For Authors

Share Your Research with the World

Nexus Journal offers a rigorous, fast, and fully open access publishing pathway for researchers across all career stages. Your work, freely accessible to anyone, anywhere — within 72 hours of acceptance.

Access Submission Portal Compare Submission Tracks
4–8
Week Review Timeline
72h
Post-Acceptance Publishing
4
Article Types Accepted
100%
Open Access, Author-Owned

Submission Process

Five Steps from Submission to Publication

A transparent, author-friendly process designed to uphold scientific integrity without unnecessary delay.

  1. Step 01

    Prepare

    Format your manuscript using the Nexus template. Complete the author declaration and cover letter.

    Before submitting

  2. Step 02

    Submit

    Upload your files through the secure online portal. Receive an instant acknowledgement with a reference number.

    Same day

  3. Step 03

    Editorial Check

    The editor reviews scope fit, completeness, and ethical compliance before assigning peer reviewers.

    1–5 days

  4. Step 04

    Peer Review

    Double-blind review by at least two independent experts. Structured, constructive feedback provided to all authors.

    4–8 weeks

  5. Step 05

    Publish

    Accepted manuscripts are typeset, assigned a DOI, and published online — open access, permanently.

    Within 72 hours

Submission Tracks

Choose the Right Track for Your Work

Nexus Journal offers four submission tracks to accommodate different types of research and author circumstances.

Standard Track

Original Research

Full-length original research articles, systematic reviews, and case studies submitted through the standard peer review process. Open to all researchers worldwide.

  • Length: 5,000–8,000 words (excl. references)
  • Timeline: 4–8 weeks peer review
  • Formats: Original article, Review, Case Study
Conference Track

Extended Conference Papers

For authors whose work was presented at UNIGAP’s flagship conferences (ICSBE, AIMDA, ICBS). Submissions must contain at least 50% new content beyond the conference version.

  • Eligible conferences: ICSBE, AIMDA, ICBS
  • New content requirement: Minimum 50%
  • Expedited editorial screening applies
Priority Track

Priority Review

Available for time-sensitive research — including policy-relevant findings, emergency response research, and work addressing active global challenges. Subject to editorial approval.

  • Target review: 2–3 weeks
  • Requires editorial pre-approval
  • Email editorial office to request
Invited Track

Invited Reviews & Perspectives

Commissioned by the Editorial Board. Distinguished researchers may be invited to contribute review articles or perspective pieces on topics of strategic importance to the journal.

  • By invitation of the Editorial Board only
  • Topics aligned with the journal’s thematic areas
  • Contact editor-in-chief to express interest

Author Guidelines

Preparing Your Manuscript

Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts must use the official Nexus Journal template, available for download alongside this page. Submissions not conforming to the template will be returned before review.

  • Font: Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt, double-spaced
  • Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides
  • Citation style: APA 7th edition, or IEEE for engineering / AI / technology
  • Figures and tables numbered sequentially with descriptive captions
  • Figures submitted as separate high-resolution files (300 dpi minimum)

Required Sections

All original research articles must include the following sections, in order:

  • Title, author names & affiliations, corresponding author email
  • Abstract (250–300 words) and Keywords (5–8 terms)
  • Introduction with clear research gap and objectives
  • Literature Review / Theoretical Framework
  • Methodology (reproducible detail required)
  • Results and Discussion
  • Conclusion and Recommendations
  • SDG Alignment Statement
  • References and, if applicable, Appendices

Files to Submit

Upload the following through the submission portal:

  • Manuscript file — anonymised (no author names/affiliations) in .docx or .pdf
  • Title page — separate file with full author details
  • Cover letter — addressed to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Author declaration — completed and signed form
  • Figures — individual high-resolution image files
  • Supplementary data — if applicable

Download Resources

Manuscript Template.docx · request by email Author Declaration Form.pdf · request by email Full Author Guidelines.pdf · request by email Publication Ethics PolicyRead on this page

