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How to Put an Unfinished Degree on a Resume (with Examples)

7 min read · Updated on December 07, 2023

You went to college, but didn't finish – that's okay because you can still put it on your resume!

They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Sometimes you start down the road to a destination but don't complete the trip. That doesn't mean your progress is for nothing. 

When it comes to college, even an unfinished degree may be something you'll want to let people know about. It doesn't matter whether circumstances prevented you from finishing, if you made a conscious decision to quit, or if you're going to finish it but just haven't yet. The steps you took in your academic career could be the thing that unlocks future employment doors.

But how do you put an unfinished degree on your resume? As it turns out, it's not difficult or something to be avoided. In this article, you'll find out when to include an unfinished degree on your resume plus some examples of how to write it. 

Some college is often better than no college

All employers care about is whether you'll be able to do the job they have open. They'll want to see how your skills and knowledge align with the job description. This is of the utmost importance when writing your resume. 

Consider the following:

Were any of the courses you took relevant to the job you're applying to?

Did you participate in, or complete, any major academic projects that would demonstrate the practical application of skills and knowledge?

Did you participate in any relevant clubs or extracurriculars that would pique a hiring manager's interest?

What type of independent study or research have you taken part in that would demonstrate initiative?

Do you have any certifications that improve your knowledge? 

What skills did you acquire while you were at college? How are those relevant to the job you want?

Did you take on any leadership roles in college? Think about things like fraternities, sororities, and student government.

How does your professional network look? What did you do to build it up?

All of this is meant to shift your thinking so that you can focus on valuable experiences rather than your unfinished degree. 

How to put an unfinished degree on your resume

Even though your focus should now be shifted from, “I didn't finish my degree, now what?” to “What skills and knowledge do I have that employers want?” you still have to include the fact that your degree is incomplete if you want to talk about it on your resume.

Adding a degree in progress on your resume

Sometimes, you'll run into an opportunity to apply for your dream job, but you haven't quite finished your degree yet. Pursuing your education shouldn't stop you from applying for the position you want. However, you want to be honest about the fact that your degree isn't complete yet. 

At this point in your career, the Education section of your resume will look a bit like a Work History section, because you'll put more details about your degree and where you're getting it. At this point, because of your need to emphasize how your skills, knowledge, and coursework align with what's required in the job, you'll need to include those things on your resume. You also need to let a prospective employer know approximately when your degree will be complete. 

Here's an example of how to include a degree that's still in progress on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | XYZ University | Expected completion: 12/2024

Relevant coursework: Introduction to Psychology, Psychology Research, Statistics, Psychology in the Workplace, Organizational Behavior, Coping Mechanisms, and Behavior Change. 

GPA: 3.8/4.0 

Internship: ABC School District, Teacher Support Program

PRO TIP: Only include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher. We wrote a comprehensive article about when and if you should include your GPA on your resume. Click here to read it.

The inclusion of relevant coursework and an internship provides a great opportunity for you to inject relevant keywords into your resume. Those keywords will help your resume to be found by the applicant tracking systems that an astonishing number of employers use to weed out unqualified applicants. 

Adding a degree you're not going to finish on your resume

Almost everyone has gone through a period of indecision regarding their degree plan. Some even change their major in college multiple times before landing on a path that suits them. Perhaps you've decided that college is no longer in your future or won't serve you very well in the career you've chosen to pursue. 

It could still benefit you to add it to your resume. You could even include some details such as relevant coursework, if you need to get some keywords into your resume . As long as you keep the focus of your Education section on skills, achievements, and experiences gained during your time at school, an unfinished degree shouldn't make or break your candidacy for a job. 

PRO TIP: Position yourself as someone with practical knowledge and a strong skill set to win that coveted interview offer. 

Here's an example of how to add an unfinished degree that you're no longer pursuing to your resume:

Bachelor of Business Administration | XYZ University 

Completed 80/120 credit hours, including finance, management, and marketing

Served as President of the Finance Club

Executed market analysis project that connected business with target market

In this example, you've shifted the focus away from the fact that the degree isn't finished. Instead, the reader – a hiring manager or recruiter – gains insight into your experiences, adding value to your application and demonstrating how you'll benefit the new team.

