Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism

What is Referencing?

Referencing is the method used to ensure that other research influences are recognised in your assignment, and shows readers of your work where your sources of information come from.

Why do I need to reference my work?

Correct referencing helps to ensure that you avoid being accused of plagiarism. Most assignments during your time at University will be assessed on the quality of your referencing which will count towards your grade. Referencing also ensures that you can demonstrate how your ideas build upon the research of others. If someone is reading your assignment, they should be able to use your referencing to find the articles you have used to help with your assignment.

For more information about how to avoid plagiarism, read How to Avoid Academic Misconduct [pdf 145k]

Which referencing system should I use?

There are several referencing systems used within the University. Therefore it is very important to check with your school which system they recommend and use the appropriate link below. Whatever style you use, it is important to be clear, consistent and correct, making sure you include all the relevant details.

• Harvard Referencing

Most commonly used referencing style at the University

• Oxford Referencing

Recommended for law students

• APA Referencing

Recommended for Psychology students

• English Subject Style

Recommended for English students

Help and Advice

If you need help with any aspect of referencing, please ask a member of LIS staff for assistance. You can also chat to a librarian online via ASSIST.

For help organising and managing your references, as well as with formatting references in the correct referencing style, please see the Information and Reference Management page.

Skills4Study Campus

Skills4StudyCampus is an interactive e-learning resource that covers a wide range of core skills including referencing and plagiarism. For more information about why we use referencing and how to avoid plagiarism we encourage students to work through the online module.

Please remember to use the correct referencing system as advised by your school.