Submissions

Author Guidelines

Before submitting a paper

1. Review the research you’ve already completed as part of your course at NTU to identity a suitable research article.
2. Discuss and agree with your NTU dissertation / project supervisor whether it can be adapted for publication and whether the journal is the right home for your work. Approval must be granted from your supervisor prior to submitting a manuscript to the Journal of Undergraduate Research at NTU (this will be checked at submission)’.
3. Read and follow the author guidelines provided.

Developing your paper

1. Word count: The word length will vary depending on the discipline, but on average, will be between 4,000 to 8,000 words – See Appendix A for discipline specific requirements. The abstract should be a maximum of 300 words.

 2. Article types: Choose the type of article you wish to submit. Article types will vary depending on the discipline, but can include:

• Original research
• Review articles
• Short notes
• Short opinion pieces (if suitable)
• Literary Translations
• Creative Writing.

 3. Readability:

• Make each sentence is clear and concise
• Minimize the use of jargon
• Define all acronyms.

4. Style

• Language: All manuscripts must be submitted in English (British). Modern Languages articles may be submitted in another language and accompanied by an English translation.
• Article template: You should submit your article using the Article template provided by the journal. The template has set margins, line spacing, font style and size. Please do not change these.
• Referencing: Unless otherwise indicated, please use the University Harvard referencing system (see RefWorks or the university handbook for details). In some instances there may be some subject discipline referencing requirements. Please see Appendix A.
• Numbering conventions: The numbering convention may vary depending on the discipline, so please read the discipline specific guidance in Appendix A.
• Tables and figures: Tables and figures should be used to present data too complex to include in the text.
  • Ensure all tables and figures are referred to in the text and consecutively numbered
  • For each table and figure provide Legends with concise descriptions of the data in the table
  • Table footnotes should, if required, provide more detail relating to the interpretation of data presented in the table (see subject specific examples below for details to be included in footnotes)
  • Tables should be submitted within the text and as separate files.
• Images: Images should be submitted within the text and as separate files. Images should be referred to in the text and consecutively numbered.

5. Acknowledgements: Any acknowledgments should be included after the discussion. Any funding that enabled the research to be conducted must be included in the acknowledgments. Ensure these are written in a professional manner – see subject specific journals below for ideas of how to do this.

6. Ethical approval: NTU ethical approval must have been given for any original research. A statement of ethics must be provided at the end of the manuscript (after discussion). E.g. 'this project was granted ethical approval from xxx'.

7. Conflict of interest: All authors must disclose any potential conflict of interest. Any interest or relationship, financial or otherwise, that might be perceived as influencing an author's objectivity is considered a potential source of conflict of interest. Any conflicts of interest must be stated in the manuscript, after the discussion. If there are no conflicts of interest this must be stated in the manuscript.

8. Blind peer review process: To assist the blind peer review process, the names and contact details of all authors should NOT be given on the paper. Throughout the manuscript, the authors details should be replaced with XXX to anonymise the text. Please remember to provide all author details when you submit the article to the journal through the online submission process.

Submitting your paper

1. Submit your paper through the online submission process

2. In the comment box to the Editor please include:

• Which area / section of the journal you wish your manuscript to be submitted - See Appendix B for a list of submission areas
• Permission details for publication from your supervisor including your supervisors name and contact details
• Your student number and the course you studied while at NTU.