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Harvard - Cite Them Right 13th - GOV.UK

How to Cite GOV.UK in Harvard

GOV.UK references usually use the department or public body as the author, not GOV.UK itself. Paste a GOV.UK URL or use the templates below to format the reference in Cite Them Right Harvard style.

GOV.UK Harvard Reference Format

GOV.UK Web Page:

Department or agency (Year) 'Page title', GOV.UK. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).

No Date:

Department or agency (no date) 'Page title', GOV.UK. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).

GOV.UK Harvard Reference Examples

Department Guidance Page

Department for Education (2024) 'Working together to improve school attendance', GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance (Accessed: 8 May 2026).

In-text: (Department for Education, 2024)

Guidance Page

Home Office (no date) 'Immigration Rules', GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules (Accessed: 8 May 2026).

In-text: (Home Office, no date)

No Clear Publication Date

HM Revenue & Customs (no date) 'Check if you need to send a Self Assessment tax return', GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return (Accessed: 8 May 2026).

In-text: (HM Revenue & Customs, no date)

GOV.UK Citation Checks

Use the public body

Look for the department or agency shown near the page title or publisher field.

Keep the access date

Guidance pages can be revised, withdrawn, or replaced after you submit.

Use no date carefully

If the page has no published or updated date, use no date and rely on the access date.

Separate reports from web pages

Downloaded command papers, PDFs, and reports may need the report format instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a GOV.UK page in Harvard?

Use the department, agency, or public body as the author, then add the year, page title in single quotes, GOV.UK as the website name, the URL, and the access date.

Is GOV.UK the author in Harvard referencing?

Usually no. GOV.UK is the website name. The author is normally the department or agency, such as Department for Education, HM Treasury, Home Office, or Office for National Statistics.

What if a GOV.UK page has no date?

Use (no date) after the organisation name, then include the access date at the end so readers know when you viewed the page.

Do GOV.UK Harvard references need an access date?

Yes. GOV.UK pages can change over time, so Cite Them Right Harvard uses an access date for web pages and online guidance.

Related Harvard Formats

WebsitesPDFs and ReportsNICE GuidelinesAll Harvard Formats