EPQ Bibliography and Referencing: Harvard and Citations

By Michael Thompson · Education Specialist; 10 years teaching the IB at Bromsgrove School · Published 24 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026

An EPQ bibliography is not an afterthought - it is evidence that you have researched rigorously and acknowledged every source honestly. The rule is straightforward: every source you use must be cited in the text and listed at the end, in a consistent style throughout. No awarding body prescribes a single referencing style in their EPQ specifications, so follow your centre's instruction; Harvard is widely taught in UK sixth forms. Get it wrong and you risk the problems the OCR H857 moderators flagged in summer 2024, bare hyperlinks that cannot be followed once a page is printed and no in-text citations, with the added risk of a bibliography padded with sources you never actually read.

Key Takeaways

In This Article

  1. What an EPQ bibliography is and why it matters
  2. Reference list versus bibliography: keep them separate
  3. How EPQ Harvard referencing works: in-text citations explained
  4. EPQ bibliography examples: formats for every source type
  5. Source evaluation: what moderators actually require
  6. Common EPQ referencing mistakes and how to avoid them
  7. Pre-submission checklist for your EPQ bibliography
  8. What to do next

1. What an EPQ bibliography is and why it matters

An EPQ bibliography is the complete list of sources you consulted during your project, placed at the end of your work. It sits alongside your in-text citations, which flag each source at the exact point you use it. Together, they form the evidence that your research was real, selective, and critically engaged - not just a reading list stapled on at the end.

That distinction matters because the AQA 7993 specification assesses research directly under AO2, which requires candidates to "research, critically select, organise and use information, and select and use a range of resources". The word "critically select" is the operative one. A bibliography that demonstrates you weighed sources against each other satisfies that criterion in a way a bare list of links never can.

The OCR H857 summer 2024 moderators' report found that some candidates produced no in-text citations or bibliographies at all, and that many submitted bare hyperlinks or URLs - which cannot be followed once the page is printed. Both errors leave the moderator unable to verify the research underpinning the project.

One thing that catches students out: the exam boards in this qualification do not prescribe a referencing style in their specifications. Harvard is widely taught in UK schools, so follow your centre's instruction rather than assuming a board has mandated it.

2. Reference list versus bibliography: keep them separate

Most students use these terms interchangeably. They mean different things, and the distinction matters.

A reference list contains only the sources you cited directly in your project, either as quotations or paraphrases. A bibliography is broader: it includes those same sources plus any you read for background understanding but did not quote or paraphrase.

The OCR H857 summer 2024 moderators' report names this explicitly as good practice, praising candidates who 'separated reference lists and bibliographies which included sources they had read but not directly quoted.'

The opposite approach carries a real risk. Padding a bibliography with sources you never opened is easy to spot. A long list with no corresponding in-text citations suggests that entries were added for appearance rather than use.

The practical fix is simple: keep a running log from the moment you start reading. For each source, record the full reference details and note whether you cited it directly in the text or only used it for background. At submission, that log splits cleanly into two lists.

One counter-intuitive benefit: a well-populated bibliography that goes beyond your direct citations actually demonstrates wider reading. That is the point of keeping it. Just make sure every entry on it is a source you genuinely consulted.

3. How EPQ Harvard referencing works: in-text citations explained

Harvard is the most commonly used referencing style for the EPQ, according to Solent University's EPQ referencing guide. That said, no awarding body prescribes Harvard in its specification. Your centre chooses the style, so confirm with your supervisor before you start formatting anything.

The system itself is straightforward. Every time you use a source, you place the author's surname and the year of publication in brackets immediately after the material. That short marker points the reader to the full entry in your reference list.

Three patterns cover almost every situation:

The distinction between paraphrase and quotation matters here. If you put the idea in your own words, you still need a citation, but you do not need a page number. If you reproduce the author's exact words, even a short phrase, you must add the page number. Dropping it is one of the most common formatting slips.

A trickier situation is the secondary citation, where you want to reference a source you have only encountered inside another author's work. The format looks like this: Jones (2015, cited in Smith, 2021, p. 45). The counter-intuitive rule is that only Smith (the source you actually read) goes into your reference list, not Jones. Use this sparingly. If the original source is available through your school library or online, go and read it directly.

The Solent guide notes that automated referencing tools can produce errors, especially when the input data is incomplete. Any tool-generated reference should be checked against your centre's guidance before it goes into your EPQ bibliography.

4. EPQ bibliography examples: formats for every source type

The EPQ bibliography needs to follow a consistent pattern so that every entry carries the same structural logic. Harvard referencing is widely taught in UK schools and named as the most commonly used style for the EPQ, but your centre sets the style, not the board. Check your centre's instructions first, then apply the format below if they specify Harvard.

One practical note: automated generators are not reliable on their own. Solent University's EPQ guide warns that referencing tools depend on correct information being inputted and should be checked against your library team's guidance. Use a generator to draft, then verify each field manually.