Don't forget the cover letter

The beauty of having a cover letter that complements your resume in situations when something needs to be explained can't be overstated. While your resume affords you some opportunity to dive into how your history aligns with the job opening, your cover letter lets you expand on the narrative to make it clearer. 

Providing extra context in your cover letter to emphasize your skills can help you to stand out as a top candidate among the hundreds of other people applying for the same position. 

Address the unfinished degree on your cover letter

You'll start a paragraph of your cover letter by quickly bringing up your unfinished degree. Talk about how a shift in your career focus has led you to change your mind on college. Emphasize that your desire for practical experience won out, as you felt that would be the best way to add value to future employers.

“I began my formal education working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration, but decided that it would serve future employers better if I had practical skills in marketing.”

Highlight skills you've acquired

Just like you did in your resume, talk about how your skills make you a great match for the job that the new company has available. Use verbiage from the job description to tailor your cover letter to the needs of the position. 

“The coursework I finished, especially the courses in marketing and finance, has equipped me with a solid foundation in analysis and strategy planning that brings companies and consumers together to improve sales and profits.”

Mention achievements - employers love achievements!

Any time you can talk about something you've achieved, you show prospective employers value. By witnessing your past accomplishments, they get a real sense of what you can do for them.

“When I was the President of the Finance Club, I consistently found ways to automate manual processes to save time. One such process improvement reduced a 5-day turnaround to 2 days.”

Leverage your practical knowledge

Having an unfinished degree isn't the end of the world, as long as you can turn your educational experiences into a narrative that shows you're a determined individual with the right practical knowledge. In this sense, you're not someone with an incomplete degree, you're an engaging professional ready to make solid contributions to prospective employer teams. 

Don't let an unfinished degree hold you back. Why not let us help you to craft a compelling resume that shifts the focus to your skills and achievements in a way that will land your resume at the top of the pile? Submit your resume now for a free resume review!

Recommended reading:

How to Create a Resume With No Education

What To Include in the Education Section of a Resume

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

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Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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Expert Tips: How to Put Incomplete Degree on Resume

Should You Mention an Incomplete Degree on Your Resume?

We have worked with several executives who do not hold a college degree – or who started a post-graduate degree and never completed it.

If you are in a similar position, rest assured that an incomplete degree is not a deal-breaker if you have relevant professional experience.

In this article, we explain how to present your incomplete degree in a way that builds your credibility while avoiding red flags.

We also provide an example of an effective way to do so.

To put your incomplete degree on your resume, follow the steps below:

1) add an education section.

We advise including any education on your resume, even if it isn’t a full degree - especially if you are still in the early stages of your career.

2) Be Transparent About What You Studied

You shouldn’t list “Bachelor of Arts in English” on your resume, for example, if you did not earn the degree.

Recruiters perceive such an approach to be misleading, which could significantly harm your chances of landing a job.

However, there is an easy way to approach this situation by adding “coursework toward” in front of the degree you were pursuing.

By saying that you completed “Coursework toward a Bachelor of Arts in English” instead, you make it clear that you have completed college-level courses but are not implying that you have earned the degree.

3) Include the Dates You Completed Your Studies

For each degree listed in the education section, it is a resume writing convention to only include the date you completed the degree.

If you did not complete the degree, list both the months and years you studied at the university, for the avoidance of doubt.

Example Listing

A sample entry under the education section for an applicant who only completed two years of college would be:

The University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, Illinois

Coursework toward Bachelor of Science in Management | August 2016 – September 2018

• Courses included: Finance, Accounting, Microeconomics, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Consulting, Marketing and Sales Channels, Human Resource Management

To list an educational experience on your resume, you do not need to have earned a degree from the institution.

As long as you’re honest and not misrepresenting any information, you should still include your education to help build your credibility – even if you only took a few courses.