Resource files are issued directly by the editorial office while the author portal is finalised — email us and we’ll send the current version right away.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Tick All Items Before Uploading to the Portal

  • Scope check — confirmed manuscript fits within one or more journal thematic areas
  • Template used — manuscript formatted using the official Nexus template
  • Anonymised — no author names or institutional identifiers in the main manuscript file
  • Abstract & keywords — 250–300 word abstract and 5–8 keywords included
  • SDG statement — relevant UN SDGs identified in the SDG Alignment section
  • References — all citations formatted in APA 7 or IEEE, consistently
  • Figures — high-resolution (≥300 dpi) and uploaded as separate files
  • Cover letter — written to the Editor-in-Chief, describing the work’s significance
  • Declaration form — author declaration completed, signed, and uploaded
  • Originality — manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere simultaneously

Every item checked? You’re ready.

Proceed to Submission Portal

Publication Ethics

Our Commitment to Research Integrity

Nexus Journal adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to uphold these standards.

No Plagiarism

All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with a similarity index above 15% (excluding references) will be returned before review.

Authorship Standards

All listed authors must have made a substantive contribution to the work. Gift and ghost authorship are strictly prohibited. Authorship changes after submission require editorial approval.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any relationships that could influence their findings. Reviewers recuse themselves where a conflict exists; editors are excluded from decisions on their own submissions.

Data Integrity

Raw data must be available for inspection upon reasonable request. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting constitutes research misconduct and will result in rejection.

Corrections & Retractions

Errors discovered post-publication are corrected promptly via a published erratum. Serious misconduct or unreliable data results in retraction per COPE guidelines.

Human & Animal Research

Studies involving human participants must include a statement of ethical approval from an institutional review board. Animal studies must comply with applicable care guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Author Questions

Is there an article processing charge (APC)?
Nexus Journal is committed to open access. Please refer to the current APC schedule in the Author Guidelines, as fee waivers may be available for authors from low-income countries or with demonstrated financial hardship.
Can I submit a paper I presented at an ICSBE, AIMDA, or ICBS conference?
Yes — through the Conference Track. Your submission must contain at least 50% new content (new data, analysis, or discussion) beyond what appeared in the conference proceedings. Simply state this in your cover letter.
How do I know if my topic is within scope?
Review our nine thematic areas on the Scope page. If you are still unsure, email a 200-word abstract to the editorial office and we will provide a scope assessment within 3 business days — no commitment required.
Can postgraduate students submit?
Absolutely. Nexus Journal warmly welcomes submissions from postgraduate students. We recommend that student authors include their supervisor as a co-author to strengthen the manuscript’s disciplinary grounding.
What happens after I submit?
You will receive an automated acknowledgement immediately. The managing editor will conduct an initial check within 1–5 business days and notify you of the outcome. If sent for review, you will hear back within 4–8 weeks.
Can I suggest reviewers or request exclusions?
Yes. In your cover letter, you may suggest up to three qualified reviewers and request the exclusion of up to two individuals, with reasons. Final reviewer selection remains at the sole discretion of the editorial team.
What does “double-blind” mean in practice?
Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other throughout the review process. This is why you must remove all author identification from the main manuscript file before uploading — check the Checklist carefully.
Who owns my article after publication?
You do. Authors retain full copyright under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence, which allows anyone to share and adapt the work with appropriate attribution. Nexus Journal does not claim ownership of published content.

Editorial Office

For scope checks, guidelines questions, or general correspondence:

journal@unigap.lk

Track Your Submission

Log in to the submission portal with your reference number to view the current status of your manuscript at any stage.

Email for a status update →

Become a Reviewer

Contribute to the research community. Experienced researchers are invited to join our reviewer panel.

Apply with your CV →

Every Great Paper Starts with a Submission

Follow the checklist, format with the template, and share your research with a global, open access readership.

Start Your Submission Ask a Question First