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Referencing with RMIT Harvard style (beginner level)

Referencing with rmit harvard style (advanced), referencing an image (rmit harvard).

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You must acknowledge all the sources of information you have used in your assignments and research papers using an appropriate referencing style.

Easy Cite referencing tool

How to quote, paraphrase and write citations in a selection of styles used at RMIT, including RMIT Harvard, APA, AGLC4, Vancouver, IEEE and Chicago A and B.

Reference management tools

Find out about time-saving tools that will help you manage references and bibliographies and add them to your assignments

Referencing tutorial

Find out how to correctly use different referencing styles in academic writing to avoid plagiarism and get better marks (Learning Lab tutorial).

How to reference artificial intelligence (AI) in assessments

Learn how to correctly acknowledge and reference all AI-generated content used in your assessments.

What is referencing?

Why use referencing in academic writing? This short video introduces why you must use references, the dangers of plagiarism, and the different ways to use referencing in your writing through direct quotes, paraphrasing, and using a reference list. (video 3:25 mins.)

Referencing is a very important part of academic writing, and if you don’t do it properly, it can cause you to lose marks, or to have to resubmit your assignment. Referencing is about showing where you got your information from. When you use someone else’s ideas from a book or journal, you need to acknowledge their effort by referencing. That means putting their name in the text somewhere, so that a reader can clearly see that that information came from somebody else. It shows it is their intellectual property. It shows who owns the ideas.

If you don’t reference, you can potentially get into serious trouble. Not referencing ideas that belong to someone else is seen as cheating. It is called plagiarism. Plagiarism is using other people's ideas in your assignment without referencing them. This is bad when the ideas come from a book or journal. It would be a very serious matter if you were using text or ideas from another student without referencing them.

But the good news is, if you reference well, your paper looks more academic and you can get better marks. It is easy once you know how. You have to reference information in two places. You have to reference in the writing itself and then in a reference list at the end. In the writing, you can quote the exact words or you can rewrite it in your own words.

Writing in your own words is called paraphrasing, and that is generally better. I’ll show you some examples.

See how we have used quotation marks and page numbers in the direct quote. But in the paraphrase, where the words have been changed, you need to include the author's name and year of publication. To weave all these pieces of information together, you need to write a good paragraph. You have to learn to use linking words and introduce your references with reporting words. Here are some examples. Linking words help your paragraph flow. You add them at the beginning or in the middle of sentences.

Reporting words are also useful. Reporting words help link the author to the information that you are using from them. Reporting words are things like “state” or “suggest” or “argues” or “mentions”. Try to find a list of these because state and argue tend to get over used. Make sure you choose the correct one because it indicates a writer's attitude and relationship to the information you are using. They may, in fact, have refuted or disagreed with the information you are mentioning from their article.

The second part of the reference is the reference list. Every reference in the text needs to be more fully detailed in a reference listing at the end. In some styles, these occur in order of appearance. In other styles they are listed in alphabetical order according to the author's name. Find a model of the type of source you are referencing and just follow the structure.

In a reference list, you will have a mixture of sources. Some books, some websites, some journal articles. Maybe even a podcast from somewhere! They all have their own format so find a model and base your listing on it.

For more information about referencing, try the tutorials.

Thanks for watching.

Looking for the referencing guides for printing?

We have retired these guides.You can now print them out directly from Easy Cite.

If you need to access the previous version of the RMIT Harvard guide, please contact [email protected]

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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• Educators' guide

Postgraduate reports

Writing an outstanding report or a report for a postgraduate course involves; considering the subject you are writing for, understanding what a methods section is, how to discuss methodology, ensuring you are including the right elements and correctly structuring your report.

The pages below will step you through everything you need to produce a report.

• Overall structure of a report - demonstrates the structure of a report and the sections you need to include.  Time to complete 15 minutes
• Methodology section of a report - what is the methodology and how do you describe it correctly? Time to complete 10 minutes
• Example of a postgraduate report  - a sample report. Time to complete 15 minutes
• Report checklist - a checklist to ensure you have completed your report correctly and included the relevants sections. Time to complete 25 minutes
• Writing a business research report - a video outlining report writing structure and organisation as well as the features of strong, effective business writing. Time to complete 30 minutes
• Overall structure of a report
• Methodology section in a report
• Example of a report
• Report checklist
• Writing a business research report

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Assessment and examination processes and policies at RMIT Vietnam.