Most importantly, don’t spend too much time thinking about whether the fact that you don’t hold a college degree will hold you back in your career.

From our experience, the further along you are in your career, the less weight your college degree tends to hold.

Additional Reading

• How to Keyword Optimize Your Resume
• How to Add Metrics to Your Resume
• Executive Resume Templates

About Resume Pilots

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services : If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.

Executive Resume Template Downloads : If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.

To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email [email protected] .

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About the Author Matt Glodz

Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents. At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.

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Listing an Unfinished Degree on Your Resume [+ 10 Examples]

Like anything else on your resume, an unfinished degree belongs there if it strengthens your candidacy. Here's when and how to include an unfinished degree on your resume.

3 years ago   •   7 min read

Whether you decided to pursue a different opportunity, are currently on hiatus, or academia just wasn’t for you, there are any number of reasons you may not have completed your degree. The good news is, even an unfinished degree can demonstrate valuable skills. So does it belong on your resume? Maybe. Before you include an unfinished degree on your resume, it’s time to ask yourself a few questions.

Why include an unfinished degree on your resume?

Like anything else on your resume, an unfinished degree only belongs there if it strengthens your candidacy. That said, there are a few situations where it’s probably a good idea.

It aligns with the position you’re applying for

If your degree is relevant to the field or specific position you’re applying for, it’s a good idea to list it on your resume even if it’s unfinished. This is more true the less experience you have in that field — if your coursework , projects, or other degree-related activities highlight technical skills and experience recruiters are looking for, then it’s adding value to your resume and should be listed.

To explain an employment gap

Having a resume gap isn’t a big deal, but most hiring managers will still be curious about it. Taking time off to pursue a degree — even if you didn’t graduate — is a perfectly acceptable reason for a longer gap and is unlikely to raise any further questions.

To highlight skills

Chances are, you picked up some relevant technical skills during your studies, especially if it’s in a similar field to the one you’re applying for jobs in. If you’ve never worked in that field, some employers might be wondering how you gained some of the skills on your resume — listing your unfinished degree not only gives additional context for how you’ve used those skills, it also provides an additional spotlight for those competencies.

To showcase relevant experience

Listing education on your resume often isn’t just about the degree itself, but about the experience you gained while pursuing it. If you engaged in internships, volunteer work , university activities, research, publications, or even coursework relevant to the jobs you’re now applying for, all of that is worthy of inclusion on your resume.

If you’re currently pursuing a degree

You don’t need to have graduated already to include a degree on your resume. If you’re applying for jobs as a current student — including if you’ve been on hiatus for less than a year — listing your degree with an expected graduation date signals that you’re looking for entry-level work post-graduation.

More information: The must-haves for writing your education on your resume

You should list an unfinished degree on your resume if it’s relevant to the specific job you’re applying for. A good way to find out if you have listed an unfinished degree the right way and any relevant skills and accomplishments is to upload your resume to the tool below — it’ll scan your resume and give you detailed feedback on your education, accomplishments and other key areas hiring managers care about.

How to list an unfinished degree

Here's a simple step by step guide on how to list an incomplete degree on your resume:

• Create a section titled 'Education.' This should go below your experience section unless you're a current student or very recent graduate with limited work experience.
• List the name and location of the school.
• List the name of the degree you studied.
• Include the dates you attended and number of credit hours completed.
• List your expected gradutation date (if you intend to finish the degree).

If you’re a current student

You can still include your degree on your resume if you haven’t graduated yet — in fact, if you’re applying for jobs in a related field, you definitely should. You should put your education section at the top of your resume, since that’s likely to be your most relevant experience, and list an expected graduation date. It’s okay if this changes — employers understand that things don’t always go exactly to plan.

If you’re currently on hiatus, you don’t need to change the way you list your degree unless it’s been over a year. Within this timeframe, you can still legitimately consider yourself a current student.

More information: How to list education on your resume

If you spent two years at university and didn’t work during that period, including your unfinished degree is a great way to explain that time without raising red flags. Simply list the university, dates of enrolment, course of study, and credit hours completed. There’s no need to specify that the degree is incomplete — as long as you don’t list a graduation date, that should be obvious from context.

