Last updated: April 2026 · 8 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Who this page is for
This reference is for authors with a reasonable need for shorter time-to-publication: applicants for academic positions on a deadline, researchers facing thesis submission cut-offs, and authors releasing time-sensitive findings. The discussion assumes that peer review must remain genuine and that 'fast' must not become a euphemism for skipped review.
Authors with no time pressure may find a slower, more selective journal a better fit. Speed has real costs in editorial selectivity that should not be paid unnecessarily.
Overview of publishing options
Fast publication exists on a spectrum. Three patterns are common.
| Pattern | Total time | Peer review depth |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous online OA journal | 4–10 weeks | Standard, two reviewers |
| Rapid communications track | 2–6 weeks | Brief review, short articles |
| Fast-track within established journal | 8–12 weeks | Standard but prioritised |
| Unverified 'instant' venues | Days | Effectively absent |
The first three are legitimate. The fourth — venues claiming acceptance within days or hours — should be treated as unreliable regardless of other claims they make.
Considerations particular to fast-publication needs
The total elapsed time of a publication has several components: editorial screening, peer review, decision, revision, copy-editing, and online publication. Improvements in any component shorten the total. Journals that report on each step separately are easier to evaluate than those quoting only the final figure.
A second consideration is the article type. Short formats — letters, brief reports, or case studies — tend to receive faster review than full original articles. Choosing the article type appropriate to the contribution can shorten the timeline by weeks.
Best option based on situation
If budget is the primary constraint
Speed often correlates with APC, because efficient editorial workflows require investment. Diamond open-access journals can be fast in some fields but are not consistently so. Low-APC OA journals frequently offer the best balance of speed and cost when their editorial process is documented.
If speed is the primary constraint
Look for journals reporting median time-to-first-decision under 30 days and median time-to-publication under 60 days. Journals running continuous publication (no fixed issue dates) and assigning DOIs at acceptance rather than at issue closure typically publish faster.
If credibility is the primary constraint
Even when speed matters, indexing and peer review remain non-negotiable. A 'fast' journal that is not indexed in any major database is unlikely to be useful for tenure, grant applications, or thesis submissions. Verify each candidate through DOAJ, Scopus, or Web of Science before committing.
A recommended approach
A practical sequence for a time-constrained submission is: prepare the manuscript fully (including formatting), identify two or three candidate journals with documented short timelines, submit to the strongest fit, and avoid the temptation to relax peer-review expectations in exchange for marginal speed.
Once submitted, polite follow-up after the journal's stated time-to-decision passes is reasonable. Editorial offices generally respond well to specific enquiries with the manuscript ID and submission date.
What improves the chances of acceptance
- Submit a fully formatted manuscript that meets all author guidelines on first submission.
- Choose the article type that fits the contribution; do not submit a full paper for a venue that handles short reports faster.
- Suggest reviewers when the system allows; this can shave weeks off the assignment phase.
- Respond to revision requests within the journal's stated window; delays on the author side are commonly the longest part of the timeline.
- Avoid submitting incomplete data or pending analyses; revision rounds for incompleteness slow the entire process.
Decision guidance: how to choose between options
If two journals offer comparable speed but differ in selectivity, the harder choice is often whether to attempt the more selective one first. A fast-track in a well-known journal with a documented 8-week process is generally a stronger option than a less established 4-week journal, because the marginal four weeks is recouped through the value of the venue.
| Speed signal | Stronger | Weaker |
|---|---|---|
| Stated timelines | Median, with year of measurement | 'Rapid' with no number |
| Continuous publication | Articles online at acceptance | Quarterly or annual issues |
| Reviewer assignment | Within 7–10 days | Open-ended |
| Editorial responsiveness | Replies within 48 hours | Multi-week silence |
Example scenarios
Scenario: a master's student facing a thesis deadline
A student needing publication evidence for thesis defence within four months should target journals reporting median time-to-publication under 8 weeks, prepare a tightly scoped manuscript (often a short report rather than full article), and submit early enough that one round of revision still fits within the deadline.
Scenario: a PhD researcher submitting a job-application paper
PhD candidates approaching the academic job market often need a publication ready for citation in applications. The realistic plan is to identify a target submission window of 90 days before applications open, choose a journal with documented decision times, and accept that fast-track in a stronger journal is usually preferable to outright speed in a weaker one.
Scenario: a low-budget independent researcher with time pressure
Independent researchers with limited funds and a deadline face a harder trade-off. Diamond open-access journals are usually too slow; low-APC OA journals with strong process documentation are typically the best fit. APC waivers, where applicable, should be sought before submission to avoid delays at acceptance.
What to do next
If a fast-publication journal has been identified and the manuscript is ready, the next step is to verify the submission system, format strictly to the author guidelines, and submit. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can use the central submission form, which directs the manuscript to the relevant editorial office.
Frequently asked questions
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Related reading and next steps
- Submission portal — Submit a manuscript to any EP journal
- Journals list — Browse the full portfolio with scopes and ISSNs
- How long does peer review take — Realistic timelines by journal type
- How to publish a research paper — Step-by-step submission to publication
- Publishing in engineering — Field-specific scope and submission notes
- Fast vs slow publication process — What to expect from each timeline
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