Last updated: 29 April 2026 · 7 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Online submission systems differ in interface but share a common underlying structure. Authors who prepare the required materials in advance can typically complete a submission in under thirty minutes; those who attempt to assemble files mid-submission frequently abandon and restart the process.
Materials to prepare in advance
- The manuscript file in the format specified by the journal (commonly PDF or DOCX).
- A separate title page with author affiliations, ORCIDs, and corresponding-author details, if required.
- Figure files at the specified resolution, named consecutively.
- Supplementary materials (data, code, appendices) where applicable.
- A cover letter addressed to the editor.
- Conflict-of-interest, funding, and authorship declarations.
Standard submission steps
- Create or sign in to the submission account; verify the email address.
- Select the appropriate article type (original research, review, short communication, etc.).
- Enter manuscript metadata: title, abstract, keywords, classification.
- Add all authors in the correct order and confirm institutional affiliations.
- Upload the manuscript and ancillary files in the order requested by the system.
- Complete declarations on ethics, funding, conflicts, and prior dissemination.
- Review the system-generated PDF proof carefully before final submission.
- Submit and retain the confirmation reference number.
After submission
An automated acknowledgement is normally received within minutes. If no acknowledgement appears within twenty-four hours, the submission status should be checked from within the portal before contacting the editorial office.
Key points
- Preparation of all materials before opening the submission portal saves substantial time.
- Author order and affiliations entered in the portal must match the title page exactly.
- The system-generated proof should be reviewed in full before final submission.
- Confirmation references should be retained for all subsequent correspondence.
Frequently asked questions
Related topics across the knowledge centre
Comparison
EP Journals vs Predatory Journals: How to Tell the Difference
A practical comparison helping researchers distinguish legitimate structured open-access publishers, such as EP Journals, from predatory journals that lack genuine peer review, transparent fees, or verifiable editorial governance.
Comparison
Indexed vs Non-Indexed Journals: A Practical Comparison
A practical comparison of indexed and non-indexed journals across multiple indexing tiers, helping authors interpret indexing claims accurately and choose venues whose indexing matches their needs.
Publishing
Low-Cost Research Journals
Low-cost journals span subscription venues with no author fee, diamond open-access journals fully subsidised by institutions, and open-access journals with modest APCs. Verifying credibility matters more than the headline number.
Publishing
How to Publish a Research Paper in Law
A practical, field-specific guide to publishing research in law, covering norms, challenges, the step-by-step process, where to publish, and how to choose between journal types.
Resource
Journals for Students: Where to Publish Early Research
Students are typically best served by open-access journals that maintain transparent peer review, modest article processing charges (APCs), and clearly documented timelines.
Resource
Journals for Multidisciplinary Research
Multidisciplinary work fits journals explicitly oriented toward cross-field research, generalist scientific journals, or specialty journals where the work's primary discipline anchors. The choice depends on which audience the work most needs to reach.
Guide
Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Research
A clear explanation of what counts as plagiarism in academic research, how to avoid it in practice, and how journals detect and respond to it.
Guide
What is Indexing in Academic Journals?
An overview of how academic indexing operates, the principal categories of indexing services, and the implications of indexing status for authors and journals.
Related reading and next steps
Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org