Boston University (2020-2021) Boston, MA Bachelor of Arts in Communication — Completed 20 credit hours

You can list this as normal in your education section, or in the space where there would otherwise be a gap in your work experience section.

More information: How to list gaps on a resume

If you’re currently employed in a related field

If you currently work or are applying for a job in the same field, listing an unfinished degree can help illustrate relevant technical skills . This is especially true if you completed any noteworthy research, projects, or volunteer work as part of your degree and are still in the early stages of your career.

List the unfinished degree in your education section to give context for your achievements. The accomplishments themselves should be listed in the relevant section of your resume —  for example, the experience section for paid or volunteer experience, or a projects or additional section for research or publications.

If you’re wondering which technical skills to include on your resume, use the tool below to get a list of relevant skills and industry-related keywords.

More information: How to list research experience on your resume

If you don’t have any other relevant experience

If you lack more relevant experience to put on your resume, including volunteer work, you should list your education section first on your resume and expand on your achievements from your unfinished degree. You can list coursework or achievements underneath the degree itself or in a separate projects section.

More information: How to list projects on a resume

If you plan on going back to school

If you plan on going back to finish your degree in the near future — and it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for — you can address this in your cover letter . This doesn’t need to be a long explanation — just a sentence or two is fine.

I’m currently on hiatus from my degree at [University[ to focus on my career at [Company]. However, I’m committed to returning to school in January 2022 to earn my [type of degree you’re pursuing, eg. BA].

Frequently asked questions

Should you list coursework for an incomplete degree.

In most cases, whether you graduated or not, you don’t need to list specific coursework on your resume. The exception to this is if you’re a current student or very recent graduate — as soon as you have some relevant experience in your field, it’s time to take it off. If you do choose to include it, make sure any coursework listed is relevant to the specific job you’re applying for.

Should you list a GPA on your resume?

Unless you're applying to graduate school or a limited number of niche jobs, employers don't care about your GPA. Definitely only include it if it’s particularly impressive — if it’s below 3.5, you can skip it and nobody will question the omission.

When shouldn't you list an unfinished degree?

There are a few situations when it’s best to leave an unfinished degree off your resume. If your academic performance was poor or if you were dismissed from your degree program for cause, leave it off. You also don’t need to list an unfinished degree if you’re well established in your career, as you’ll likely have far more relevant experience to talk about instead.

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No Degree? No Problem—Here’s How You Can Still Write a Winning Resume

I’ve been a career coach for years. And of the hundreds of clients I’ve worked with, I can’t think of a single one without a college degree who wasn’t worried that their lack of credentials would hold them back—or rule them out entirely—from their next job.

The assumption that you can’t be a compelling and qualified candidate for all kinds of incredible jobs without a college degree isn’t just a bummer, it’s simply not true. In fact, there are plenty of in-demand and high-paying jobs —including software developer, software sales representative, e-commerce manager, and executive assistant—that don’t require any college at all. So that’s good news.

That said, if you don’t have a college degree, you’re still going to be competing with candidates who do. And if you’re in a field where college degrees are more the norm than the exception, this means you need to be strategic as you create or amend your resume. As I always tell clients, if you think a reader will wonder or worry about something about your background, assume that they will and go on the offense. 

Let’s review some typical scenarios among non-degreed candidates and talk about how to address each on your resume. (If you’re a current student looking to apply to internships, part-time jobs, or other opportunities while your degree is in progress—so you technically don’t have one but will at a predictable time in the near future—you can follow the advice for writing a college resume  here .)

You Didn’t Finish Your Degree (and Don’t Have a Current Plan To)

Sometimes, you’re rolling along as an undergrad and life (or lack of funds) derails the plan. If you’re taking a short break, like a gap year, and know when you anticipate finishing your degree, you can list that expected date and approach your resume as a current student would. But in other cases, funds or circumstances make finishing your degree impractical and maybe you’ve decided you’re not planning to go back. Or you might intend to go back and complete the degree at some point, but you don’t have a current plan to do so with a clear timeline. Or maybe you discovered that college just isn’t your jam, and you want to focus on other things. That’s A-OK.