The examples below are written for this guide, not real sources. Authors, titles, publishers, and URLs are invented for illustration only.

1. Book

Full reference Patel, R. (2021). Climate Policy in the Modern State. 3rd ed. Manchester: Northbridge Press.

In-text (paraphrase): (Patel, 2021) In-text (direct quotation with page): (Patel, 2021, p. 47)

2. Chapter in an edited book

Full reference Okonkwo, J. (2019). 'Structural inequality in urban housing', in Davies, L. and Singh, P. (eds.) Urban Policy Debates. London: Westfield Academic. pp. 88-104.

In-text: (Okonkwo, 2019)

3. Journal article

Full reference Fernandez, C. (2022). 'Adolescent sleep patterns and exam performance'. Journal of Educational Psychology, 15(2), pp. 210-225.

In-text: (Fernandez, 2022)

Volume and issue go after the journal name, with the issue in parentheses, followed by page numbers - follow that pattern for consistency across all journal entries.

4. Website or report with no named author

Full reference Office for Budget Responsibility (2023). Fiscal Sustainability Report 2023. [online]. Available at: https://www.obr-example.gov.uk/fsr2023 [Accessed: 12 March 2024].

In-text: (Office for Budget Responsibility, 2023)

Where no individual author is named, use the organisation or source name in place of an author.

5. Newspaper article

Full reference Whitmore, S. (2023). 'NHS waiting lists reach record length'. The Daily Chronicle, 5 September, p. 4.

In-text: (Whitmore, 2023)

For online newspaper articles, add the URL and access date after the page number using the same format as websites above.

6. Dataset

Full reference UK Data Service (2022). British Social Attitudes Survey 2021. [Dataset]. Available at: https://ukdataservice-example.ac.uk/bsas2021 [Accessed: 3 January 2024].

In-text: (UK Data Service, 2022)

Datasets need an access date because the underlying file can be updated or withdrawn, making the date part of the record.

7. Interview or email exchange

Full reference Ahmed, N. (2024). Interview with the author on renewable energy policy. [Personal interview]. 14 February 2024.

OR, for an email: Brennan, T. (2024). Email correspondence with the author regarding carbon capture technology. [Email]. 9 March 2024.

In-text: (Ahmed, 2024) / (Brennan, 2024)

The Cambridge OCR moderators' report for summer 2024 specifically names interviews and email exchanges with experts as examples of effective primary research, so these entries carry real weight in your EPQ bibliography.

8. Video

Full reference Layton, P. (2021). The history of the Industrial Revolution explained. [Video]. Available at: https://videohostexample.com/industrialrevolution [Accessed: 20 November 2023].

In-text: (Layton, 2021)

If the video has no identifiable individual author, use the channel or organisation name in the author position, the same logic that applies to websites.

9. AI tool (if your centre requires declaration)

Any use of an AI tool must follow your centre's rules. If your centre requires you to declare AI use, the entry follows the same Harvard logic: describe what was generated (as the title), give the year, name the tool and version, and add the access date.

Example entry (written for this guide) Describe the role of microplastics in ocean food chains (2024). ExampleAI (Version 2.1). [AI-generated response]. [Accessed: 7 April 2024].

In-text: (ExampleAI, 2024)

Do not assume the board requires or prohibits AI disclosure without checking your centre's policy directly.

The structural logic across all nine types is the same: author or responsible body, year, title in italics (books, reports, videos) or quotation marks (articles, chapters), source details (publisher, journal, or platform), and for anything online, a full URL plus access date. Hold that pattern and your EPQ bibliography will be consistent from the first entry to the last.

5. Source evaluation: what moderators actually require

Most students treat referencing as an administrative task: list the sources, move on. The OCR H857 moderators' report for summer 2024 makes clear it is an assessed one. The report states directly: 'Source evaluations are required. These should include a consideration of the usefulness of a source for the candidate's project and an evaluation of the credibility and reliability of the source.'

That means a formatted entry in the EPQ bibliography is not enough on its own. You also need to show, somewhere in your written work or project log, that you have actively judged each source rather than accepted it at face value.

The same report names CRAAP (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, purpose) as one example evaluation tool. It is not mandated; it is offered as a starting point. Use it if it suits your project, adapt it, or develop your own framework, as long as the evaluation covers usefulness and credibility.

AQA candidates face an equivalent demand through AO2. The AQA 7993 specification requires students to 'research, critically select, organise and use information, and select and use a range of resources... analyse data, apply relevantly and demonstrate understanding of any links, connections and complexities of the topic.' The word 'critically' carries weight: collecting sources without selecting between them does not satisfy this objective, and the AQA June 2023 report found high AO2 marks being awarded 'with little evidence of critical' selection.

