Citation and Referencing Guide (Oxford Style)

📘 English Master Institute (EMI) Worldwide

Citation and Referencing Guide (Oxford Style)

For Diploma and Degree Students Preparing Final Projects

🔹 1. Introduction

Every academic work must demonstrate academic integrity by properly acknowledging the sources of information, ideas, and quotations used.
At English Master Institute (EMI) Worldwide, all diploma and degree students are required to use the Oxford (British) referencing system for their final projects and theses.

This referencing method uses footnotes or endnotes within the text and a bibliography at the end of the document.

🔹 2. What Is Referencing?

Referencing is the process of acknowledging the sources you have consulted in your research or writing. It allows readers to:

  • Verify the origin of your ideas,
  • Explore your sources for further study, and
  • Confirm your academic credibility.

Failing to reference properly constitutes plagiarism, a serious academic offence.

🔹 3. General Principles of the Oxford Referencing Style

  1. Footnotes or Endnotes:
    • Each source cited in your text is indicated by a superscript number (¹, ², ³, etc.).
    • The full reference appears at the bottom of the same page (footnote) or at the end of the chapter (endnote).
  2. Bibliography:
    • A complete list of all sources used is provided at the end of your project.
    • The bibliography is arranged alphabetically by the authors’ surnames.
    • Unlike footnotes, author names in the bibliography are inverted (Surname, First name).
  3. Italics and Quotation Marks:
    • Titles of books, journals, reports, and major works are italicised.
    • Titles of chapters, articles, or web pages are placed in single quotation marks (‘…’).
  4. Capitalisation:
    • Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalised in titles.
  5. Punctuation:
    • Publication details (place, publisher, year) appear in parentheses and are separated by commas.

🔹 4. Examples of Common References

(a) Books

In-Text (Footnote):

  1. Philip O. PhilSpirit, The Fundamentals of Self-awareness, Effective Transformational Leadership, and Wealth Creation (Lagos: EMI Worldwide Academic Press, 2025), 45.

Bibliography:

Oyani, Philip O., The Fundamentals of Self-awareness, Effective Transformational Leadership, and Wealth Creation (Lagos: EMI Worldwide Academic Press, 2025).

(b) Chapter in an Edited Book

Footnote:

  1. M. K. Johnson, ‘Online Pedagogy and Innovation’, in L. White (ed.), Contemporary Approaches to E-Learning (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024), 45–67.

Bibliography:

Johnson, M. K., ‘Online Pedagogy and Innovation’, in L. White (ed.), Contemporary Approaches to E-Learning (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024), 45–67.

(c) Journal Article

Footnote:

  1. J. D. Smith, ‘Understanding Online Learning Dynamics’, Journal of Digital Education, 12/3 (2023), 45–60.

Bibliography:

Smith, J. D., ‘Understanding Online Learning Dynamics’, Journal of Digital Education, 12/3 (2023), 45–60.

(d) Website or Online Resource

Footnote:

  1. English Master Institute Worldwide, ‘Global Leadership and Online Education’, EMI Official Website (14 May 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.school.blog/global-leadership [accessed 20 August 2025].

Bibliography:

English Master Institute Worldwide, ‘Global Leadership and Online Education’, EMI Official Website (14 May 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.school.blog/global-leadership [accessed 20 August 2025].

(e) Lecture or Coaching Series

Footnote:

  1. Philip O. PhilSpirit, Self-Awareness and Effective Transformational Leadership (Lecture, English Master Institute Worldwide, 3 August 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.school.blog/leadership-series [accessed 20 August 2025].

Bibliography:

Oyani, Philip O., Self-Awareness and Effective Transformational Leadership (Lecture, English Master Institute Worldwide, 3 August 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.school.blog/leadership-series [accessed 20 August 2025].

(f) Sermon or Theological Teaching

Footnote:

  1. Philip O. Oyani, The Authority of the Believer and the Glory of Sonship (Sermon Transcript, Mysteries Unveilers and Intercessors Prayer Network, 23 July 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.org/authority-of-the-believer [accessed 20 August 2025].

Bibliography:

Oyani, Philip O., The Authority of the Believer and the Glory of Sonship (Sermon Transcript, Mysteries Unveilers and Intercessors Prayer Network, 23 July 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.org/authority-of-the-believer [accessed 19 August 2025].

(g) Institutional Report or Policy Document

Footnote:

  1. English Master Institute Worldwide, Accredited Agent Programme and Partnership Policy (Lagos: EMI Global Secretariat, 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.org/accredited-agent-program [accessed 25 August 2025].

Bibliography:

English Master Institute Worldwide, Accredited Agent Programme and Partnership Policy (Lagos: EMI Global Secretariat, 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.data.blog/accredited-agent-program [accessed 18 August 2025].

🔹 5. Subsequent (Shortened) Citations

When citing the same source again in later footnotes, use a shortened form:

Example:

  1. Oyani, Building Generational Wealth, 62.

🔹 6. Structure of the Bibliography

Your bibliography should be arranged alphabetically by authors’ surnames and formatted with hanging indentation (the first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).

Example:

Bibliography

English Master Institute Worldwide, Accredited Agent Programme and Partnership Policy (Lagos: EMI Global Secretariat, 2025).


Johnson, M. K., ‘Online Pedagogy and Innovation’, in L. White (ed.), Contemporary Approaches to E-Learning (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024), 45–67.


Oyani, Philip O., Building Generational Wealth Through Multiple Streams of Income (Lagos: English Master Institute Press, 2025).


Oyani, Philip O., Self-Awareness and Effective Transformational Leadership (Lecture, English Master Institute Worldwide, 3 August 2025), https://englishmasterinstitute.school.blog/leadership-series [accessed 20 October 2025].


Smith, J. D., ‘Understanding Online Learning Dynamics’, Journal of Digital Education, 12/3 (2023), 45–60.

🔹 7. Important Reminders for Students

  • Always cite every idea, quote, statistic, or concept that is not your own.
  • Ensure consistency in punctuation, italics, and spacing.
  • Include the access date for all online materials.
  • Never use both Oxford and APA in the same project.
  • Proofread your footnotes and bibliography for accuracy.

Acknowledgement

This referencing guide has been prepared under the authority of
His Excellency Prof. Philip Oyani PhilSpirit (Osemudiamhe)
Founder and International Chancellor, English Master Institute (EMI) Worldwide
for use in all EMI-affiliated diploma and degree programmes across the world.

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