How to Write a References in a Dissertation

How to Write References in a Dissertation: A Complete Guide for Students

References are one of the most overlooked yet most important parts of a dissertation. While students often spend weeks refining arguments, polishing their methodology, and analysing results, they sometimes treat references as a last-minute task. This is a mistake. Referencing is not simply an administrative detail ,  it is a demonstration of academic honesty, evidence of your engagement with scholarship, and a marker of professional writing.

A dissertation without properly formatted references risks being seen as careless or even academically dishonest. Universities place great emphasis on correct referencing because it shows you have read widely, engaged with sources responsibly, and respected intellectual property. Inaccuracies, missing entries, or inconsistent formatting can cost marks, or in extreme cases, raise questions about plagiarism.

This guide provides a detailed explanation of how to write references in a dissertation. It covers the purpose of referencing, key differences between a reference list and a bibliography, the most common referencing styles, how to format different types of sources, and how to avoid common mistakes. By the end, you will have a clear strategy for managing your references effectively.

Discover our complete dissertation guide series: [Abstract], [Introduction], [Literature Review], [Methodology], [Results], [Conclusion], [Discussion], [References], and [Appendix].

Purpose of References in a Dissertation

References serve several crucial functions in academic writing:

1. Giving credit to authors – Acknowledging the ideas, words, and research of others prevents plagiarism.
2. Supporting your arguments – References show that your dissertation is grounded in evidence and connected to existing scholarship.
3. Allowing verification – Readers and examiners can trace the sources to confirm accuracy or explore them further.
4. Demonstrating research depth – A well-constructed reference list indicates that you engaged widely with the literature.

Without references, even the strongest dissertation can lose credibility because it appears to lack scholarly foundation.

Difference Between References and Bibliography

Students often confuse references with a bibliography, but they are not the same.

• Reference list: Contains only the sources you cited directly in your dissertation. Every in-text citation must correspond to a full reference in this list.
• Bibliography: Includes all sources consulted during the research, even if not cited directly.

Most dissertations require a reference list, but some disciplines (particularly in the humanities) also ask for a bibliography. Always check your university’s guidelines.

Common Referencing Styles in Dissertations

Different disciplines require different referencing styles. The most widely used are:

• APA (7th edition) – Common in psychology, education, and social sciences.
• Harvard – Popular across many academic fields, especially in the UK.
• MLA – Used in literature, arts, and humanities.
• Chicago/Turabian – Favoured in history and some humanities disciplines.
• Vancouver – Widely used in medicine and health sciences.

To illustrate the differences, here is how the same journal article would appear in different styles:

• APA: Smith, J. (2021). The impact of peer mentoring on student retention. Journal of Higher Education, 92(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/xxxx
• Harvard: Smith, J. (2021) ‘The impact of peer mentoring on student retention’, Journal of Higher Education, 92(3), pp. 245–260.
• MLA: Smith, John. “The Impact of Peer Mentoring on Student Retention.” Journal of Higher Education, vol. 92, no. 3, 2021, pp. 245–260.
• Vancouver: Smith J. The impact of peer mentoring on student retention. J Higher Educ. 2021;92(3):245–260.

These variations highlight why it is critical to follow your department’s style guide consistently.

Perfect — I’ll expand the section on referencing styles into a teaching-style mini-guide, with each style explained under its own subheading (APA, Harvard, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver). Each subsection will explain the background, key formatting rules, and give detailed examples for different source types (books, journal articles, websites, etc.).

1. Writing in APA Reference Style (7th Edition)

APA (American Psychological Association) style is one of the most widely used formats, especially in psychology, education, and the social sciences. Its emphasis is on clarity, precision, and consistency.

Key Features:

• In-text citations follow the author–date format: (Smith, 2020).
• Reference list entries are arranged alphabetically by surname.
• Use a hanging indent for each entry.
• Include DOI (Digital Object Identifier) where available.

Examples:

• Book: Brown, T. (2019). Research methods for social sciences. Routledge.
• Journal Article: Chen, L., & White, M. (2020). Leadership in virtual teams. Journal of Management, 36(4), 455–470. https://doi.org/xxxx
• Website: World Health Organization. (2020). Global report on health equity. https://www.who.int/report

2. Writing in Harvard Reference Style

Harvard style is very popular in the UK and across disciplines. Like APA, it uses the author–date system, but formatting conventions differ.

Key Features:

• In-text citation: (Smith, 2020).
• Titles of books and journals are italicised.
• Reference list is alphabetical by author surname.
• Access dates required for online sources.

Examples:

• Book: Brown, T. (2019) Research methods for social sciences. London: Routledge.
• Journal Article: Chen, L. and White, M. (2020) ‘Leadership in virtual teams’, Journal of Management, 36(4), pp. 455–470.
• Website: University of Oxford (2022) Student support services. Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/support (Accessed: 14 July 2023).

3. Writing in MLA Reference Style (9th Edition)

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is common in literature, arts, and humanities. It focuses on author names and page numbers for in-text citations.

Key Features:

• In-text citations use the author’s surname and page number: (Smith 45).
• The reference list is titled Works Cited.
• First author name is inverted; subsequent names are written normally.
• Publication medium (e.g., Print, Web) is no longer required (from 8th edition onward).

