Reference management software helps you store and order your source references for studies and research. You can switch to different applications according to your needs or preferences during your studies or career.
Check the Library’s guidelines to learn more about the reference management software used at the University of Helsinki.
The RefWorks access at the University of Helsinki has ended December 31, 2021. RefWorks only offers institutional accounts, therefore you cannot maintain your individual account after University of Helsinki subscription ends.
The University of Helsinki has acquired a license for EndNote for its students, teachers, researchers, and other staff members. EndNote is a separate application that you can install on a University computer from Software Center or on your home computer from Download Centre. You can also use EndNote in the browser. EndNote Basic is a free browser-based version of EndNote.
Reference management software helps you keep your literature references in order and store them in the same place. All reference management applications offer the same basic functions. You can import references in different ways from different sources into your reference database and organise them according to your needs. You can also share your references for groupwork and other similar purposes.
In addition, you can use reference management software to easily incorporate citations into your work, for example your thesis, and to generate a list of references of your chosen sources in compliance with a specific citation style. Reference management software makes your work easier and faster, especially if you are dealing with a large number of references.
There are numerous reference management options to choose from. The University of Helsinki has acquired a license for EndNote for its students, teachers, researchers, and other staff members. EndNote is a separate application that you can install on a University computer from Software Center or on your home computer from Download Centre. You can also use EndNote in the browser (EndNote Online). EndNote Basic is a free browser-based version of EndNote.
You can also find freely downloadable reference management software online. Examples include Mendeley and Zotero. These can be installed on University computers from Software Center and on home computers from the software website.
Brief descriptions of the features of various reference management applications commonly used at the University as well as instructions on their use can be found in the Reference Management Guide.
Reference management applications include add-ons that help you add in-text citations and generate a list of references. Add-ons are most commonly offered for Microsoft Word and Libre Office/Open Office, but also for Google Docs, Pages and LaTex, to name a few.
There are no readily available citation styles in Finnish. It is usually possible to edit a suitable English-language citation style and translate it into Finnish for your personal use. In Mendeley and Zotero, you can try changing the CSL (citation style language) to Finnish, but you will still need to do some editing.
The Library can provide assistance with some problems, but actual user support is available from the software provider’s support pages.
You can continue to use freely available reference management applications (such as Mendeley or Zotero) as before.
You can obtain a personal licence for EndNote and transfer your source references to your new account.
Helsinki University Library regularly offers training to members of the University community both on campus and online. The course availability and method of delivery may vary from term to term.
The courses are designed for undergraduate and doctoral students at the University of Helsinki as well as University staff. The courses are free of charge for University of Helsinki students and employees.
The courses can be taken free of charge by all students of the University of Helsinki, including students with the JOO flexible study right and Open University students.
If you are an external customer of the University of Helsinki and would like to take one of the Library courses, you can find further information under Customers from outside the University.