How to write a student CV for Germany
German applications follow the Lebenslauf tradition: complete chronology, a professional photo, dates explained. Gaps that would pass unremarked elsewhere get asked about here. This is the rule set applied when you pick Germany.
Photo on a Germany CV
Include one.A professional headshot is still standard in Germany. Plain background, business dress, neutral expression.
How long should it be?
Up to 2 pages.Two pages, with a complete chronology. Gaps in your timeline get asked about.
How Note are read
State your note.German grades run 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (pass). Convert your GPA rather than leaving it unexplained.
Personal details
Date of birth: conventional here.Unlike the US or UK, German application documents traditionally include date of birth — and sometimes a place of birth alongside it.
Worth knowing
- Account for every period since school — gaps read as evasive rather than unremarkable.
- The document is a Lebenslauf: factual and structured, not a persuasive pitch.
- Language levels should use the CEFR scale (B2, C1), not 'fluent'.
Build it without memorising any of this
Pick Germany in Fairhand and these conventions apply themselves — the photo field, the length target, the grade label, the paper size. Free, no account needed.
Start my Germany CV