Key points at a glance
- Identify the original upload.
- Locate the exact passage.
- Evaluate evidence separately.
Record the version you watched
Open the original upload and note its channel or uploader, title, publication date and URL. A reupload is a different source. Record the specific claim or scene and the timestamp where it begins.
Build the reference by style
Example: You analyse a public lecture recording and refer to a claim at 08:24. An APA-style reference identifies the channel, date, title, video type, platform and URL; a timestamp in the text locates the passage. Other citation systems order those elements differently.
Decide what the video can prove
A video can be primary material when the recording itself is your object of study. For empirical claims made by an explainer, seek the original study where possible. View counts, production polish and a channel’s academic branding do not establish the data’s quality.
Keep a traceable record
Save your own note of the relevant passage and access date when useful; do not redistribute the recording without permission. Precise title, uploader and location help readers trace a source if a link changes. Follow your programme’s audiovisual citation rules.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Checked the original upload.
- Recorded channel and date.
- Noted the timestamp.
- Assessed source quality.
Common mistakes
- Calling a reupload the original.
- Citing only the channel.
- Using an explainer as if it were the original study.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a timestamp go?
Usually in the in-text locator for a specific passage; check your style.
Can YouTube be a scholarly source?
It can be relevant evidence, depending on the question and source quality.
What if there is no date?
Check the platform first, then apply your style’s missing-date rule.