Free academic tool
Free Harvard Reference Generator
Create Harvard-style references for journal articles, books and websites. Enter your source details, generate the reference and copy it into your bibliography.
Designed for UK university students. No account is required to use the generator.
How to create a Harvard reference
01
Choose the source
Select journal article, book or website so the correct fields are displayed.
02
Enter the details
Add the author, year, title and publication information shown on the original source.
03
Check and copy
Copy the generated reference and compare it with your university's required Harvard guide.
Harvard reference examples
Journal article
Smith, J.E. (2025) 'Student engagement with digital learning tools'. Journal of Higher Education, 18(2), pp. 101-118.
Book
Brown, D. (2024) Academic research methods. 3rd edn. London: SAGE.
Website
NHS England (2026) 'Example health guidance'. NHS England. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ (Accessed: 9 September 2026).
Harvard referencing FAQs
What is Harvard referencing?
Harvard is an author-date referencing approach. In-text citations normally identify the author and year, while the reference list provides enough publication information for the reader to locate the source.
Are all Harvard styles identical?
No. Universities frequently publish their own Harvard conventions. Details such as punctuation, italics, edition wording and access dates can differ.
Should I check generated references?
Yes. Check author names, dates, titles, DOI or URL information, and compare the finished reference with the guide required for your assessment.
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