Mastering Harvard Referencing for BTEC Applied Science Unit 6

When writing reports or assignments in Applied Science, you’ll often need to show where your information came from. Whether you’re explaining a chemical process, describing a piece of equipment, or analysing results from your own investigation, you must give credit to the original source. That’s where Harvard referencing comes in.

What Is Harvard Referencing?

Harvard referencing is a system used to acknowledge the work of other people when you include their ideas, research, or words in your writing.

It has two key parts:

1. In-text citation – a brief reference within your writing.

2. Full reference list entry – detailed information at the end of your report so readers can find the source.

This method keeps your work professional, accurate, and ethical, showing that your ideas are supported by scientific evidence.

How to Write a Harvard Citation for a Website

Let’s take an example. Suppose you found useful information on the National Health Service (NHS) website.

In-text citation:

When you include information in your writing, you briefly name the author (or organisation) and the year of publication:

If you quote directly, you can also include a page or paragraph number if available:

Full reference (in your reference list):

At the end of your report, you provide full details of the source so someone else can find it easily:

Format for a website: Author or Organisation (Year) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Why Is Harvard Referencing Important?

Learning to reference correctly is a vital skill for all science students because it:

• Shows academic honesty – you’re giving credit to others’ work instead of copying.

• Builds credibility – it proves your statements are supported by reliable evidence.

• Helps avoid plagiarism – failing to reference properly can lead to serious academic consequences.

• Improves your research skills – referencing means you must read, evaluate, and select trustworthy sources.

In science, referencing is part of how we communicate findings clearly and ethically — just as researchers do in professional journals.

Good vs Poor Reference Lists (Harvard Style)

❌ Poor Reference List (What not to do)

What’s wrong here?

• ❌ Missing authors’ initials

• ❌ No publication year formatting

• ❌ Titles not in italics

• ❌ Websites missing access dates

• ❌ Not in alphabetical order

• ❌ Inconsistent and unclear information

This type of reference list would lose marks in BTEC coursework because it does not allow the reader to locate the sources accurately.

✅ Good Reference List (Harvard Style)

Why this is good practice

• ✔ Authors listed with surname and initials

• ✔ Year clearly shown in brackets

• ✔ Book titles in italics

• ✔ Websites include full URL and access date

• ✔ References listed in alphabetical order

• ✔ Clear, consistent formatting

This style meets expectations for Unit 6 scientific reports and supports independent research skills needed for Unit 7

How It Links to BTEC Applied Science Unit 6

In Unit 6: Investigative Project, Learning Aim A asks you to plan and carry out your own scientific investigation and write a report based on your research.

That report must include:

• A clear background section explaining your scientific context.

• Evidence from reliable sources (e.g. journals, textbooks, or professional websites).

• A reference list that shows where your information came from.

• Using Harvard referencing in your Unit 6 project helps you:

• Demonstrate independent research.

• Meet the criteria for professional and scientific communication.

• Present your work in a way that mirrors real-world scientific reporting.

So, when you write your introduction, discuss your method, or interpret your results — referencing is your way of saying, “Here’s the scientific evidence that supports what I found.”

Quick Harvard Referencing Checklist

Before submitting your report, check that you have:

•  Used in-text citations for every idea or quote that isn’t your own.

•  Included a full reference list at the end, in alphabetical order.

•  Used consistent Harvard formatting throughout.

•  Checked that every in-text citation appears in your reference list.

🧾 Example Reference List (Harvard Style)

BBC Bitesize (2024) Photosynthesis. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxxsgk7/revision/1 (Accessed: 8 October 2025).  

NHS (2023) How your immune system works. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-your-immune-system-works/ (Accessed: 8 October 2025).  

Royal Society of Chemistry (2024) Measuring reaction rates. Available at: https://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001526/measuring-reaction-rates (Accessed: 8 October 2025).

Final Tip

Harvard referencing isn’t just a “college rule” — it’s how real scientists communicate responsibly. So when you learn to reference properly, you’re building the habits of a professional researcher — something examiners love to see in high-scoring Unit 6 reports.