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How to reference a website in Vancouver

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

  • In your essay: A number, like (1)
  • 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

1. Author. Site name [Internet]. Year [cited date accessed]. Title. Available from: Web address

1. 1 · AUTHORGreen A. 2 · SITE NAMEStudent Sleep Project [Internet]. 3 · DATE2025 [cited 4 · ACCESSED2026 Oct 14]. 5 · TITLEWhy students struggle to sleep. Available from: 6 · WEB ADDRESShttps://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

  1. 1 · AuthorSurname, then initials with no full stops.Look near the title or at the bottom of the page. No person named? See “What if” below.
  2. 2 · Site nameThen “[Internet]”.The name of the whole website, often in the logo or the page header.
  3. 3 · DateThe year.The date it was published or last updated, often near the title or at the bottom.
  4. 4 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: 2026 Oct 14. After “cited”. All in square brackets.The day you read the page.
  5. 5 · TitleAs the source gives it.The main heading on the page, not the words in the browser tab.
  6. 6 · Web addressThe full web address. After “Available from:”.Copy it from the address bar, so nothing is mistyped.

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

Many students sleep less in exam weeks (1).

The source’s number.
IN YOUR REFERENCE LIST

1. Green A. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

The full reference, in the order you first cited each source.

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

1. Green A. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

IN YOUR ESSAY

(1)

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

What if…

  • Made by an organisation

    Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.

    1. Riverside Media Bureau. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: (1)

  • No author

    Here’s how Vancouver sets it out.

    1. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: (1)

  • Two authors

    Give both names, with a comma between them.

    1. Green A, Patel R. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: (1)

  • Four or more authors

    Name all four in the reference list.

    1. Green A, Patel R, Okafor D, Lee H. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: (1)

Easy to get wrong

  • Leaving out the date you looked at it

    NOT QUITE

    1. Green A. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    RIGHT

    1. Green A. Student Sleep Project [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Why students struggle to sleep. Available from: https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

Check your university’s version

Most universities publish their own Vancouver, with small differences in brackets and in how many authors to list. Your module handbook always wins.

This guide follows Citing Medicine (2nd edition), the US National Library of Medicine’s guide to Vancouver style.

The full Vancouver guide

Questions

How do I cite a website in the text?

Use the number the source has in your list: (1). The list is in the order you first cite each source, so the first source you cite is 1.

Is Vancouver the same at every university?

Most universities publish their own Vancouver, with small differences in brackets and in how many authors to list. 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.

Add to Chrome, free

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.

Website in other styles

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