How do I reference lecture notes… in the NLM style?
09/04/2026

If your course material contains original content that you want to use in your work, it will need to be referenced as follows:
What information do you need in the reference?
- Author – surname initials e.g. Jackson K.
- Title of course materials: subtitle
- Lecture presented at: Module Name
- Date of lecture and date cited in square brackets (if accessed online)
- Name of Institution, Location
- Available from: URL or Name of Institution VLE
Below are some examples for you to follow, which demonstrate how to form the reference from the above elements:
In-person lecture with printed materials
Smith M. Guided weapons: Barrington Library induction. Lecture presented at: Introductory and Foundation Studies; 2020 Sep 10; Cranfield University, Shrivenham.
Lecture/presentation with materials available through a VLE
Smith M. Guided weapons: Barrington Library induction. Lecture presented at: Introductory and Foundation Studies [Internet]; 2020 Sep 10 [cited 2020 Nov 5]; Cranfield University, Shrivenham. Available from: https://canvas.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/5703
Presentation slides from an online platform such as SlideShare
Parker A. Exploring the water challenge: waterless toilets. Paper presented at: Geovation Water Challenge [Internet]; 2016 Jan 22 [cited 2023 Mar 2]; SlideShare. Available from: https://www.slideshare.net/Geovationchallenge/exploring-the-water-challenge-waterless-toilets-cranfield-university
Course VLE discussion forum
Check whether you have permission to use forum posts before you use them in your work. They would need to be referenced as personal communications, not course material. Please consult the NLM referencing guide.
Please note:
- Instead of relying on lecture notes, if possible, try to find, read, and cite the original sources mentioned within them.
- Remember, if the course material is on a VLE (such as Canvas) or a company intranet and your reader can also access the content, provide the VLE page URL or intranet page URL. If the intended audience doesn’t have access to the resource, ask your supervisor or module leader if it is appropriate to cite.
For all your referencing questions – please contact Cranfield Libraries.
Please note: Cranfield supports two different referencing styles – APA7 (Author-date) and Numbered (NLM). Please make sure you use the style preferred by your supervisor or lecturer.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Introducing Barrington Library
Welcome to all our new students! Barrington Library supports all the students and staff at Cranfield Defence and Security on the Shrivenham site. We are looking forward to meeting you all soon, in person or ...
About to start your journey at Cranfield? We’re here to help!
Congratulations on accepting your offer to study at Cranfield! If you’re keen to get a head start before your course begins, our Library Services team is here to support you every step of the way. ...
Bank holiday hours for Library Services: Monday 31 August
Library Services staff will be taking a break on Monday 31 August for the bank holiday. You will still be able to access all the resources and help you need via our library website. The 24/7 ...
The real cost of studying in the UK – what international students need to budget for
Moving overseas to pursue a postgraduate degree is one of the most exciting investments you can make in your future. It's also one of the most significant financial commitments you and your family will ...
Seven things you should definitely prepare for before studying at Cranfield University
You're thinking about Cranfield. Maybe you've done the virtual tour, read through the course pages, spoken to the course director or attended a webinar. Now, you're trying to figure out what life here is ...
From insurance to aerospace: why I chose to study a PhD with Cranfield
My path to studying for a PhD wasn't exactly a straight line. I had just graduated with an MEng in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Surrey and, like a lot of people, wasn't ...
