Europass is the EU's standard CV format. Some Erasmus Mundus programmes ask for it explicitly. Many don't. And plenty of applicants use it even when it's not required, ending up with a long, form-like document that buries their best work.
Step 1: Check what each programme asks for
Look at the application requirements for each programme on your shortlist:
- "Europass CV required": use Europass.
- "CV (Europass format preferred)": Europass is safer.
- "CV": use a clean academic CV.
Some portals upload the CV as a PDF; others make you fill fields online.
Making Europass readable
Europass is built online at the official Europass website and exports to PDF. To keep it readable:
- Delete empty sections. The editor offers many; you don't need them all.
- Put your strongest section first. If work experience is your strength, lead with it.
- Use bullet points with outcomes, not job descriptions.
- Keep the language self-assessment honest. It uses the CEFR scale (A1 to C2).
- Watch the length. It balloons easily. Aim for two to three pages.
What an academic CV needs either way
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Education | Degree, institution, dates, grade (as on transcript), thesis title |
| Experience | Role, organisation, dates, 2–4 bullets with results |
| Projects / research | The relevant ones, with links |
| Awards | Competitions, scholarships, recognitions |
| Publications / talks | If any |
| Skills | Grouped and relevant (e.g. "Python, GIS, remote sensing") |
| Languages | With level |
My own example: Vayu sits under Projects with its national award and APICTA representation, because for an environmental programme it's more relevant than some of my engineering jobs.
Bullet points that work
Weak:
Responsible for frontend development.
Strong:
Built geospatial dashboards for EUDR compliance, used by exporters to validate thousands of farm plots before submission.
Tie bullets to the programme's field where you honestly can.
Common mistakes
- Copying job descriptions instead of achievements.
- Inconsistent dates and formatting.
- Irrelevant detail (school grades, unrelated hobbies) taking space from projects.
- Unexplained acronyms from your home country or industry.