How to turn your thesis into a journal article

How a thesis chapter differs from an article

Most of the work is cutting and restructuring.

Step 1: Check the journal's prior-publication policy

Many publishers accept articles based on a thesis. COPE says this depends on the journal's prior-publication policy, the type of thesis and your institution's policy, and that the thesis should be acknowledged and cited (COPE position on theses).

• Elsevier does not view publication as an academic thesis as prior publication, but some society-owned titles, journals with double-anonymous review, Cell Press and The Lancet differ (Elsevier policies; clarification).
• Wiley accepts prior dissemination as a thesis in an institutional archive if it is transparently disclosed and cited (Wiley ethics guidelines).
• Taylor & Francis says you can submit a paper derived from your thesis; check your organisation's policy and mention the thesis to the editor (T&F FAQ).
• Springer Nature: Springer journals ask the corresponding author to be transparent about re-use of material in the cover letter (Springer policies). Scientific Reports is happy to consider material from a thesis published according to the awarding institution's requirements (Scientific Reports).

A thesis by publication is different. COPE says chapters already published as papers cannot be republished as original work without the express permission of both journals.

Always read your target journal's guide for authors. When you submit, mention the thesis in your cover letter and cite it as the journal requires. Check your university's rules on publishing thesis work, repositories, embargoes and copyright, and talk to your supervisor first.

Step 2: Choose one question per article

Write the article's one clear question in a single sentence before you start. A thesis can support more than one article, but each must stand on its own. For papers from the same data set, the ICMJE says they should add substantially to each other and cite the earlier publications (ICMJE overlapping publications). Do not split one study into the smallest possible pieces.

Step 3: Choose the target journal before you rewrite

The journal sets the word limit, article type, structure, abstract format and reference style, so choosing it first saves reformatting twice. Our guide how to choose a journal explains how to build and check a shortlist, and how to publish a research paper covers the steps from submission to proofs.

Step 4: Restructure and cut

1. Title and abstract: write them new for the article's question. Do not reuse the thesis abstract.
2. Introduction: reduce the literature review to the few paragraphs that explain the gap and why it matters.
3. Methods: keep what a reader needs to reproduce the work. Move long protocols or extra tables to supplementary material if allowed.
4. Results: include only the results that answer the article's question.
5. Discussion: compare your findings with current studies and state the limitations.
6. References: update them. Newer studies may change how you frame the gap.

Step 5: Rewrite rather than copy and paste

COPE defines text recycling, also called self-plagiarism, as "reusing one's own previous writing without being transparent about this or appropriately referencing/quoting from the original" (COPE position). COPE notes that editors judge each case, and that recycled text in the methods may be more acceptable than in the discussion. Transparency is the key.

Expect a similarity check. Taylor & Francis, Wiley and many other publishers use Crossref Similarity Check (powered by iThenticate), which shows editors where a manuscript overlaps with other work. Taylor & Francis lists theses among sources that must be acknowledged (T&F plagiarism policy). Deal with overlap by disclosing and citing, not by rewording to lower a score.

Step 6: Agree authorship early

Agree authorship with your supervisor before you submit. The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
2. Drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; AND
3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Supervisors who meet all four criteria should be authors. The ICMJE lists general supervision of a research group, on its own, as a contribution that does not qualify for authorship. Contributors who do not qualify should be acknowledged (ICMJE). COPE adds that if any part of the thesis has co-authors, they must agree with the decision to submit it. Universities and fields may have their own conventions, so check them.

Common mistakes

• Submitting a chapter with only light edits, including thesis-style signposting such as "in this chapter".
• Keeping a long literature review that hides the article's contribution.
• Not declaring the thesis, or copying large passages without transparency.
• Leaving authorship until after acceptance.

How we can help

You write the article; it stays your work. We then provide manuscript editing for language, clarity and formatting to the journal's guidelines, with comments on where the draft is long or unclear. You decide what to cut. Our team of qualified researchers and subject-specialist editors with publishing experience can also help you choose a journal and prepare the submission (see all our services). We do not write articles from your thesis, rewrite your text, add data or results, or reword text to lower a similarity score.

If the article will also be examined as part of your thesis (for example, a thesis by publication), your university's editing rules come first. Send us the policy, confirm your supervisor's approval, and choose flag-only editing (comments only, no changes) or full corrections in tracked changes, whichever your university allows, as on our PhD thesis and dissertation editing page. Acceptance is always decided by the journal.

Independence: On Time Publication is not affiliated with Elsevier/Scopus, Clarivate/Web of Science, COPE, the ICMJE or any journal or publisher named on this page. We link to their public guidance so you can check it yourself.

Sources and further reading

We link to official sources so you can check the rules yourself. Always follow your target journal's and institution's current instructions.

• Publishing material from theses, COPE position
• Policies and guidelines for journal authors (Elsevier)
• Clarification of our policy on prior publication (Elsevier)
• Best Practice Guidelines on Research Integrity and Publishing Ethics (Wiley)
• Writing your paper FAQs (Taylor & Francis Author Services)
• Journal policies (Springer)
• Editorial and publishing policies, Scientific Reports (Springer Nature)
• ICMJE: Overlapping publications (duplicate submission, prior publication, preprints)
• Handling text recycling (also known as self-plagiarism), COPE position
• Similarity Check (Crossref)
• Plagiarism, editorial policies (Taylor & Francis Author Services)
• ICMJE: Defining the role of authors and contributors