Build a shortlist of suitable journals that align with your manuscript, audience, discipline, and research goals. Check fit and credibility then rank them by fit.

Start with journal suitability

A Read & Publish agreement may support open access publishing, but it should not be the main reason for choosing a journal. First identify journals that are suitable for your work, then check whether an agreement or another open publishing pathway applies.

Build a longlist

Gather potentially suitable journals connected to your research, including journals cited in your reference list, outlets used by leading scholars in your field and recommendations from supervisors or colleagues. Use journal finder tools, indexing databases and publisher information to expand your options.

Build a shortlist

Review each journal’s aims and scope, recent articles, audience, accepted article types, peer review process, indexing, publication timeframes, author rights, licence options and charges. Use journal metrics or discipline-specific ratings only where relevant and interpret them in context.

Use Think. Check. Submit. For journals. to assess whether a journal is transparent and trustworthy. Consult Ulrichsweb (WSU login required) to check whether it is listed as peer-reviewed (refereed) and review its publisher details and indexing coverage.

Compare three to five journals against your topic, methodology, article type, intended audience, publishing timeframe, research goals and open access requirements to build your shortlist. Then rank them in order of suitability to identify your first choice and backup journals.

Be cautious of unrealistic publication promises, unclear peer review, hidden fees, misleading indexing claims or repeated or generic invitations to submit.

Pre-submission enquiry

If you are unsure whether a journal is suitable for your research, discuss with your supervisor whether to send a pre-submission enquiry to the journal editor. This can help you gauge the journal’s interest in your manuscript before submitting it.

Use the subject guide

Use the Journal Selection Tool and detailed guidance in the Publish Your Research guide to build, assess and rank your shortlist.

Next step

• Read & Publish Agreements