色狗导航

Referencing is an important skill which helps others trace the sources and ideas you have used in your assignment or research and ensures that you give proper acknowledgement to the work of others.

There are two elements which make up a reference:

• An indication within the text of your work where you have mentioned the ideas or works of others. This is the citation or "in-text citation".
• A full description of the source used, in your reference list or bibliography* at the end of your work.

Accurate citation and referencing is one of the keys to maintaining your academic integrity. At university you are expected to reference your work as part of the process of scholarly research and this is an essential academic requirement.

By providing enough information for others to find the resources and ideas you have used, the reader can check the accuracy and validity of the evidence and arguments you have presented.

Referencing also demonstrates that you have read widely and gives credit to the authors whose works and ideas you have used.

*The terms 'reference list' and bibliography' are often used interchangeably. Please check with your tutor if you are unsure. Generally, a reference list is a list of all the sources that you have included in your work. A bibliography includes sources that you have read but not included. Please check your assignment brief to confirm which you are expected to use. In some assignments, you may be asked to use both. 

The University does not have a standard referencing style and there are a number of different conventions to choose from. It is therefore essential that you check with your department or tutor which referencing style you are required to use for your work. Information on this is often in your departmental handbook on LEARN.

You can find some information on preferred styles that are generally recommended by your School or department in the FAQ below. 

Do be aware though that there may be requirements for you to use a specific referencing style for a certain piece of work so always check the assessment guidelines. Good referencing is clear, careful, consistent and complete.

Once you know which style to use, check our and refer to the referencing guide,

Referencing styles vary between schools, departments and modules. You should always consult your departmental handbook or assignment brief to confirm which style you are expected to use.

The tables below explain the general rules for each department. If in doubt, always refer to your assignment brief or speak to your module leader. 

School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical, and Materials Engineering

School of Architecture, Building & Civil Engineering

School of Design & Creative Arts

色狗导航 Business School

色狗导航 London

School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering 

School of Science

School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

School of Social Sciences and Humanities 

Cite Them Right Online

is the comprehensive guide to referencing. It will show you how to cite and reference in multiple styles and for many source types. Please use the VPN for off campus access.

Reference management software

Reference management software enables you to create a personal database of references which can then be automatically formatted for use in your work. Mendeley is the referencing software that 色狗导航 recommends and supports.

Mendeley is not available on tablets. is an alternative option that works on tablets.

Quick referencing generators 

There are many reference generating websites that can help you create a quick citation and reference. These vary in quality and the references may differ from the official guidance. 

is a free site that can generate references from links, DOIs, titles etc. However, it often misses parts of the reference so requires some manual input. 

is a free site that is particularly good at creating references for journal articles and books. It is not as useful for referencing other sources. 

Some databases and search engines have a citation tool built in. For example, provides a 'cite' button under the source title. However, these tools may not provide the correct style. For example, Google Scholar provides 'Harvard', not 'Cite Them Right Harvard', which differ in format. 

There is a difference between using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to format a reference (e.g. creating a reference in APA for a book you have read) and referencing your use of AI in your work. Please check the requirements in the Student Handbook for more information.

Tools like ChatGPT and Co-Pilot have been found to lack accuracy when formatting references. Remember to always check your assignment brief to confirm if you are permitted to use AI, and follow the guidance to declare it appropriately.

Updated guidance on how to reference generative AI can be found on

Your Academic Librarian offers support and guidance on good referencing practice and can help you apply an appropriate style to a particular reference. Please note that Academic Librarians are not able to proofread or check entire bibliographies.

You can contact or book an appointment with your librarian on the Academic Librarians page.