Assessment at RMIT University 

RMIT aims to ensure that its assessment: 

• encourages student learning and participation 
• provides feedback 
• is flexible 
• is manageable 
• is fair and considerate of diverse needs 
• is reliable 
• is valid and meaningful 
• encourages student integration of learning 

The RMIT Assessment and Assessment Flexibility Policy and Assessment Processes are comprehensive references to the University’s assessment related regulations, policies, and procedures. These are the rules by which the University manages its assessment practices and are designed to ensure consistency, transparency, and fairness, and to support academic integrity. 

Assessment support

Extensions of time.

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance-based assessment is completed by the due dates. Where, however, you will be prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to the course coordinator for an extension to the due date of up to seven (07) calendar days. Where an extension of greater than seven (07) days is needed, you must apply for special consideration, unless you have an equitable assessment arrangement which provides for negotiation of submission dates with the relevant academic staff.

Further information about the extension of time can be found in the   Assessment and Assessment Flexibility Policy .

How to apply

If you are seeking such an extension, you must apply no less than fully 24 hours of one (01) working day before the official due date. Complete the Application for extension of time to submit Assessment work form and lodge it with the course coordinator (via Student Connect Portal , or direct email to the course coordinator). You are also required to provide documentary evidence to justify your circumstances.

Application for extension of time to submit assessment work form (156KB, 2p)

Assessment of applications

Course coordinators will grant extensions of time for submission of assessable work to you of up to seven (07) calendar days from the original submission deadline.

Outcome of applications

Within two (02) working days of an application being submitted, the course coordinator will notify you via email whether the extension has been granted. You are advised to submit the work directly to the assessor as soon as you can, to minimize deduction of marks if the extension is not granted.

Special consideration

Special consideration allows the University to take account of unexpected circumstances outside your control that can affect your ability to complete an assessment. Examples of unexpected circumstances for eligibility may include:

• an unexpected short-term physical or mental health condition
• difficult personal circumstances or significant emotional disturbance
• unexpected carer responsibility for a member of your immediate family
• bereavement of an immediate family member 
• having been the victim of a serious crime
• other unexpected circumstances outside your control, such as:
• an unavoidable employment, family, cultural, religious or elite sporting commitment
• severe disruption of living arrangements
• financial hardship, such as sudden loss of employment or income
• serious technical issues during an online assessment.

Note that applying for special consideration does not guarantee it will be granted. Each application will be assessed on a case by case basis.  Further information about special considerations can be found   here .

You must apply for special consideration no later than five (05) working days after the relevant examination or assessment deadline. Complete the Special Consideration Application form and lodge it with Student Connect  or via email to VN Assessment Support at  [email protected] .

• Application for special consideration form
• Application for special consideration (sample)

Applications should be supported by an impact assessment statement in Section B of the application form (if the reason of your special consideration is related to a medical ground) and relevant supporting documentation. If you cannot obtain the impact assessment statement or supporting documents within five (05) working days, you should lodge an incomplete application form and provide the additional documents within five (05) working days from the date of your lodgment.

If you are seeking an extension of time, you are advised to submit your work as soon as possible, to minimise deduction of marks if an extension is not granted (or a shorter extension is granted).

If your special consideration application is late, you are still entitled to lodge the application but should include a detailed explanation of why it is late, supported by valid documented evidence. Late applications can only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. The Academic Registrar's Group (ARG) will determine if there are special circumstances sufficient to allow a late application.

Complete applications that include supporting documentation and evidence will be considered within ten (10) working days. Communications about your application will be through your RMIT student email account. It is your responsibility to check your account regularly, promptly respond to any requests for information or action and ensure your account can receive incoming emails.