Just don’t sell yourself short by omitting the details of your schooling from your resume. Certainly, you can’t list part of a degree as a completed degree. That’s called lying and, in my recruiting days, I saw things end very badly for candidates who decided to fudge the details. Instead, mention the coursework in your education section . And if the topics you studied are directly relevant to the role you’re pursuing, list a few. Here’s what that might look like:

Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI Coursework toward B.S., Accounting (Data Analytics, Financial Planning & Analysis, Internal/External Audit)

You Didn’t Go to College (But Took Professional Courses)

Here’s another common scenario: You didn’t do college, but you’ve taken professional courses—whether it’s a leadership program or a coding bootcamp—that have provided you with relevant and beneficial skills. Mention them! I’d set them up right in the education section. (In fact, leaving the education section completely off your resume may be a red flag for both the applicant tracking system and the human reviewer.)

A while back, I coached a client who had worked in the automotive industry for 20+ years. He was the head of a large car dealership yet hadn’t spent a day in college. What he had done, however, was take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow professionally, including enrolling in a rigorous leadership development program offered through a professional association.

Through my work with him, I learned recruiters view candidates who completed that program quite favorably. So we made it extremely easy to find on his resume, as a bullet point in his summary and in his education section. The summary bullet looked like this:

• NADA Academy graduate with authoritative knowledge of operational best practices, financial management, cost controls, compensation structuring, and policy/program development.

And here’s what his education section looked like:

North American Dealers Association (NADA) Academy 2018 Graduate—Curriculum in Business Leadership, Fixed & Variable Operations, Financial Management

Arizona State University (Online) Leadership Principles Course

You Didn’t Go to College (But Have Valuable Licenses or Certifications)

Similarly, you’ll find plenty of professions that don’t mandate a degree but do either require or strongly favor candidates with certain licenses or certifications . For instance, if you’re an IT project manager with PMP (Project Management Professional) and Scrum Master certifications, that’s money. Or if you’re working to shift into a job as a residential real estate appraiser, you should absolutely mention that real estate license on your resume. In short, if you’ve got licenses or certifications that will give you even a slight advantage, make sure you make them easy to find on your resume.

I would set them up in their own section vs. just putting them in your education section or making a passing mention of them elsewhere in the resume. Here’s how it might look for an IT professional:

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURE

• CompTIA Security+ Certification
• CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional)
• Certified Scrum Master

The more directly relevant the certification is to the job you’re applying to, the higher up on the list it should be. You can also mention the most valuable credentials up in the summary section, much like the examples above.

You Didn’t Go to College (But Have Directly Relevant Experience)

So what if you didn’t go to college and don’t have any certifications but still want to (or do) work in an industry that values higher education? Is this realistic? Depends.

If a company flat-out requires the degree, you may need to consider targeting their competition or refining your search. Sometimes, organizations have unbending policies related to education and you probably won’t get far with them.

However, plenty of companies know and appreciate talent when they see it and will make an exception if you show them very clearly (and quickly) that you’re not just a plausible match, you’re even better than the standard degreed candidate.

I call this flipping the script. You turn what could very well be perceived as a liability or dealbreaker as a decided advantage. Here’s an example: I had a client who worked in marketing within the sporting goods industry. He had progressed rapidly within his company despite having never attended college or pursuing any additional schooling. What was remarkable was that most of his colleagues—including those he now managed—were college graduates, many of whom had also been student athletes at big name universities.

What was his secret? He had experience that gave him an edge. Beyond his current management role, he’d also been an avid skateboarder since his youth, and he’d opened a small skateboard shop in his hometown right after high school. This early experience—which he gained while others his age were earning degrees—gave him direct perspective on the wants and needs of consumers and immersive knowledge of youth culture.