A note on primary research. OCR moderators confirm it is not compulsory. Where it works, effective examples include interviews, email exchanges with experts, and visits to appropriate locations. Where it does not work, candidates can still demonstrate analytical thinking by examining why it failed. A survey that attracted too few responses, handled critically, is more valuable than one padded into the bibliography without comment.

6. Common EPQ referencing mistakes and how to avoid them

Five problems recur in EPQ bibliographies; the first two and the last are named in the moderators' reports. Each one is fixable before submission.

1. Bare URLs instead of formatted references. The OCR H857 Summer 2024 moderators' report notes that many candidates submitted lists of hyperlinks or URLs that cannot be followed once a page is printed. A URL alone is not a reference. Replace every naked link with a full formatted entry that includes author, date, title, and access date.

2. No in-text citations at all. The same report flags candidates who produced no in-text citations or bibliographies. Without in-text citations, there is no way to match a claim in your essay to its source. Add an author-date marker at every point where you quote, paraphrase, or draw on a source.

3. Padding the bibliography with unread sources. Listing sources you never consulted inflates the reference list without adding evidence of genuine research. Only include what you actually used or read.

4. Inconsistency between in-text citations and the reference list. A mismatch, a name spelled differently in the text and the list, or a source cited in the essay but absent from the list looks careless and leaves a reader unable to trace the source. Reconcile both lists before submission.

5. Uncritical use of sources. The AQA June 2023 examination report found high AO2 marks awarded 'with little evidence of critical' selection, and calls that over-marking. Accepting a source at face value, without assessing its credibility or relevance, falls short of the analytical standard AO2 requires. For each source, note why you found it reliable and why it was appropriate for your specific project.

7. Pre-submission checklist for your EPQ bibliography

Run through this list before you submit. Each item is one action, and several of them address weaknesses the moderators have flagged in candidates' work.

  1. Every in-text citation has a matching entry in the EPQ bibliography or reference list. No orphaned citations.
  2. Every entry in the reference list is cited somewhere in the project text. Sources you read but did not cite should be in your separate bibliography, not your reference list.
  3. Every entry includes a date (publication year, or "no date" where genuinely absent).
  4. Direct quotations include a page number (or paragraph number for unpaginated sources) in the in-text citation.
  5. Online sources include the full URL and an access date. A bare hyperlink is not a formatted reference.
  6. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order by author surname (or by title where no author is named).
  7. Punctuation is consistent across every entry. If you use a full stop after the publisher in one entry, it appears in all of them.
  8. One referencing style is used throughout. No mixing of Harvard, MLA, and footnote styles across different sections.
  9. Source evaluations are present for each source, covering usefulness, credibility, and reliability.
  10. You have checked your final list against your centre's own style guide. Your centre's instruction overrides any default format, including the Harvard conventions taught in this guide.

A non-obvious catch worth noting: style guides differ on whether "Mac" and "Mc" surnames file together or letter by letter, so check your centre's guide and apply one rule throughout.

8. What to do next

Your EPQ bibliography is not something to tidy up the night before submission. The gap between a well-referenced project and one that loses marks on AO2 usually comes down to consistency, and consistency is easiest to fix now, not at the end.

This week, ask your supervisor for your centre's referencing style guide if you have not already seen it. Then open your current draft and check every source entry against that guide, line by line: author order, date placement, URL with access date, page numbers on any direct quotation. Pay particular attention to sources you added early in the project, when your referencing habits were still forming. Those are the entries most likely to be formatted differently from the rest.

Do that check before your next supervisor meeting, so any format questions can be answered while you still have time to act on them.

FAQ

What should an EPQ bibliography look like?

An EPQ bibliography should list every source you read for background (whether cited directly or not), formatted consistently using your centre's required style - typically Harvard - with author, date, title, publisher and, for online sources, a URL and access date for each entry.

Does the EPQ word count include the bibliography?

No board document says what the word count includes: AQA gives 'approximately 5000 words' for a research-based written report and OCR the same for a dissertation, without listing exclusions. Centres commonly treat the reference list and bibliography as outside the count, but check your centre's guidance.

What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography in an EPQ?

A reference list contains only sources cited directly in the text; a bibliography also includes sources you read for background but did not quote or paraphrase - OCR's 2024 moderators' report identifies keeping them separate as good practice.

How long should an EPQ bibliography be?

There is no prescribed minimum or maximum length; it should reflect the genuine breadth of your reading, with every source you consulted included - padding it with unread sources adds nothing and is easy to spot.

How do I cite a website in an EPQ bibliography?

In Harvard style, include the author or organisation name, year, title of the page, '[online]', the URL, and the date you accessed it - never submit a bare hyperlink, as OCR's 2024 moderators' report notes these cannot be followed once a page is printed.

Does my EPQ need Harvard referencing?

No awarding body prescribes Harvard in their EPQ specifications - Harvard is widely taught and recommended by many centres, so follow your centre's instruction rather than assuming a particular style is required by the board.

References