Where can I publish my undergraduate research paper?

I am an undergraduate university student, and have recently got my research paper back (a review paper) and my academic tutor told me it is of a publishable standard. I am now looking to publish it, but I am lost as to where?

I have spent hours trawling through websites, many of them cost hundreds to go through publication, and I cannot seem to find any that are fitting.

If anyone has any idea of what website/journal I could use, please let me know!

You can't (in academic circles) force/create the publication of a document. You have to find a journal or similar that will accept your article for publication. Often, it takes a lot of reformatting and editing an essay to get it to fit into a journal's very strict requirements. So there is a gulf between saying something is 'publishable' and getting it published.

Look at some journals in your subject and find where they give details of making submissions. You will have to adapt your essay to their requirements, before they will even consider it, and even then it's in competition with other papers.

Thankyou for your fast response. Do you have any suggestions for any good journals I could try?

Speak to the lecturer who said it was publishable. They'll know what the different journals in your field are like, and how your paper might need to be adapted for them.

I am fully aware of the key journals in my subject, thankyou. I was simply having trouble trying to find something fitting, that wouldn't cost me hundreds of pounds.

It doesn't cost the author anything to publish in an academic journal.

It doesn't cost the author anything to publish in an academic journal.

From my research, it can cost up to £300 depending on where you are trying to get it published to cover the cost of the peer review process.

I had a meeting with my professor about it, and he said he would get back to me, but never did! I think I will send him a follow up email! Thankyou

I am an undergraduate university student, and have recently got my research paper back (a review paper) and my academic tutor told me it is of a publishable standard. I am now looking to publish it, but I am lost as to where?

I have spent hours trawling through websites, many of them cost hundreds to go through publication, and I cannot seem to find any that are fitting.

If anyone has any idea of what website/journal I could use, please let me know!

Hi @Jess_5,

As others have said here there can be quite a gulf between 'publishable' and 'published'. Whilst it isn't entirely unknown to publish at undergraduate or masters level, it is very unusual in the majority of fields.

When I was keen to publish during my MA year (similar to you, a tutor had told me the piece was of publishable quality), my supervisor encouraged me to hold off and wait until I had a) polished my style a little more and b) was writing at a level and quality suitable to get publication in a respectable and renowned peer-reviewed journal in my field. The initial tutor agreed and helped me to identify the areas I would need to develop to get the work from 'publishable' to 'published'.

That seemed harsh at the time but, now that I am in my second year of PhD (and working on getting that journal article published - so far it's been through at least 3 rounds of edits based on feedback and has substantially changed from the initial essay), I can see the wisdom in the advice. I am very proud of the writing I did during my MA - and the original tutor was right to say there were publishable elements to the piece - but I'm not sure I would want that work as it stood then to be my first entry into academic publishing given how much I have developed both my writing and my ideas since then.

This isn't to say don't go for it - but do proceed with caution and seek the advice of your tutor. There are a lot of disreputable journals out there that seek to take advantage of the desire to publish (and will rapidly take your money and then provide minimal exposure and editing). Plus even publishing with a reputable journal can be quite a minefield in terms of the legal wording of contracts, access rights etc. It helps to have someone who knows the score to guide you.

I'd also recommend considering any in-house journals that your university might have - a lot of universities have peer-reviewed journals for publishing postgraduate work. Whilst often not deemed as 'prestigious' as other journals, they can provide a really good introduction to the peer-review and publication process without some of the more cutthroat elements that come with submitting for publication to larger journals. Plus they tend to be circulated widely within the postgraduate and staff communities of your university (and often beyond that). Being published in an in-house journal at undergraduate level is still a major achievement too, and would stand you in good stead for any postgraduate applications.

Hope that helps!

Amy Louise

Thankyou so much for your answer. It is a daunting process! I really appreciate your help.

I am an undergraduate university student, and have recently got my research paper back (a review paper) and my academic tutor told me it is of a publishable standard. I am now looking to publish it, but I am lost as to where?

I have spent hours trawling through websites, many of them cost hundreds to go through publication, and I cannot seem to find any that are fitting.

If anyone has any idea of what website/journal I could use, please let me know!

Hi @Jess_5,

As others have said here there can be quite a gulf between 'publishable' and 'published'. Whilst it isn't entirely unknown to publish at undergraduate or masters level, it is very unusual in the majority of fields.

When I was keen to publish during my MA year (similar to you, a tutor had told me the piece was of publishable quality), my supervisor encouraged me to hold off and wait until I had a) polished my style a little more and b) was writing at a level and quality suitable to get publication in a respectable and renowned peer-reviewed journal in my field. The initial tutor agreed and helped me to identify the areas I would need to develop to get the work from 'publishable' to 'published'.

That seemed harsh at the time but, now that I am in my second year of PhD (and working on getting that journal article published - so far it's been through at least 3 rounds of edits based on feedback and has substantially changed from the initial essay), I can see the wisdom in the advice. I am very proud of the writing I did during my MA - and the original tutor was right to say there were publishable elements to the piece - but I'm not sure I would want that work as it stood then to be my first entry into academic publishing given how much I have developed both my writing and my ideas since then.

This isn't to say don't go for it - but do proceed with caution and seek the advice of your tutor. There are a lot of disreputable journals out there that seek to take advantage of the desire to publish (and will rapidly take your money and then provide minimal exposure and editing). Plus even publishing with a reputable journal can be quite a minefield in terms of the legal wording of contracts, access rights etc. It helps to have someone who knows the score to guide you.

I'd also recommend considering any in-house journals that your university might have - a lot of universities have peer-reviewed journals for publishing postgraduate work. Whilst often not deemed as 'prestigious' as other journals, they can provide a really good introduction to the peer-review and publication process without some of the more cutthroat elements that come with submitting for publication to larger journals. Plus they tend to be circulated widely within the postgraduate and staff communities of your university (and often beyond that). Being published in an in-house journal at undergraduate level is still a major achievement too, and would stand you in good stead for any postgraduate applications.

Hope that helps!

Amy Louise

I am an undergraduate university student, and have recently got my research paper back (a review paper) and my academic tutor told me it is of a publishable standard. I am now looking to publish it, but I am lost as to where?

I have spent hours trawling through websites, many of them cost hundreds to go through publication, and I cannot seem to find any that are fitting.

If anyone has any idea of what website/journal I could use, please let me know!

No. You haven't said what subject you are studying, and anyway, you ought to know what they key journals in your subject are.

I think that Jess is reading Neuroscience, tpd.