diff --git a/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/client.py b/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/client.py
index 47b655ab2345..4999337dbf3f 100644
--- a/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/client.py
+++ b/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/client.py
@@ -285,8 +285,14 @@ def create_dataset(self, dataset):
         https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/rest/v2/tables/insert
 
         Args:
-            dataset (google.cloud.bigquery.dataset.Dataset):
-                A ``Dataset`` populated with the desired initial state.
+            dataset (Union[ \
+                :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.dataset.Dataset`, \
+                :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.dataset.DatasetReference`, \
+                str, \
+            ]):
+                A :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.dataset.Dataset` to create.
+                If ``dataset`` is a reference, an empty dataset is created
+                with the specified ID and client's default location.
 
         Returns:
             google.cloud.bigquery.dataset.Dataset:
@@ -300,6 +306,12 @@ def create_dataset(self, dataset):
             >>> dataset = client.create_dataset(dataset)
 
         """
+        if isinstance(dataset, str):
+            dataset = DatasetReference.from_string(
+                dataset, default_project=self.project)
+        if isinstance(dataset, DatasetReference):
+            dataset = Dataset(dataset)
+
         path = '/projects/%s/datasets' % (dataset.project,)
 
         data = dataset.to_api_repr()
@@ -317,12 +329,27 @@ def create_table(self, table):
         See
         https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/rest/v2/tables/insert
 
-        :type table: :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.table.Table`
-        :param table: A ``Table`` populated with the desired initial state.
+        Args:
+            table (Union[ \
+                :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.table.Table`, \
+                :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.table.TableReference`, \
+                str, \
+            ]):
+                A :class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.table.Table` to create.
+                If ``table`` is a reference, an empty table is created
+                with the specified ID. The dataset that the table belongs to
+                must already exist.
 
-        :rtype: ":class:`~google.cloud.bigquery.table.Table`"
-        :returns: a new ``Table`` returned from the service.
+        Returns:
+            google.cloud.bigquery.table.Table:
+                A new ``Table`` returned from the service.
         """
+        if isinstance(table, str):
+            table = TableReference.from_string(
+                table, default_project=self.project)
+        if isinstance(table, TableReference):
+            table = Table(table)
+
         path = '/projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (
             table.project, table.dataset_id)
         api_response = self._connection.api_request(
diff --git a/bigquery/tests/unit/test_client.py b/bigquery/tests/unit/test_client.py
index 56f4aabeb651..60c81b59c482 100644
--- a/bigquery/tests/unit/test_client.py
+++ b/bigquery/tests/unit/test_client.py
@@ -711,6 +711,109 @@ def test_create_dataset_w_client_location_w_dataset_location(self):
                 'location': OTHER_LOCATION,
             })
 
+    def test_create_dataset_w_reference(self):
+        path = '/projects/%s/datasets' % self.PROJECT
+        resource = {
+            'datasetReference':
+                {'projectId': self.PROJECT, 'datasetId': self.DS_ID},
+            'etag': "etag",
+            'id': "%s:%s" % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID),
+            'location': self.LOCATION,
+        }
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(
+            project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds, location=self.LOCATION)
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        dataset = client.create_dataset(client.dataset(self.DS_ID))
+
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.dataset_id, self.DS_ID)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.project, self.PROJECT)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.etag, resource['etag'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.full_dataset_id, resource['id'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.location, self.LOCATION)
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path=path,
+            data={
+                'datasetReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+                'location': self.LOCATION,
+            })
+
+    def test_create_dataset_w_fully_qualified_string(self):
+        path = '/projects/%s/datasets' % self.PROJECT
+        resource = {
+            'datasetReference':
+                {'projectId': self.PROJECT, 'datasetId': self.DS_ID},
+            'etag': "etag",
+            'id': "%s:%s" % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID),
+            'location': self.LOCATION,
+        }
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(
+            project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds, location=self.LOCATION)
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        dataset = client.create_dataset(
+            '{}.{}'.format(self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID))
+
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.dataset_id, self.DS_ID)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.project, self.PROJECT)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.etag, resource['etag'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.full_dataset_id, resource['id'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.location, self.LOCATION)
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path=path,
+            data={
+                'datasetReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+                'location': self.LOCATION,
+            })
+
+    def test_create_dataset_w_string(self):
+        path = '/projects/%s/datasets' % self.PROJECT
+        resource = {
+            'datasetReference':
+                {'projectId': self.PROJECT, 'datasetId': self.DS_ID},
+            'etag': "etag",
+            'id': "%s:%s" % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID),
+            'location': self.LOCATION,
+        }
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(
+            project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds, location=self.LOCATION)
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        dataset = client.create_dataset(self.DS_ID)
+
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.dataset_id, self.DS_ID)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.project, self.PROJECT)
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.etag, resource['etag'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.full_dataset_id, resource['id'])
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.location, self.LOCATION)
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path=path,
+            data={
+                'datasetReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+                'location': self.LOCATION,
+            })
+
     def test_create_table_w_day_partition(self):
         from google.cloud.bigquery.table import Table
         from google.cloud.bigquery.table import TimePartitioning
@@ -991,6 +1094,97 @@ def test_create_table_w_external(self):
                          SourceFormat.CSV)
         self.assertEqual(got.external_data_configuration.autodetect, True)
 
+    def test_create_table_w_reference(self):
+        path = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (
+            self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID)
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds)
+        resource = {
+            'id': '%s:%s:%s' % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID),
+            'tableReference': {
+                'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+            },
+        }
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        got = client.create_table(self.TABLE_REF)
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path='/%s' % path,
+            data={
+                'tableReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                    'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+            })
+        self.assertEqual(got.table_id, self.TABLE_ID)
+
+    def test_create_table_w_fully_qualified_string(self):
+        path = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (
+            self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID)
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds)
+        resource = {
+            'id': '%s:%s:%s' % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID),
+            'tableReference': {
+                'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+            },
+        }
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        got = client.create_table(
+            '{}.{}.{}'.format(self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID))
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path='/%s' % path,
+            data={
+                'tableReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                    'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+            })
+        self.assertEqual(got.table_id, self.TABLE_ID)
+
+    def test_create_table_w_string(self):
+        path = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (
+            self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID)
+        creds = _make_credentials()
+        client = self._make_one(project=self.PROJECT, credentials=creds)
+        resource = {
+            'id': '%s:%s:%s' % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID),
+            'tableReference': {
+                'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+            },
+        }
+        conn = client._connection = _make_connection(resource)
+
+        got = client.create_table('{}.{}'.format(self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID))
+
+        conn.api_request.assert_called_once_with(
+            method='POST',
+            path='/%s' % path,
+            data={
+                'tableReference': {
+                    'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                    'datasetId': self.DS_ID,
+                    'tableId': self.TABLE_ID
+                },
+                'labels': {},
+            })
+        self.assertEqual(got.table_id, self.TABLE_ID)
+
     def test_get_table(self):
         path = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables/%s' % (
             self.PROJECT, self.DS_ID, self.TABLE_ID)