As he worked to land a senior leadership role, we knew this experience had to be front and center on his resume. We included it in the summary section and spelled it out with clarity in his experience section. Here’s how the summary bullet read:

• A marketing leader with authoritative knowledge of youth culture. Having been at the epicenter of the skateboarding community since youth, consistently delivers consumer-first products and strategies.

And here’s how we outlined the job that we knew would help set him apart from his traditionally schooled competitors:

STEEZY SK8 , San Diego, CA,  2004–2007 Owner At age 18, launched and led a retail store that was named the 2006 Board Retailers Association “Snowboard Retailer of the Year.” This experience provided an invaluable look at skateboarding and its profound influence on global pop culture.

Look for every opportunity to turn a perceived liability into your secret weapon as you construct or refine your resume for that next great job. Surely, college degrees can be advantageous or required for certain roles. But many employers are simply looking for the best candidates for the job. Make sure your resume does the heavy lifting in announcing that’s you.

How to write an unfinished degree on your CV

Should you list an unfinished degree on your CV?

Well, it really depends on your situation.

In some instances, it’s worth including it on your CV – it can help a potential employer to see the knowledge and skills you have acquired at university, even if you haven’t completed the course.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to include an unfinished degree and share some real-life examples with you.

CV templates 

2 examples of an unfinished degree on your CV

Let’s delve into two separate scenarios when it comes to including an unfinished degree on your CV .

First, we’ll look at how to present a degree that is still in progress, in other words, one you are in the midst of already but haven’t yet completed.

Then, we’ll look in detail at how to present it on your CV if you had to discontinue your university journey before finishing your degree.

A degree in progress

If you are still studying for your degree but interested in applying for a job, adding your degree to your CV can show employers plenty of relevant skills and knowledge.

For example, if you are applying for a marketing assistant position and are currently enrolled in a digital marketing degree program, mentioning this shows that you have plenty of valuable skills for the job.

In this case, you need to highlight your degree, and when you expect to graduate in the ‘Education’ section of your CV – this paints a clearer picture of your educational journey for hiring managers.

You can strengthen this section even more by adding extra details that underscore your qualifications and skills in line with the job you are applying for.

For example, you could mention any specific coursework or academic achievements relating to the role you are interested in.

For instance, perhaps you completed coursework in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and were also awarded a Certificate of Excellence for outstanding performance in the “Digital Marketing Strategies” module.

Don’t hesitate to highlight anything relevant to your target jobs.

Build your CV now 

A degree stopped before completion

If you had to stop your university degree for a reason outside your control, just be honest about the situation.

Let’s say you couldn’t finish your degree because of a severe health condition, whether it was your own health or that of a family member.

Make it clear that you couldn’t finish your degree – this is important for employers as it shows transparency and provides context for any gaps in your education.

What’s more, displaying an incomplete degree allows you to highlight all of the skills and experience you picked up prior to leaving – providing plenty of opportunities to prove your suitability for the jobs you are applying to.

Should you include an unfinished degree on your CV?

The decision to include an unfinished degree on your CV depends on your specific situation.

Let’s look at three possible scenarios.

If you’re still studying

Mentioning your ongoing education on your CV can be a positive move as it shows you are committed to advancing your skills and knowledge.

It’s better to include your unfinished degree on your CV than not, especially if you can prove that your education is hugely relevant to the position you are applying for.

If you are still studying at university , expressing this on your CV is attractive to prospective employers.

It tells them you are dedicated to education and sets clear expectations for them in terms of your expected graduation date.

If you’ve stopped studying for a justified reason

If you have stopped your degree for a justified cause, it’s well worth including your unfinished degree on your CV, particularly if it’s a good fit for your career goals .

Here are just some of the justified reasons for stopping a degree:

• Health problems –  Severe health issues can seriously affect your academic journey, whether you suffer from them or are caring for a sick family member.
• Financial restraints –  If you are struggling financially and can’t afford the tuition fees or living expenses, you may be forced to stop your education.
• Family commitments –  You may need to prioritise family commitments, like becoming a parent or caring for a loved one, over finishing your degree.
• Personal challenges –  If you are suffering from a mental health problem, this can affect your ability to finish your degree.
• Change in career goals – Realising that your preferred field of study isn’t right for your career goals may lead you to reassess your educational journey.

