How to Cite a Website in OSCOLA (4th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a website citation in OSCOLA (4th Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a website in OSCOLA (4th Edition):

Template

Author, 'Title' (Website Name, Date) <URL> accessed Date

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 4 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Steve Peers, 'The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: An Overview' (EU Law Analysis, 15 March 2025) <http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2025/03/charter-overview.html> accessed 28 March 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Write the individual author's full name or the organisation name.
2
Write the page title
Place the page title in single quotation marks.
3
Add the publication details
In parentheses, write the website or organisation name and the publication date in Day Month Year format.
4
Include the URL
Write the URL enclosed in angle brackets: <https://...>.
5
Add the accessed date
Write 'accessed' followed by the date in Day Month Year format. No full stop at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using angle brackets incorrectly around URLs (OSCOLA requires < > around URLs).
Writing 'last visited' instead of 'accessed'.
Not placing the page title in single quotation marks.
Using commas instead of spaces in OSCOLA date format (Day Month Year).
Ending the citation with a full stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OSCOLA use angle brackets for URLs?

OSCOLA places URLs in angle brackets (< >) to clearly distinguish the address from surrounding text and punctuation, avoiding ambiguity about where the URL begins and ends.

What date format does OSCOLA use?

OSCOLA uses Day Month Year without commas: 28 March 2026. This differs from most other styles and is particularly important to remember.

Does OSCOLA require an accessed date for websites?

Yes. All internet sources in OSCOLA require an 'accessed' date at the end of the citation to acknowledge that web content can change.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your website:

Author(s) or Organization
Date of publication or last update
Title of page or article
Website name
URL
Date accessed (if no publication date)

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Write the individual author's full name or the organisation name.

Write the page title

Place the page title in single quotation marks.

Add the publication details

In parentheses, write the website or organisation name and the publication date in Day Month Year format.

Include the URL

Write the URL enclosed in angle brackets: <https://...>.

Add the accessed date

Write 'accessed' followed by the date in Day Month Year format. No full stop at the end.