How to Write Your Degree on a CV (Including Ongoing Studies)

You're studying part-time or just completed your degree. Now you want to include it on your CV. The good news: a degree on your CV is always a plus. Regardless of whether it's distance learning, campus-based, or blended learning. What matters is that you present it correctly and advantageously.

How to Write a Completed Degree on Your CV

A completed degree belongs in the "Education" section. The entry follows a clear format:

• Period: MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY
• Degree: Academic title and field of study (e.g., "Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration")
• University: Name of the university, location
• Grade: Only include if strong (First Class/2:1 in the UK system, or equivalent)
• Specialisations: Optional, if relevant to the position

A distance learning degree is listed exactly like any other degree. The qualification is identical, the university is accredited, the degree is recognised. You don't need to write "distance learning" separately. But if you mention it, it's not a disadvantage.

Important: always use the official degree title. So "Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Business Informatics" rather than just "Business Informatics". The academic degree is what you studied for. It belongs prominently on your CV.

What does field of study mean on a CV? It is the subject you studied, as opposed to the degree you earned. In an online application form, the degree field takes the qualification, such as Bachelor of Science, and the field of study takes the name of your programme, such as Business Informatics.

How to write a 2:1 on your CV. UK degrees carry a classification: first class, upper second-class (2:1), lower second-class (2:2) or third-class honours. Put it at the end of the entry, for example “BA (Hons) History, 2:1”, or write it out as “Upper Second-Class Honours”. A first or a 2:1 is worth stating; with a lower classification, leave it out unless the application asks for it.

How to Add Current Studies to Your CV

An incomplete part-time degree also belongs on your CV. The wording:

• Period: "since MM/YYYY" (no end date) or "MM/YYYY to expected MM/YYYY"
• Degree: "expected degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Business Psychology"
• Expected completion: "expected MM/YYYY"
• University: Name of the university

This shows the employer: you're continuing your education. You're investing in your qualifications. And you have the discipline to study alongside work. For many recruiters, that's a strong signal.

If you're in a job application phase while still studying, you can also state how many ECTS you've already earned. "Currently 120 of 180 ECTS completed" shows that you're close to the finish line.

Ongoing Degree on Your CV: Three Example Entries

Put the expected completion date straight after the degree you are working towards, with month and year: “expected completion: 09/2029”. Anyone reading your CV then sees at a glance that you are still studying and when you will finish. Finished entries look like this:

Three rules go with it. First: never write “completed” or a bare date without “expected” while you do not hold the degree yet. Otherwise the entry reads like a finished qualification, and that shows at the latest when you hand in your certificates. Second: give a realistic date and update it if your plan shifts. Third: the ECTS figure is the best evidence of your progress, especially when completion is still some way off. Credits recognised from prior learning can be named too, they are part of where you stand. How much could be recognised in your case is what the credit transfer check shows.

A distance learning course or certificate without an academic degree does not belong in this block. List it under professional development, with the dates, the exact title from the certificate and the provider.

Distance Learning on Your CV: Advantage or Disadvantage?

This question comes up often. The answer is clear: a distance learning qualification on your CV is an advantage. Employers know that distance learning alongside a job requires self-discipline, time management, and initiative. These soft skills are in demand.

If you completed the degree while working, you can emphasise that. The phrase "part-time degree" signals: you didn't just study, you managed it alongside a job. That impresses.

Some applicants worry that a distance learning degree is worth less than a campus-based degree. That's unfounded. The academic qualification is legally equivalent. The graduation certificate doesn't say "distance learning". It states the degree, the university, and the grade. That's it.

Unfinished Degree on Your CV: Studies Without Completion

Even an incomplete degree can go on your CV. If you only studied for one semester, leave it off. For two or more semesters, you can include it with the wording "studies without completion". State how many ECTS you earned. This shows that you engaged academically, even if you didn't finish the degree.

Such an entry could read: “10/2019 to 09/2021, Computer Science studies (without completion), University XY, 90 ECTS earned.” If you are planning a second attempt, returning to study after dropping out covers what matters.

In the interview, you may be asked about the reason. Prepare a brief, honest answer. "I reoriented my career" or "My circumstances changed" are acceptable explanations. No recruiter expects every career path to be perfectly linear.

Updating LinkedIn and Professional Profiles

Your CV doesn't just live on paper. Update your LinkedIn profile as well. Add the degree under "Education" as soon as you start. On LinkedIn, you can also add skills you've acquired during your studies. This improves your visibility to recruiters.

Use the description fields on LinkedIn: mention specialisations, relevant projects, or the topic of your thesis. Recruiters search by keywords. The more specific your profile, the more often you'll be found. Certificates and continuing education courses completed as part of your degree also belong in your profile.

A part-time degree on your CV doesn't just show expertise. It shows character.

What Employers Really Think About Distance Learning Graduates

In over 120 consultations, I regularly hear how students worry about how their distance learning degree will be perceived. The reality looks different. Recruiters evaluate the qualification, not the study format. Whether you sat in a lecture hall or studied at your kitchen table doesn't matter to most employers.

What counts: the academic degree, the accreditation of the university, and the relevance of the programme for the role. When everything checks out, the degree opens the same doors as any other.

Next Step: Finding the Right Programme

Before you can enhance your CV, you need the right programme. In a free initial call, I find out which degree programme matches your career goals. The full sequence is described on the consultation process page.

Conclusion

Your degree on your CV is a career accelerator. Whether completed or ongoing, whether distance learning or campus-based: list it correctly, emphasise the part-time component, and use it as a strength in your cover letter. Employers value initiative. And that's exactly what studying alongside work proves.