In any of these cases, it’s wise to include your unfinished degree, especially if it corresponds with your career plans.

Explain the justified reason for stopping your degree on your CV, such as health problems, as this can positively impact your CV by showing resilience, relevant skills, and commitment despite challenging circumstances.

If you’ve stopped studying for an unjustifiable reason

If you’ve left university for reasons that can’t be justified, this is a slightly more delicate situation.

Concentrate on your other experiences and qualifications rather than including your unfinished degree on your CV.

Some unjustifiable reasons for stopping your university degree include:

• Being expelled – This will raise concerns about your conduct, reliability, and capacity to play by the rules.
• A lack of interest – If you abandoned your degree purely because you lost interest, this doesn’t add value because it implies a lack of dedication and capacity to follow through on long-term goals.

Stating you have an unfinished degree without a valid reason can negatively impact your CV.

It raises questions about your commitment, dependability, and decision-making abilities in the eyes of hiring managers.

So, if your reason for not finishing your degree is likely to put recruiters off – it’s best to leave it off your CV.

How to write an unfinished degree on your CV  

When you are adding an unfinished degree to your CV, think about these points:

How to format an unfinished degree on a CV

Here’s how to format your unfinished degree on your CV so it looks professional and is easy for recruiters to read:

• Head with university, subject and dates – Use bold text for your degree, university name, and expected graduation date to make it easier to read and to highlight the key pieces of information. Avoid putting your entire degree description (such as modules, coursework, and the number of credits) in bold, just the essential details.
• Use a bullet point – Use a bullet point to present your degree subject, university name and expected graduation date to make it easy for hiring managers to review. This provides a structured format for displaying essential details so that potential employers can quickly grasp vital specifics about your education.

What to include

When it comes to mentioning your unfinished degree in the education section of your CV, you will need to include:

• The name of your university – For example, “ Durham University ” or “ The University of Manchester .”
• Degree subject – Specify the unfinished degree you’re pursuing or the degree that you studied. For example, “Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature (Incomplete).”
• The expected graduation date (if relevant) – For example, “Expected graduation: August 2021.”
• A rationale – If you have stopped the degree, add a short, justifiable explanation about why you had to stop. For instance, “I had to pause my studies because of a family emergency that required my immediate support. This unexpected situation made it temporarily impossible for me to carry on with my English Literature degree.”
• Awards and honours – Any honours or awards you gained. For example, “Awarded the Academic Scholarship Award for academic achievement and excellence.” This shows tangible evidence of success in your educational journey.
• Coursework –  If you completed relevant projects or coursework, say it. For example, “Published a 20 page report on the works of Shakespeare, Emile Bronte, and Chaucer.”
• Transferable skills – For example, mention analysis, problem-solving or research gained through coursework. This is essential, as it helps align your existing abilities with the job’s requirements.
• The number of credits – If you’ve finished a considerable portion of your degree, state the number of credits you’ve completed or the percentage of the program you’ve completed. For example, “Completed 75 credits towards a BA in Business Studies with a specialisation in Marketing.”

Where to put an unfinished degree on a CV

Place your unfinished degree in the “ Education ” part of your CV which is where you mention your academic pursuits.

Your unfinished degree will come first before your lower-level qualifications like GCSEs and A-levels.

You could also mention your unfinished degree in your personal profile , which serves as the top-of-the-page summary on your CV, but only if it is highly relevant to your target jobs

The takeaway

Your CV is a bit like a mirror that reflects your personal journey, and often, that journey involves unfinished degrees.

Whether you are currently studying towards one or had to finish for legitimate reasons, always be honest about your educational history.

Be sure to highlight the experiences and skills you picked up along the way.

Remember, honesty and a positive mindset can make an impact on potential employers.

Your university degree is just one chapter in your life’s story.

But it’s a chapter that emphasises your dedication and determination to grow personally and professionally.