How to reference a website in OSCOLA
A web page footnote in OSCOLA 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’ (Site name, Year) <Web address> accessed date accessed.
, 2 · TITLE‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (3 · SITE NAMEStudent Sleep Project, 4 · DATE2025) 5 · WEB ADDRESS<www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026.
- 2 · TitleCapital letters for the main words (KanBananza adds them). In single quotation marks.The main heading on the page, not the words in the browser tab.
- 3 · Site nameIn italics.The name of the whole website, often in the logo or the page header.
- 4 · DateThe year.The date it was published or last updated, often near the title or at the bottom.
- 5 · Web addressThe full web address. Leave out “https://” when it starts with “www”. In angle brackets.Copy it from the address bar, so nothing is mistyped.
- 6 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: 14 October 2026. After “accessed”.The day you read the page.
In your bibliography
The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:
, 2 · TITLE‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (3 · SITE NAMEStudent Sleep Project, 4 · DATE2025) 5 · WEB ADDRESS<www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026
Two places, one source
Many students sleep less in exam weeks.1
A footnote number, after the full stop.1 Amara Green, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> 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.
What if…
Made by an organisation
Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.
Riverside Media Bureau, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
No author
Start with the title instead.
‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
Two authors
Give both names, joined with “and”.
Amara Green and Ravi Patel, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
Four or more authors
Give the first author, then “and others”.
Amara Green and others, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
Easy to get wrong
Leaving out the date you looked at it
NOT QUITEAmara Green, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle>.
RIGHTAmara Green, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
Check your university’s version
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your handbook always wins.
This guide follows OSCOLA, 4th edition, from the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law.
Questions
What goes in the footnote?
The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: Amara Green, ‘Why Students Struggle to Sleep’ (Student Sleep Project, 2025) <www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle> accessed 14 October 2026.
Is OSCOLA the same at every university?
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your 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.
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.