Article transfers

Having an article rejected by a journal happens to almost all academics during their career. There are many reasons why an article might be rejected but often this won’t be a judgement on the quality of your work. It might simply be because your manuscript is out of scope for the journal you’ve submitted to. In these circumstances the publisher may invite you to redirect your article to an alternative journal via a transfer process.

We’re currently expanding our transfer service across more journals to give authors a wider range of options from Taylor & Francis journals and platforms. In this post, find out:

• What are article transfers?
• The benefits 
• How does the process work?
• Answers to common questions
  

  ---

What are article transfers?

The transfer, or ‘cascade’, process is designed for papers which editors judge to be unsuitable for the journal they were originally submitted to. If your article falls into this category then one or more alternative journals from the same publisher may be suggested. You will have the option to submit to one of those suggested journals for consideration. Or, you can decide to submit your article elsewhere.

What’s the benefit of using a transfer service?

• Helps you find the right home for your research.
• You won’t need to enter all the details into a new submission system, so research is published faster and can be accessed more rapidly.
• All articles transferred will be evaluated by the journal receiving the paper via the transfer service, ensuring an article’s quality, validity, and relevance.

How does the process work?

If your article is eligible for a transfer, you’ll receive an email introducing one or more related journals which may be suitable. Take time to investigate these journals and use any feedback the original journal gave you to decide whether one of the suggestions might be right for your article.

If you decide to accept a transfer offer, the publisher will move as much information as possible about your article over to the submission system of your chosen journal. You will have the opportunity to upload a revised version of your paper before submitting it for consideration by the editor.

The offer of an article transfer is not a guarantee that your article will be accepted by the new journal. Your article will be evaluated by the journal receiving the submission, ensuring quality, validity, and relevance.  

F1000Research

For articles in relevant subject areas, you may also see F1000Research as an alternative recommendation. This is a new part of the Taylor & Francis Group which offers an innovative route to publishing your work. Articles submitted to F1000Research are published rapidly as soon as they are accepted, after passing a series of pre-publication checks. Peer review by invited experts, suggested by the authors, takes place openly after publication. F1000Research operates an open data policy, requiring authors to cite repositories hosting the supporting data. An article remains published regardless of the reviewers’ reports.

Frequently asked questions about the Taylor & Francis transfer service

Can I transfer to more than one journal?

Your paper can only be considered by one journal at a time. If you’ve received more than one transfer suggestion, please select the one that’s most appropriate for your article.

Will I receive an immediate decision on my transferred article?

We can’t guarantee an immediate decision. This is because your paper will need to be thoroughly assessed by the the new journal, which will add to the time it takes before you receive a decision. All articles transferred will be subject to peer review by the journal receiving the paper via the transfer service.

Can I revise my manuscript before transferring?

We recommend that you revise your manuscript, taking into account any reviewer comments you’ve already received. Before completing your transfer, please replace your manuscript file with the revised version. We also recommend that you upload a file detailing how you’ve responded to the reviewer comments from your original submission, as this will help the new editor in assessing your submission.

Does the suggested journal have an Impact Factor and which indexes is it in?

There are a number of questions to consider before choosing which journal to submit your work to. Indexing and Impact Factors are important for some researchers, but you should also consider a journal’s aims, scope, and readership. To find this information, please visit the journal’s web page by clicking ‘Find out more’ in the transfer email.

Will I have to pay to publish?

There’s no cost for using the transfer process. However, if the journal you’re transferring your article to is fully open access, publication may be subject to an article publishing charge (APC). APCs vary by journal and can depend on the type of article you’ve written. You can check the standard APC using our open access cost finder.

Taylor & Francis has established a broad range of partnerships with institutions and funders around the world to support authors who wish to publish open access. Discounts and waivers are also available to researchers based in lower income economies. Find out if you’re eligible for this open access publishing support.

Further tools and resources

• Article Transfer Service infographic
• Understanding peer review
• F1000Research data guidelines

If you have any further questions about the Taylor & Francis transfer scheme, please contact: [email protected]