Referencing code of practice for students

Why do you need a code of practice for referencing?

The ability to construct references is a key academic skill. It is necessary for all students in all subjects. 

Accurate and consistent use of referencing is an important part of assessments. It allows students to demonstrate a good understanding of academic practice. 

Good referencing also demonstrates a professional approach to the use of information. 

This Code of Practice sets out the standards for the use of referencing in academic study. It therefore aims to ensure that referencing is consistently assessed across the University. 

What resources are available to support you?

There are three types of resources available to support you with referencing:

• Official style guides
• Reference support guides
• Reference management software

The style guides are maintained by the official bodies for each referencing system. 

The referencing styles used at the University of Dundee include:

• APA (American Psychological Association)
• Chicago
• Harvard (Cite Them Right)
• IEEE
• MHRA (Modern Humanities Research Association)
• MLA (Modern Language Association)
• OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities)
• Vancouver

Reference support guides explain the proper use of referencing styles.

The official reference support guide preferred by the University of Dundee is Cite Them Right Online. 

There are other guides available, however, there is no guarantee that they will be accurate. Some guides incorporate local style variations not supported by the University.

Reference management software can help you gather references together and correctly format them. 

The reference management software preferred by the University of Dundee is EndNote. It is available through AppsAnywhere. The Library has a supporting guide for EndNote.

There are other online referencing tools available, however, some require a paid subscription. EndNote is fully supported by the University.

These tools can be very helpful but are not always fully accurate. Always double check your references before submitting an assignment.

How do you learn to reference?

Each school will ensure that referencing is taught, supported, and assessed consistently. 

You will only be expected to learn and use the official referencing system for your modules. 

Your module leader will make clear the preferred system for you to use. Be aware that different modules within the same school may use different referencing systems. Some modules may support the use of more than one referencing system.

Your guide for each module should include guidance on referencing. It should clearly identify the chosen style for that module. 

Your referencing will be assessed according to a clear set of criteria. Marks will be awarded on the general quality of your referencing, rather than subtracted for occasional small errors. Referencing will be weighted and marked consistently across all assessments.

All modules or degree programmes should include sessions on:

• The appropriate use of information in academic study and research
• Referencing and copyright issues and how they affect you

Additional help on the creation of references and use of guides and tools is available from: the Academic Librarian Team

Additional support on why and where to reference is available from: the Academic Skills Centre