Possible outcomes of a special consideration application are:

• an equivalent assessment (your course coordinator decides the form of equivalent assessment task)
• an extension of time (if you have applied for an extension, continue to work on the assessment and submit it as soon as you can, even if you have not yet received your outcome)
• a deferred assessment (a further opportunity to sit the assessment)
• other arrangements deemed appropriate to your circumstances and the course concerned
• a late course withdrawal without academic penalty
• denial of an application
• cancellation of an application for lateness or incompleteness
• withdrawal of an application

The following outcomes are not available:

• An increase in the mark you achieved in an assessment
• A transfer or increase in the weighting of other assessment tasks so that the assessment task affected by adverse circumstances is no longer required
• Supplementary assessment

The outcome notification is copied to your course coordinator. Where an outcome requires you to contact your course coordinator or School by a given date, you must do so by the date specified, otherwise, the outcome may be deemed to have lapsed.

While an application may be approved, outcomes provided are subject to change. If we receive relevant information that leads to the outcome being changed, we will notify you of a revised outcome.

It may not be possible to always approve assessment adjustments and there are some circumstances in which Late course withdrawal without academic penalty is the only available outcome.

Equitable assessment arrangements (EAA)

Equitable assessment arrangements (EAA) are provided to accommodate students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition.

EAA may also be available if you are the primary carer for a close family member with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition, where this means that you require adjustments to enable you to participate in an assessment activity.

An EAA is an adjustment or alteration to the standard conditions or format of assessment. It can apply to any formal assessment task or exam described in the  course guide .

An EAA does not represent a weakening or lowering of the academic standard being assessed. You must still meet the inherent requirements of the course and program.

For further information visit Equitable Learning Services .

Make an appointment to meet with an Equitable Learning Advisor through the  Online Portal  or contact Equitable Learning Services (ELS) by emailing ELS RUVN at [email protected] as soon as possible: at least six (06) weeks before an exam or four (04) weeks before your first assessment task. If you register after this time, there is no guarantee that the University will be able to offer a full range of assistance.

Applications must include supporting documentation from a health practitioner (example: doctor, psychologist, or social worker) who is treating the condition.

Applications for EAA are considered by ELS advisors.

Outcome of EAA

Possible outcomes of an EAA application include:

• flexible conduct and supervision arrangements
• use of ergonomic furniture or special seating arrangements
• use of a computer for a traditionally paper-based examination
• use of assistive technology (Jaws, Zoomtext, Dragon, R+W Gold, Braille Machine)
• alternative format examination materials (e.g. large print, audio, Braille, electronic)
• additional reading and/or assessment time
• rest breaks
• enabling assistance (e.g., scribe, AUSLAN interpreters)
• alternative forms of assessment (take home exam paper, video presentation)
• flexible timeframes for submission of work or attendance for assessment tasks

Remission (removal) of debt

If you withdraw from a course or fail a course, or cancel your program enrolment, after the Census Date (Friday week 4), or have paid the fees for your enrolment, you may apply to have your tuition fee payments refunded or transferred to a later semester for courses where the following conditions apply:

• circumstances outside your control made it impracticable for you to complete the course; and
• these circumstances did not make their full impact on you until on or after the census date in the course; and
• you had not had assessment results such that you would certainly have failed the course at the time the circumstances made their full impact.  

For further information refer to Remission and Removal of Debt Procedure . 

A complete application for a remission of debt must be submitted within one calendar year of the withdrawal date, or where you have not withdrawn, within one calendar year of the end-date of the relevant teaching period. You must complete the Application for Remission (removal) of debt in special circumstances form and lodge it with all required supporting documentation with  Student Connect  or via email to VN Assessment Support at  [email protected] .

Application for remission (removal) of debt in special circumstances form (528KB, 4p) 

Applications for Remission (removal) of debt in special circumstances are considered by authorised staff within the Academic Registrar's Group (ARG) office.

Possible outcomes of remission of debt application are a refund or re-credit of tuition fees. The Academic Registrar’s Group (ARG) office will notify you of the outcome within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of the complete application.

Requesting a review of the decision

You have twenty-eight (28) calendar days from the receipt of the decision to request a review of the decision by writing to VN Assessment Support via email at  [email protected] . The review outcome notification will be sent to your student’s email within twenty-eight (28) calendar days from the date you submit your review request.

Assessment Support for UniStart Academic Program Students

Students in UniStart Academic Program have separate assessment support processes applied to their program. Please contact your lecturers or reach out to VN Assessment Support at  [email protected]  if you have any questions or further concerns. 

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