Once the academic year begins, a scholar's workload usually increases due to teaching and administrative duties, and with it, the number of manuscripts submitted to editorial offices also grows. Let us look at why it is worth starting preparation for publication well in advance and what steps to take now.
Why is it harder to prepare an article for publication in autumn?
Once the academic year begins, lecturers and scholars see a marked increase in their current workload: teaching hours, department meetings, reporting. There is less free time available for working on a manuscript, while the time required to prepare a quality article does not decrease.
An additional difficulty stems from the editorial offices themselves: after the summer break, they often receive a higher volume of manuscripts, which increases the load on reviewers and can slow down the assessment of an article. The closer it gets to the end of the year or to a planned defence date, the greater the competition for a place in a journal issue.
Peer review for publication can stretch on for months
The average review time in journals indexed by Scopus or Web of Science ranges from a few weeks to six months, depending on the publication and the subject area. This is followed by one or more rounds of revision based on reviewers' comments, as well as technical processing of the article once accepted – proofreading, typesetting and the assignment of identifiers.
Taking all stages into account, the process from submitting a manuscript to its appearance in a scientific database often takes anywhere from three months to a year. Preparing well in advance leaves a margin for unforeseen delays and reduces the risk that a publication will not be ready by the required deadline.
How many publications are needed to defend a dissertation in Kyrgyzstan?
The number and type of publications required to obtain an academic degree in Kyrgyzstan are set out in the Regulation on the Procedure for Awarding Academic Degrees dated 18 January 2022. The document establishes the List of Peer-Reviewed Scientific Periodicals, together with the rules for scoring publications, which are approved by the presidium of the National Attestation Commission (NAC).
The main findings of a dissertation are published in journals from this List, and candidates for the degree of Candidate of Science also face an additional requirement to publish in journals indexed by Scopus or Web of Science. The precise requirements for a given specialism are best confirmed on the Commission's website, as certain provisions may be updated.
Starting preparation early reduces the risk of missing the deadline
Planning a publication with time to spare allows a scholar to spread the workload evenly and avoid rushing before a reporting period or defence. To avoid leaving preparation until the last moment, it is worth doing the following now:
- identifying a journal and studying its manuscript requirements
- gathering and organising the research data
- preparing a draft of the article and the reference list
- allowing time for translation and language editing, if required
An approximate order for calculating publication timelines when preparing for a dissertation defence:
- Determine the planned date of the defence or reporting period.
- Calculate the submission deadline based on the average review time for the chosen journal.
- Choose a publication that matches the subject of the research and the Commission's requirements.
- Prepare the manuscript and supporting documents well in advance, leaving a margin for revisions.
What does a scholar risk by starting preparation too late?
Rejection is a common outcome even for well-prepared work, if the subject of the article does not match the profile of the publication or the material requires substantial revision. When preparation starts late, resubmitting to another journal becomes an additional source of risk: there may be no time left for a new round of review.
If work on the article has begun well in advance, however, a rejection from one publication does not derail the timeline – the scholar still has time to choose another journal and resubmit the manuscript without compromising the final result.
Preparing an article for publication is a process that takes time, where each stage can take longer than initially expected. Starting the work well in advance allows a scholar to go through peer review calmly, take reviewers' comments into account and, if necessary, approach another publication – without rushing and without the risk of missing the required deadline.
Planning a publication and want to start preparing your article early, without rushing before your defence? Get in touch with Scientific Publications. Our specialists will help you choose a journal, prepare the manuscript in line with the publication's requirements, and support you at every stage of the publication process. To receive a free consultation, fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Onward to new scientific achievements!
