Referencing basics
Learn about sources, citations, reference lists, DOIs and the foundations of accurate referencing.
Explore referencing basics →Ref-Check Learning Hub
Learn referencing. Understand it. Check it with confidence.
Practical guidance for confident referencing.
Build your skills with plain-English guides and the Foundations of Referencing videos. Learn to understand Ref-Check findings, review supported in-text citation-formatting guidance and involve others when feedback would help.
Learn the basics
Follow the evidence trail
Check with confidence
Recommended starting point
Foundations of Referencing videos
Sixteen short, plain-English lessons that introduce the essential ideas students need before checking their work.
Start with the video series
The refreshed video pages now use the same visual structure: a short explanation, key points, practical examples, transcript and clear navigation through the full series.
Explore
Choose what you need help with
The Learning Hub is organised around the journey students usually follow: understand the basics, spot common problems, interpret feedback and check work carefully.
Common referencing issues
Understand missing citations, unused references, formatting problems and sources that may need closer review.
View common issues →Understanding your results
Explore focused findings, use Show Me and understand supported in-text citation-formatting guidance before deciding what needs attention.
Understand your results →Free referencing posters
Download five printable posters to support students with source credibility, reference structure, reference lists and final checks before submission.
View free posters →Using Ref-Check
Put the guidance into practice
Two helpful next steps when you have finished a check: understand any citation-formatting suggestions, and decide whether another person’s feedback would be useful.
Understand in-text formatting findings
Review suggestions for recognised in-text citations, compare them with your selected style and any local guidance, and decide what to change. These checks do not guarantee that every citation or reference-list entry is correctly formatted.
Learn about formatting findings →Invite another perspective
Share an analysed document with a tutor, supervisor, colleague, editor or peer reviewer so they can highlight passages and leave comments. The original document remains unchanged; check permissions before sharing confidential work.
Learn how sharing works →The journey
From learning to checking
This page now mirrors the direction of the refreshed lesson pages: short, visual, practical and focused on building confidence.
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Understand
Learn the language of referencing in simple terms.
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Connect
See how citations and references work together.
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Review
Spot where a source trail might need closer attention.
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Check
Use Ref-Check to support careful academic judgement.
Tailored support
For students, academics and support teams
Different users may need different kinds of help. The Learning Hub keeps the guidance practical while making it easier to find the right route.
Students
Plain-English guidance for understanding referencing and reviewing work before submission.
Academics and support teams
Resources that can support teaching, feedback and conversations about academic integrity.
Stay connected
Ready to check your work?
Use Ref-Check to compare citations and references, identify possible problems and highlight sources that may need closer review.
Check, then judge
Ref-Check supports careful review. It highlights possible issues so users can apply their own academic judgement.