How to reference an Act of Parliament in OSCOLA
An Act footnote in OSCOLA has 1 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.
- In your essay: A footnote
- Checked 23 October 2026
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The 1 parts
Name of the Act.
1 · NAME OF THE ACTEquality Act 2010.
- 1 · Name of the ActAs the source gives it.The Act’s short title, with its year, from legislation.gov.uk.
In your bibliography
The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:
1 · NAME OF THE ACTEquality Act 2010
Two places, one source
The Act defines direct discrimination.1
A footnote number, after the full stop.1 Equality Act 2010.
The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.Build your footnote
Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What if…
A section of the Act
Point to the section you mean in the citation.
Equality Act 2010, s 13.
Check your university’s version
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your handbook always wins.
This guide follows OSCOLA, 4th edition, from the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law.
Questions
What goes in the footnote?
The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: Equality Act 2010. To point to one place in it, add that at the end: Equality Act 2010, s 13.
Is OSCOLA the same at every university?
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your 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.
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