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How to reference a YouTube video in Harvard

A video reference in Harvard has 6 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.

  • In your essay: (Author, year)
  • Checked 23 October 2026

Pip tip: with Peel, click the toolbar button on any page. I fill in most of this for you and flag what’s missing.

The 6 parts

Channel (Year) Title. Date. Available at: Web address (Accessed: date accessed).

1 · CHANNELStudy Better2 · DATE(2024)3 · TITLEHow to plan an essay in ten minutes. 4 · DATE5 March. Available at: 5 · WEB ADDRESShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026).

  1. 1 · ChannelThe organisation’s name, as it gives it.The person or channel that posted the video, under the video.
  2. 2 · DateThe year. In round brackets.The date it was posted, under the video.
  3. 3 · TitleIn italics.The video’s title, as it appears under the video.
  4. 4 · DateThe date, written like this: 5 March.The date it was posted, under the video.
  5. 5 · Web addressThe full web address. After “Available at:”.Copy it from the address bar or the Share button.
  6. 6 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: 14 October 2026. After “Accessed:”. All in round brackets.The day you watched it.

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

A plan can make an essay quicker to write (Study Better, 2024).

The author and the year, in brackets.
IN YOUR REFERENCE LIST

Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

The full reference, in A to Z order by surname.

Build your reference

Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Surname, then first name. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
Like 2025, May 2025 or 5 May 2025.
Like 14 October 2026.
YOUR REFERENCE LIST ENTRYReady to copy

Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

IN YOUR ESSAY

(Study Better, 2024)

Pip tip: the title stays in italics when you paste into Word or Google Docs. If it doesn’t, select it and press Ctrl+I.

What if…

  • No date

    Write “no date” where the date goes.

    Study Better (no date) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

    In your essay: (Study Better, no date)

  • Two authors

    Give both names, joined with “and”.

    Green, A. and Patel, R. (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

    In your essay: (Green and Patel, 2024)

  • Four or more authors

    Give the first author, then “et al.”, which means “and others”. In your essay, give the first author and “et al.”.

    Green, A. et al. (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

    In your essay: (Green et al., 2024)

Easy to get wrong

  • A web address in your essay

    NOT QUITE

    A plan can make an essay quicker to write (www.youtube.com).

    RIGHT

    A plan can make an essay quicker to write (Study Better, 2024).

  • Leaving out the date you looked at it

    NOT QUITE

    Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example.

    RIGHT

    Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

  • The title not in italics

    NOT QUITE

    Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

    RIGHT

    Study Better (2024) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. 5 March. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

Check your university’s version

Harvard isn’t one fixed style. Universities change small things, like brackets, full stops and “Accessed” or “Viewed”. This guide follows Cite Them Right. Your module handbook always wins.

This guide follows Cite Them Right (13th edition, 2025), the Harvard many UK universities teach.

Harvard for your university

The full Harvard guide

Questions

How do I cite a YouTube video in the text?

Give the author and the year, in brackets: (Study Better, 2024)

What if there’s no date?

Check the page or document again first. If there really is none, here’s how Harvard sets it out: Study Better (no date) How to plan an essay in ten minutes. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

Is Harvard the same at every university?

Harvard isn’t one fixed style. Universities change small things, like brackets, full stops and “Accessed” or “Viewed”. This guide follows Cite Them Right. Your module handbook always wins.

Referencing is easier as you go

KanBananza’s step-by-step guides show how to plan an assignment and keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.

Let Peel do this as you read

Save a page in one click. Peel fills in the details, flags anything missing, and builds your reference list in any style, free.

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These guides and Peel’s references are here to help, but they don’t replace your course’s own referencing guide: check your references against your handbook, and ask your tutor or library if you’re not sure. You’re responsible for your own work. Style names belong to their owners, who aren’t connected with Peel or KanBananza and don’t endorse them. See our terms.

YouTube video in other styles

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