Add to Chrome
Menu

How to reference a report in MHRA

A report footnote in MHRA has 6 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.

  • In your essay: A footnote
  • Checked 21 October 2026

Pip tip: in KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. Most of this is filled in for you.

The 6 parts

Author, Title (Publisher, Year) <Web address> [accessed date accessed].

1 · AUTHORCampus Health Trust, 2 · TITLEStudent Wellbeing Survey 2024 (3 · PUBLISHERCampus Health Trust, 4 · DATE2024) 5 · WEB ADDRESS<https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026].

  1. 1 · AuthorThe organisation’s name, as it gives it.The organisation, or the people, who wrote it: on the cover or the first pages.
  2. 2 · TitleCapital letters for the main words (KanBananza adds them). In italics.On the cover.
  3. 3 · PublisherAs the source gives it.Who published it, often the same organisation.
  4. 4 · DateThe year.On the cover or the first pages.
  5. 5 · Web addressThe full web address. In angle brackets.The report’s own page or PDF.
  6. 6 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: 14 October 2026. After “accessed”. All in square brackets.The day you read it.

In your bibliography

The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:

1 · AUTHORCampus Health Trust, 2 · TITLEStudent Wellbeing Survey 2024 (3 · PUBLISHERCampus Health Trust, 4 · DATE2024) 5 · WEB ADDRESS<https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026]

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

Many students say exam stress affects their sleep.1

A footnote number, after the full stop.
IN YOUR FOOTNOTE

1 Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.

Build your footnote

Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Surname, then first name. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
Like 2025, May 2025 or 5 May 2025.
Like 14 October 2026.
Optional.
YOUR FOOTNOTEReady to copy

Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY

Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026]

Pip tip: the title stays in italics when you paste into Word or Google Docs. If it doesn’t, select it and press Ctrl+I.

What if…

  • Two authors

    Give both names, joined with “and”.

    Amara Green and Ravi Patel, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

  • Four or more authors

    Give the first author, then “and others”.

    Amara Green and others, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Easy to get wrong

  • Leaving out the date you looked at it

    NOT QUITE

    Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024>.

    RIGHT

    Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

  • The title not in italics

    NOT QUITE

    Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

    RIGHT

    Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Check your university’s version

Some departments make small changes to MHRA. Your module handbook always wins.

This guide follows the MHRA Style Guide, 4th edition.

The full MHRA guide

Questions

What goes in the footnote?

The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024) <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026]. To point to one place in it, add that at the end: Campus Health Trust, Student Wellbeing Survey 2024 (Campus Health Trust, 2024), p. 12 <https://www.example.org/wellbeing-survey-2024> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Is MHRA the same at every university?

Some departments make small changes to MHRA. Your module handbook always wins.

Referencing is easier as you go

Our step-by-step guides show how to keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.

Skip the typing next time

In KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. The details are filled in for you, anything missing is flagged, and your reference list is made in your style. Harvard is free; the other styles come with Full Bananza.

Add to Chrome, it’s free

These guides and KanBananza’s references are here to help, but they don’t replace your course’s own referencing guide: check your references against your handbook, and ask your tutor or library if you’re not sure. You’re responsible for your own work. Style names belong to their owners, who aren’t connected with KanBananza and don’t endorse it. See our terms.

Report in other styles

More MHRA guides