Theology and Religion Postgraduate Studies: Where to publish?

Selecting an avenue for publishing your research may be a daunting task. It is not always easy to know where to start. Some typical questions that one may ask include:

• Where should I publish my research?
• Which publication will be interested in my research?
• How do I check the reputation of the journal?
• Does the publication provide submission guidelines for authors?
• What is the review process for the publication?
• Will I have to pay to publish in the selected journal?

Here are some tools that you can use to match your manuscript to a journal:

• Elsevier Journal Finder
• SpringerNature Journal Suggester  
• Taylor & Francis Journal Suggester 
• Web of Science Master Journal List AND Manuscript Matcher 

Understand Journal Quadrants

Journal ranking systems  use a quadrant system to rank journals based on impact factors or other metrics. The quadrants are divided as follows:

• Q1 (Top 25%): Journals with the highest impact factors or metrics.

• Q2 (Top 50%): Journals that are in the middle tier.

• Q3 (Top 75%): Journals in the lower-middle tier.

• Q4 (Bottom 25%): Journals with the lowest impact factors or metrics.

Use this online tools to check the journal ranking

• Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR): https://www.scimagojr.com/ You can search for the journal here, and it will show you the SJR ranking and quartile (Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4).

Article Processing Charges

An increasing number of open access journals are supported through Article Processing Charges (APC's) also known as publication fees. The Department of Library Services (DLS) offers and administers Open Access (OA) funds to subsidize Article Processing Charges (APC'). The fund will only pay for articles published in accredited and peer-reviewed Open Access Journals. 

The UP Open Access Policy gives clear guidance on purpose and procedures for all staff and students. Authors who wish to apply should first review the:  

• The UP Policy on Open Access Publishing Processing Charges (APC's)
• The UP Guidelines for Application to the University of Pretoria Open Access Fund for APCs. 

This enables UP authors to take the advantage of a range of benefits when publishing in Open Access Journals. 

To benefit from Article Processing Charges fund, check the eligibility of the journal

• Please note that this is done on refund bases, and the Library contributes a refundable portion of 50% or 60%, check the guidelines and the policy 
• Check if the journal is Open Access and listed in the Accredited Journal List.
• Check the journal Impact factor and quartile in the Journal Citation Report 
• Authors may apply from APC funds by completing the APC form and the faculty representative (Dean or Deputy) should sign the APC form
• Please note that Hybrid journals are not supported from APC funds. Hybrid journals are supported through Read and Publish (R&P) agreements. In the R&P agreement, authors can publish articles in Open Access Journals for free. 

Proceed to the steps in applying and claiming from APC funds

Steps to follow when applying and claiming from APC funds

Please note that we work on a refund basis. The researcher pays the full amount to the publisher (from a grant or cost point in the academic department or faculty). We refund a certain percentage (50% or 60%) of this to the researcher afterwards and this is paid to the cost centre. 

Step1: What to submit to the publisher?

• Author sends the manuscript to the publisher
• Publisher accepts the manuscript
• Publisher sends the invoice to the author to pay APCs
• Author pays full amount to the publisher from their funds from the department/faculty cost centre
• Author receives proof of payment from the publisher
• Then the article gets published and become available online
• Author pulls a cost centre report (detail transactional report per cost centre/project) from the system or ask the faculty admin person or from the Department of Finance at UP

Step 2: What to submit to the Open Scholarship Office?

• The APC application form. Please make sure the Dean signs the form. In the APC form, in section 3.20 please capture the cost centre number to be refunded. 
• The detail transactional report per cost centre/project (Cost Centre Report, see the screenshot) - please make sure the amount paid to the publisher is reflected in the cost centre report and that the payment is not pending. Please note that we do not accept the Cost Centre Summary Reports
• The published version of the article 
• Proof of payment in South African rands
• The invoice
• Attach and send the above items to openscholarship@up.ac.za