How do I cite an online course in BibTeX?

To cite an online course in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite an Online Course in BibTeX (standard)

Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in BibTeX format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

BibTeX Reference List Format

Here is the standard BibTeX format for citing an online course in your reference list:

BibTeX Example for an Online Course

A complete BibTeX reference for an online course, formatted by the official BibTeX CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

@misc{Duarte2024Academic, note = {[Online; accessed 2026-01-10]}, author = {Duarte, Ines}, year = {2024}, publisher = {OpenLearn}, title = {Academic writing for graduate students}, type = {MOOC}, url = {https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing}, }

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your online course.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the BibTeX (standard) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match BibTeX requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.

CSL style record: bibtex.csl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an online course in BibTeX?: To cite an online course in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the BibTeX format for an online course citation?: The BibTeX format for an online course is: @misc{Duarte2024Academic, note = {[Online; accessed 2026-01-10]}, author = {Duarte, Ines}, year = {2024}, publisher = {OpenLearn}, title = {Academic writing for graduate students}, type = {MOOC}, url = {https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing}, }