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There is no way to automatically import references listed in a Microsoft Word document directly into a RefWorks account.

You should consider importing the bibliographic information via electronic means using other methods, such as Direct Export from the Library's databases or using the Save to RefWorks tool to capture bibliographic information. For additional information, see the Getting Information into Refworks section of the RefWorks guide. 

However, there are a couple of different ways to import citations from Word into Refworks. Both involve creating a file format accepted by Refworks (BibTex or RIS).

*As part of our commitment to providing reliable, accessible, and forward-looking research tools, the NU Library will be transitioning away from RefWorks at the end of this year (12/31/2025). We’re excited to support our community in making the move to Zotero, a powerful, user-friendly citation manager that’s widely used across academic institutions and ensures continued access after graduation: https://resources.nu.edu/zotero We will be offering additional webinars in the coming weeks for those of you who would like to export your files from Refworks to Zotero. If you decide Zotero isn't for you, we'll provide information on other citation management options. We’re here to help you make the most of your research tools—now and in the future!

Create a Bibtex file

One option is to create a BibTex file using this website - Instructions are provided in this short video

However, this method does not provide accurate citations, so you may need to do some extensive editing to your citations after the import.

Create a RIS file 

The other option is to create a RIS file. You would paste your citations, one-by-one, into one of these citation finders (Instructions are provided in this short video):

•  http://git.macropus.org/citation-finder/ 
• https://citation-finder.vercel.app/

This method takes longer than the first method, but the citations are more accurate.

*As part of our commitment to providing reliable, accessible, and forward-looking research tools, the NU Library will be transitioning away from RefWorks at the end of this year (12/31/2025). We’re excited to support our community in making the move to Zotero, a powerful, user-friendly citation manager that’s widely used across academic institutions and ensures continued access after graduation: https://resources.nu.edu/zotero We will be offering additional webinars in the coming weeks for those of you who would like to export your files from Refworks to Zotero. If you decide Zotero isn't for you, we'll provide information on other citation management options. We’re here to help you make the most of your research tools—now and in the future!