Referencing Style Guides

Reference styles

There are different types of referencing styles that can be used in your work: a footnote style, a numbered style or a an author-date style. You may be asked to just use an author-date style or you may be told to use an exact style, for example, the MLA style. If you know what referencing system you need to use, click the tab above 'Styles used at Kent'. If you are not sure which style to use, click the tab above 'Styles used by School'. Note that some schools use more than one referencing style. If you are not sure which style to use, check with your module handbook or your tutor.

  • Footnote Style
    Reference information is kept in footnotes and not placed in the body of the text. Depending on the style, a bibliography or reference list is included. This style includes Chicago (but note that this has two versions: footnote or author-date); MHRA and OSCOLA (legal referencing).
  • Numbered Style
    Creates a numerical list of references in the list of works cited, based on the order in which the works appear in the text. This style includes IEEE and Vancouver.
  • Author-date Style
    References are placed in the text not in footnotes, and there is an alphabetical list of references (by author name) in the list of works cited, at the end of the work. This style includes APA, Harvard and MLA (and the author-date version of Chicago).

Software is available to help you format your references correctly. Reference management software can be used to store your references and to correctly cite material in your work. Many referencing styles in use at Kent are available, including APA, Chicago, Harvard (Kent Harvard), Kent Biosciences, IEEE, MHRA, MLA, OSCOLA (Kent Law), Physical Reviews and Vancouver . Two versions of software are available at the University: Endnote and RefWorks. Endnote is installed on University public PCs whilst RefWorks operates as an online service, accessible to anyone with a web connection and an account. For further information, see the reference management software page.

Main reference styles used at the University of Kent

Click on the links below to get more information about referencing styles used at the University of Kent. Some schools in the Faculty of Science use styles recommended by certain journals. Check the list of styles used by each school.

Reference styles listed by school

The styles listed for each school are guidelines only. Individual lecturers may wish you to use a different style. Click on the faculty links to find your school and the reference style recommended.

Humanities

School Reference style
School of Arts (including Music & Audio)
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
School of English
School of European Culture and Languages
  • SECL Style Guide 2009
    • This guide has specific information on Harvard and Turabian styles for students in SECL. For further details on which style to use, check with your tutor
  • Turabian: RefWorks select 'Turabian Notes' or EndNote users select 'Turabian Bibliography' style
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
School of History
Kent School of Architecture
Centre for American Studies
Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Sciences

School Reference style
School of Biosciences
School of Computing
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
School of Engineering and Digital Arts
  • Electronic and Computer System Engineering
    • IEEE
    • RefWorks users select 'IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'
    • EndNote users select 'IEEE'
  • Multimedia Technology and Design
    • Chicago online guide author-date style
    • Library link
    • RefWorks users select 'Chicago 15th Edition (Author-Date System)'
    • EndNote users select 'Chicago 15thB' for the author-date style
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
School of Physical Sciences

 

 
Medway School of Pharmacy
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'

Social Sciences

School Reference style
School of Anthropology and Conservation
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
School of Economics
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
Kent Business School
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
Kent Law School
School of Politics and International Relations
  • Chicago online guide
  • Library link
  • RefWorks users select ' Chicago 15th Edition (Notes & Bibliography)' (for footnote referencing), or 'Chicago 15th Edition (Author-Date System)' (for in-text citations)
  • EndNote users select 'Chicago 15thA' (for footnote referencing) or 'Chicago 15thB' (for in-text citations)
School of Psychology
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Tizard Centre
Centre for Journalism
  • Kent Harvard (local guide)
  • RefWorks and EndNote users select 'Kent Harvard - 2010 revised edition'
Centre for Sports Studies
Centre for Professional Practice