APA, Harvard, MLA, OSCOLA: which referencing style and why

Referencing styles exist so readers can find your sources — and different fields prefer different ones. Using the wrong style is an easy way to lose marks.

APA is common in social sciences and psychology; Harvard in business and many UK courses; MLA in humanities; OSCOLA in law; IEEE in engineering and computer science; Vancouver in medicine.

Whichever you use, be consistent: in-text citations and the reference list must match. If your department specifies a style, follow it exactly — and ask if you're unsure.