Education / Further and higher education

Lecturer CV example (UK)

A UK lecturer CV for further education colleges and universities: teaching, curriculum and assessment, qualifications, and research where it counts.

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Example CV profile

Further education lecturer in [business and enterprise] with [four] years' teaching experience at a [general FE college], teaching Level 2 to Level 4 learners across study programmes, apprenticeships and adult courses. Holds [the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training] and designs engaging, well-assessed courses. Brings [six] years' industry experience in [retail management].

Key skills to include (if true for you)

Teaching and learning across levels and age groups
Curriculum and scheme-of-work design
Assessment, marking, feedback and internal verification
Supporting learners with additional needs
Safeguarding and learner welfare
Digital learning and VLEs (e.g. Moodle, Canvas, Teams)
Industry links, work placements and employer projects
Research, publications and grant applications (HE roles)
Personal tutoring and pastoral support

Example experience bullet points

Taught [business] to [n] learners a year across Level 2 to Level 4 programmes, including study programmes, apprenticeships and evening adult classes.
Redesigned the Level 3 scheme of work around live employer briefs from [two] local businesses, keeping the course current with industry practice.
Planned and marked assessments to awarding body standards, and acted as internal quality assurer for [two] colleagues' units.
Adapted materials and assessments for learners with additional needs, working with the college's learning support team.
Followed safeguarding procedures and referred learners to support services when needed.
Acted as personal tutor for [a group of 20] learners, tracking attendance and progress and agreeing targets in reviews.
Built course content and quizzes in [Moodle] so learners could catch up and revise outside lessons.

Illustrative only. Replace with your own real roles, dates and results — never copy experience you don't have.

Education & training

Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, Cert Ed or PGCE (post-compulsory) – [provider], [year] (FE roles)
QTLS status – [year] (FE in England, if held)
Degree, master's or PhD in [subject] – [university], [year]
Advance HE Fellowship (AFHEA / FHEA / SFHEA) – [year] (HE roles, if held)
Industry qualifications in your subject – [title], [year]

Keywords UK recruiters screen for

lecturer · teaching and learning · curriculum design · assessment · Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training · QTLS · FHEA · research · safeguarding · VLE

Tips for a lecturer CV

Make it clear whether you're applying to a college (FE) or a university (HE), and order your CV to match. FE puts teaching first; HE often puts research alongside teaching.
For FE, lead with the levels and learner groups you teach, your teaching qualification and your industry background in the subject.
For HE, list publications, research projects and grants under their own headings, in the format used in your field.
Give evidence of teaching quality you can stand behind, such as course redesigns, learner feedback you collected, or quality-assurance roles. Don't invent pass rates.
Show safeguarding awareness for FE, especially if you teach learners under 18.
University CVs can run longer than two pages because of publications. Keep the first two pages focused on what the advert asks for.

Lecturer pay usually follows the college's or university's own pay scale, so check the grade and point in the advert. Salary checker (ONS data).

Official sources and further reading

FE or HE? Order your CV to match

	Further education (college) lecturer	Higher education (university) lecturer
Lead with	Teaching: levels, learner groups, results of course changes	Teaching and research, in the balance the advert asks for
Qualifications	FE teaching qualification (e.g. Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, Cert Ed, PGCE); QTLS in England	Subject PhD or master's; Advance HE Fellowship; a teaching qualification is usually done after you start
Extra sections	Industry experience, employer links, safeguarding	Publications, grants, conference papers, supervision
Length	Usually two pages	Often longer, with publications in full

What colleges look for

The National Careers Service lists further education teacher tasks including teaching students of different ages, abilities and backgrounds, developing study programmes, giving constructive feedback and preparing students for assessments, keeping accurate learner records and following safeguarding and health and safety procedures. Show each with an example: a course you redesigned, the way you track progress, or how you work with learning support.

Industry experience matters in vocational subjects. Put your trade or professional background near the top if you teach it: years in the industry, qualifications and the kind of work you did.

What universities look for

The National Careers Service says you'll usually need a first or upper second class degree relevant to your subject, plus a postgraduate master's or PhD (or be working towards one), and that it's common to have had academic work published. Universities also value an Advance HE Fellowship, which recognises teaching in higher education at different levels (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA, PFHEA).

Give research its own headings: publications (in your field's citation style), grants and funding, research projects, conference papers and doctoral supervision.

Qualifications and status, by nation

England: FE lecturers often hold a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (or equivalent) and may gain QTLS, a professional status awarded by the Education and Training Foundation.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own FE teaching requirements. Check the college's advert and the relevant national body.
Background checks: the National Careers Service says you'll need to pass enhanced background checks. That's an enhanced DBS check in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland and AccessNI in Northern Ireland.

Moving from school teaching or industry?

School teachers can lead with their subject expertise, assessment experience and work with older students. See the secondary teacher CV example. Industry professionals should lead with their expertise and any training, mentoring or assessing they've done. A teaching qualification can often be taken once you start.

Check it before you send it

Run your CV through the free CV checker for a suggested fix on each issue, or start with the free CV builder. For a cover letter, the teaching assistant cover letter example shows how to link examples to an education person specification. Many colleges and universities also ask for a supporting statement; see how to write a supporting statement.

FAQs

What should a lecturer CV include?

Your teaching experience (subjects, levels and learner groups), curriculum and assessment work, your teaching qualification or fellowship, your subject degree and industry experience and, for university roles, publications, research and grants.

What qualifications do I need to be a college lecturer?

The National Careers Service lists FE teaching qualifications such as the Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) and postgraduate certificates in post-compulsory or further education and training, and says you'll usually need a degree in the subject to teach an academic qualification like an A level. Many colleges support new lecturers to qualify while they teach.

What is QTLS and should I put it on my CV?

QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) is a professional status for teachers in the further education and skills sector in England, awarded by the Education and Training Foundation after a period of professional formation. List it with the year if you hold it. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.

How is a university lecturer CV different?

It usually adds publications, research projects, grants and conference papers, and can be longer. The National Careers Service says you'll usually need a postgraduate master's or PhD, or be working towards one, and that it's common to have had academic work published.

Do I need a background check to be a lecturer?

The National Careers Service says you'll need to pass enhanced background checks. That's an enhanced DBS check in England and Wales, a PVG check in Scotland and an AccessNI check in Northern Ireland.

Applying in the US, Canada or Australia? Is a lecturer resume different?

For US and Canadian university jobs, ask for an academic CV, which is closer to the UK university CV than to a resume. Titles differ (assistant professor, adjunct instructor). For college or vocational teaching, a lecturer or instructor resume is usual. Australia uses lecturer, as in the UK.

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