed by “First-Class Honours” or the relevant degree classification abbreviation (e.g., 1st, 1:1).
University Name and Date: Mention the name of the university where you earned the degree and the year of completion.
Coursework and Dissertation (Optional): If your coursework or dissertation is relevant to the job you’re applying for, you can include a brief line highlighting its subject and its significance. However, be concise and only include this if it truly adds value.
Skills and Qualities Demonstrated: Briefly mention the skills and qualities you developed or demonstrated during your studies that apply to the job. This could include critical thinking, research skills, time management, and attention to detail.
Honors, Awards, or Scholarships (Optional): If you received any additional honors, awards, or scholarships during your studies, consider including them to further showcase your excellence.
Tailor to the Job: Customize your description to match the job you’re applying for. Emphasize aspects of your degree that directly align with the position.
Formatting and Style: Maintain a clean and consistent formatting style throughout your CV. Use bullet points for easy readability, and keep the description concise.

Example Of How To Write First-Class Honours

Write it out in words:

Wales University, 2019 – 2022
BSc (Hons) Economics — First-class honours

Express it in numbers

Bangor University, 2018 – 2021
BSc (Hons) Business Management (1st)

Is It Important To State The Percentage Of Your First-Class Degree?

While securing a first-class degree is brilliant in itself, if you’ve excelled and achieved way above the 70% required, you’d be well within your rights to show this off. Remember, your CV is where you can boast about your achievements.

While it’s not usually a requirement for a job application, and most prospective employers don’t ask for it, they could be more likely to choose a candidate with a higher percentage as long as they tick all the right boxes in other areas.

Presenting your percentage can look something like this:

BA (Hons) in Applied Languages, First Class (88%), University of Portsmouth (2024)

BSc (Hons) in Physics, 1st Class (91%), Southampton University (2024)

However, you might not know the overall percentage you got if you went to a university where this information was not divulged. Don’t panic. You can contact your university to see if they hold or omit this information.

When Is It Important To State The Percentage Of Your First-Class Degree?

Industry Norms: In some industries or countries, providing the exact percentage is standard practice and might be expected.
Competitive Fields: If you’re applying to a highly competitive field where academic achievements are heavily emphasized, providing the percentage can showcase the depth of your achievement.
Academically Focused Roles: If the job involves research, academia, or a similar role that values academic excellence, the percentage might be relevant.

When is it not important to state the percentage of your first-class degree?

Irrelevant to the Role: If your academic performance is not directly relevant to the job you’re applying for (e.g., a job in a creative field or a role that doesn’t require a high degree of academic background), it might be best to focus on other aspects of your qualifications.

Privacy and Modesty: If you fall into the category of individuals who prefer not to disclose their exact percentage. It’s perfectly acceptable to omit it.

FAQs on How to Write First Class Honours on CV

How do I properly showcase my First-Class Honours degree on my CV?

Include a dedicated “Education” section near the top of your CV. Mention the degree name, the university, the year of completion, and the classification. Briefly highlight relevant coursework, skills gained, and any honors or awards received.

Should I include the percentage of my First-Class Honours degree on my CV?

Including the percentage is optional and depends on industry norms and the relevance to the job.

How can I make my First-Class Honours degree stand out on my CV?

Tailor the description to highlight skills and experiences directly related to the job. Emphasize relevant coursework, research projects, and skills developed during your studies that apply to the position.

How much detail should I provide about my First-Class Honours degree?

Keep the description concise, focusing on key aspects such as degree name, classification, university, and relevant coursework.

How To Write First-Class Honours On CV: Conclusion

Knowing how to write a first-class honors degree on your CV requires a strategic approach that balances showcasing your academic excellence with the needs of the job you’re applying for. You provide essential context by clearly stating your degree, university, and year of completion.

Emphasizing relevant coursework, skills gained, and notable projects underscores the practical value of your achievement. Deciding whether to include the percentage depends on industry norms and job relevance.

Remember that as your career progresses, the focus of your CV may shift. Still, your First-Class Honours degree can remain a powerful asset, especially when tailored to demonstrate its alignment with your current professional goals.