Top 5 Referencing Styles Used in UK Universities
Tanay · Nov 22, 2025 · 6 min read
Why Referencing Matters
Proper referencing is essential to avoid plagiarism and demonstrate the breadth of your research. Different disciplines prefer different styles.
1. Harvard
The most common style in the UK. It uses author-date in-text citations (Smith, 2023) and a reference list at the end.
2. Oxford (Footnotes)
Common in History and Law. It uses superscript numbers in the text leading to footnotes at the bottom of the page.
3. APA
Widely used in Psychology and Social Sciences. Similar to Harvard but with specific formatting rules.
4. OSCOLA
The standard for Law students. It has very specific rules for citing cases and legislation.
5. MHRA
Often used in Humanities. It uses footnotes and a bibliography.
Tips for Success
Always check your course handbook. Even within the same university, different departments may use different styles.