Examples:

• Book: Brown, Thomas. Research Methods for Social Sciences. Routledge, 2019.
• Journal Article: Chen, Li, and Michael White. “Leadership in Virtual Teams.” Journal of Management, vol. 36, no. 4, 2020, pp. 455–470.
• Website: “Student Support Services.” University of Oxford, 2022, www.ox.ac.uk/support. Accessed 14 July 2023.

4. Writing in Chicago Reference Style

Chicago style has two systems: the author–date system (similar to APA/Harvard) and the notes and bibliography system (footnotes/endnotes). It is widely used in history, humanities, and some social sciences.

Key Features (Author–Date):

• In-text citation: (Smith 2020, 45).
• Reference list includes full details with date placed after author.

Key Features (Notes and Bibliography):

• Footnotes/endnotes provide full details on first mention.
• Shortened forms used for repeated citations.
• A bibliography lists all sources at the end.

Examples (Author–Date):

• Book: Brown, Thomas. 2019. Research Methods for Social Sciences. London: Routledge.
• Journal Article: Chen, Li, and Michael White. 2020. “Leadership in Virtual Teams.” Journal of Management 36 (4): 455–470.

Examples (Notes & Bibliography):

• Footnote (first citation): Thomas Brown, Research Methods for Social Sciences (London: Routledge, 2019), 120.
• Bibliography: Brown, Thomas. Research Methods for Social Sciences. London: Routledge, 2019.

5. Writing in Vancouver Reference Style

Vancouver style is common in medicine, nursing, and health sciences. It uses a numbered citation system rather than author–date.

Key Features:

• In-text citations are numbers in parentheses or superscripts: (1) or ¹.
• Reference list entries are numbered in the order they appear in the text.
• Only initials are used for authors’ first names.
• Journal names are abbreviated according to Index Medicus.

Examples:

• Book: Brown T. Research methods for social sciences. London: Routledge; 2019.
• Journal Article: Chen L, White M. Leadership in virtual teams. J Manag. 2020;36(4):455–70.
• Website: World Health Organization. Global report on health equity [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2020 [cited 2023 Jul 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/report

Formatting the Reference List

Regardless of style, there are universal principles for structuring a reference list:

• Order: References are usually listed alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
• Consistency: Formatting must be consistent throughout (capitalisation, punctuation, italics).
• Alignment: Most styles require a hanging indent (second line indented).
• Multiple authors: Different styles have rules for three or more authors (e.g., APA uses “et al.” after 20 authors; Harvard after 3).
• Corporate authors: If a report is authored by an institution, use the organisation’s name.

Using Reference Management Tools

Manually formatting references can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Reference management software can save enormous amounts of time:

• EndNote – professional-level tool, widely used in academia.
• Zotero – free, open-source, and user-friendly.
• Mendeley – integrates with Word and supports collaborative work.
• RefWorks – often provided through university subscriptions.

These tools allow you to:

• Store and organise references.
• Insert in-text citations automatically.
• Generate reference lists in multiple styles with a click.

For example, if your university switches from Harvard to APA, a tool like Zotero can reformat the entire list instantly.

How Many References Should a Dissertation Have?

There is no universal rule, but expectations vary depending on level and discipline:

• Undergraduate dissertations: 30–60 references.
• Master’s dissertations: 80–150 references.
• PhD theses: often 200+ references.

More important than the number is the quality of references. Examiners prefer 100 well-chosen, credible sources to 200 superficial or irrelevant ones. Always prioritise peer-reviewed journal articles, books from reputable publishers, and authoritative reports.

Common Mistakes in Dissertation Referencing

Students frequently lose marks due to small but avoidable errors. The most common include:

• Inconsistency: Mixing APA and Harvard formats in the same list.
• Missing entries: Citing a source in the text but omitting it from the reference list.
• Incorrect author order: Not following the style’s rule for multiple authors.
• Secondary referencing: Overusing citations like “as cited in Smith, 2020” rather than locating the original source.
• Poor-quality sources: Relying on blogs, Wikipedia, or non-academic websites.

Attention to detail is key. Even minor formatting mistakes can undermine the professionalism of your work.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Plagiarism is one of the most serious academic offences. Even unintentional plagiarism — failing to cite correctly or forgetting quotation marks — can have severe consequences. Proper referencing protects you from this risk by clearly distinguishing your ideas from those of others.

Many universities use software such as Turnitin or iThenticate to detect similarity. These tools compare your text with millions of sources to identify unreferenced matches. A strong reference list is therefore not only an academic requirement but also a safeguard against allegations of misconduct.

Practical Tips for Managing References

1. Start early – build your reference list as soon as you begin reading.
2. Keep detailed notes – record full bibliographic information, including page numbers for direct quotes.
3. Use reference managers – to insert citations as you write.
4. Check consistency – run through your list carefully before submission.
5. Cross-check in-text and reference list – every in-text citation must appear in the reference list and vice versa.

By following these practices, you avoid the chaos of trying to assemble references in the final days before submission.

Checklist for Dissertation References

Before submission, ask yourself:

• Have I used the correct referencing style consistently?
• Are all in-text citations included in the reference list?
• Are there any missing or incomplete entries?
• Have I avoided unreliable or non-academic sources?
• Is formatting accurate, including punctuation and italics?

If you can tick all these boxes, your reference section is ready for submission.