OSCOLA referencing
UK law.
Short answer
What is OSCOLA referencing?
OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) is the footnote system used by UK law schools. Its defining feature is minimal punctuation — no full stops after abbreviations — and strict conventions for pinpointing cases, legislation and secondary sources. It is the most technically unforgiving style most students meet.
Worked examples
OSCOLA for every source type
Each example below is produced by the same engine that powers our free generator.
book
Full guide →Reference list entry
Gillie Bolton, Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development (5th edn, SAGE Publications 2018)
In-text
n 1 (footnote)
journal article
Full guide →Reference list entry
Liz Thomas and Michael Hill, 'Belonging and Continuation Among First-Generation Undergraduates' (2024) 49 Studies in Higher Education 412-428
In-text
n 1 (footnote)
web page
Full guide →Reference list entry
Quality Assurance Agency, 'Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education' (QAA, 2025) <https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity> accessed 14 August 2026
In-text
n 1 (footnote)
book chapter
Full guide →Reference list entry
Jennifer Moon, 'Reflection in Higher Education Learning' in Handbook of Reflective Practice (Routledge 2013)
In-text
n 1 (footnote)
report
Full guide →Reference list entry
Office for Students, Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence (Office for Students 2025)
In-text
n 1 (footnote)
Watch out for
OSCOLA quirks that cost marks
- No full stops in abbreviations — 'ibid' not 'ibid.'
- Case names are italicised; the citation that follows is not.
- Pinpoint references use paragraph numbers in square brackets for modern cases.
- A bibliography separates cases, legislation and secondary sources into distinct lists.
- Footnote numbers go after the punctuation, not before.
OSCOLA — FAQs
- What is OSCOLA referencing?
- OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) is the footnote system used by UK law schools. Its defining feature is minimal punctuation — no full stops after abbreviations — and strict conventions for pinpointing cases, legislation and secondary sources. It is the most technically unforgiving style most students meet.
- Who uses OSCOLA?
- UK law. It is most common in United Kingdom, Ireland. Always confirm against your own module handbook, because departments within one university often differ.
- Is OSCOLA an author–date or numeric system?
- OSCOLA is a footnote system: citations appear as numbered notes at the foot of the page, with a separate bibliography at the end.