How to List PhD ABD on Your Resume [Full Guide]

You should mention PhD ABD on a resume whenever it applies to you. It’s a great achievement, even though you haven’t completed your PhD yet. This article will show you the best place to put it and what you should write about it.

How to List PhD ABD on Your Resume

You should list PhD ABD under the “Education” section of your resume. It’s common to see it when someone hasn’t completed their dissertation but still wants to apply for jobs. It gives them a chance to apply for PhD-related jobs that might require extra qualifications.

These examples will help to clear up where you should include PhD ABD:

• Education:
• Washington State Uni, 2020-present
• PhD ABD in Social Sciences

As you can see, you can list PhD ABD in this way. It’s a fairly common way to do it, as it shows that you are working towards your PhD but still have to do your dissertation.

“ABD” means “all but dissertation.” It is a title given to anyone completing their PhD. They have to complete three main steps to reach the “ABD” stage of their PhD:

• Completed all courses related to PhD
• Passed all program exams
• Defended dissertation proposal

As long as these things are done, a student may call themselves “PhD ABD.” It’s still a great feat, and it shows that you’ve put a lot of work into achieving your PhD, even if you haven’t completed it yet.

“PhD ABD” does not mean you are a PhD drop out. However, if you choose to never complete your dissertation, you may end up falling under this category.

You shouldn’t be ashamed to include ABD in your resume. It is still a remarkable qualification, and most employers will view it with admiration. They will definitely consider you as a suitable candidate for whatever position you are applying for.

Of course, if the job description specifically states that you need a PhD, having only an “ABD” might not be good enough. This is very dependent on the job, though.

You should always read through the job description thoroughly before sending in your CV.

Should You Put PhD ABD on a Resume?

Including any qualification in your resume is a good idea. The same applies to a PhD ABD. It’s still a remarkable qualification to have, and it’s worth including it.

You should put PhD ABD on a resume to show that you are close to getting your PhD. It shows that you’re a hard worker and capable of independent research and study.

Most employers won’t need more information than that. They’ll understand that you’re working on your dissertation, but you haven’t quite completed it yet.

You might only need to elaborate when you are very close to your PhD. You might want to let a potential employer know that you’re close, as it might encourage them to hire you because you’re nearly done.

Including educational qualifications is slightly different from other qualifications in CVs. You should always include educational qualifications, whether they apply to the specific job role or not.

For example, you should write:

• PhD ABD in History

Even if the job you’re applying for does not correlate with your History PhD. This is done to show that you are educated, diligent, and able to complete a PhD course.

However, with other qualifications, it’s best to keep things as specific as possible. We won’t go into detail, but it would be like including a forklift driving license to apply for a job in a bank. You won’t need to use the qualification, so it won’t help to include it in your resume.

How to Describe Your PhD ABD

It would help to know how to write PhD ABD on a resume. You don’t need to describe it all that much. You only need to include “PhD ABD” and the field you are studying.

This will give your potential employer an idea of your passions and interests. Most people only study PhDs in the fields they’re keen to learn more about. That could give an employer an idea of what to expect from you.

The simplest way to include it would be under the “Education” section. It would look something like these examples:

• Denver College, 2019-present
• PhD ABD in Sport Psychology

• LCU, 2020-present
• PhD ABD in Veterinary Sciences

• UCL, 2016-present
• PhD ABD in Philosophy

These are the best ways to include PhD ABD in your resume. “ABD” should come directly after “PhD” and before the field you studied.

Where to Include PhD ABD on a Resume

Now you know where to put PhD ABD on your resume, but there are some other options.

You may be able to talk about your PhD ABD in the professional summary of your resume rather than just your “Education” section. If you think your PhD ABD is relevant to the job you’re applying for, there’s no reason not to include it.

For example, if you’re applying for a sports coaching job and have a PhD ABD in Sports Science, you might write the following summary:

• PhD ABD in Sports Science with 3 years of hands-on experience working with student-athletes on the football team.

This summary is a great way to highlight your PhD ABD without being over the top. It shows a potential employer that you are working towards your PhD.

It’s good to include it in the summary because it comes much earlier in a resume than the “Education” section. The “Education” section is usually included towards the end of a resume, while the summary comes at the beginning.

The sooner you can mention your PhD ABD, the better you’ll look in an employer’s eyes.

Interestingly, there’s a limit to how much you can mention it. You don’t want to include your PhD ABD qualification too much.

If it’s the only thing you include in your CV, it might imply that you don’t have any other qualifications to your name. This could have the opposite effect and turn an employer away from wanting to hire you.

Example of a Resume That Highlights PhD ABD

You might want to review an example to see the best ways to include PhD ABD in your resume. We’ll include it in the summary and the “Education” section to show you the best practice:

Tammy Abraham

Tammy Abraham
16 Washington Lane
Alberta
MI 23494

Summary
PhD ABD student studying Latin and Philosophy. 5 years of travel experience around Italy, allowing for the development of cultural appreciation. Ready to apply knowledge from travels.

Skills
Punctual
Able to work to deadlines
Detail-oriented
Strong leadership skills

Education
Chicago University, 2018-present
PhD ABD in Latin and Philosophy

Work Experience
Chicago Campus Cafe 2019-present
Developed customer service skills

You may include the “Education” section before or after “Work Experience.” We recommend including it earlier if you believe your PhD ABD is important enough. It will make your resume look better and be easier for an employer to check your qualifications.

Is ABD an Official Title?

“ABD” is not an official title. It is a state that most graduate students are in before completing their dissertation.

It’s so common that almost everybody (students, professors, and employers, alike) knows what it stands for. It means “all but dissertation,” showing that students only need to complete their dissertation before earning their full PhD.

You should not use it in formal situations to address yourself by a title. It is not an official title, and it will add nothing of value to your name.