Research support

What is a preprint?

Preprints are a way of getting your journal articles in the public domain before they are published.  They are usually uploaded to a preprint server before or at the same time as being submitted for publication. Some funding bodies are now advocating the use of preprints.

What is a preprint server?

• A preprint server enables authors to upload, describe, and distribute preprints.
• The majority of preprint servers make their works publicly open access (OA) with no restrictions.
• The servers usually don't charge authors or readers anything to use their service, however a few of them are owned by commercial companies and may charge.
• Some preprint servers assign DOIs - enabling your work to be easily cited.
• List of preprint servers can be found at: Directory of Open Access Preprint Repositories

Benefits of publishing a preprint

• Research papers are made freely available (open access) and can be accessed by anyone - which can increase readership and citations of your work.
• Preprints servers are usually free.
• Preprints can be open to comments and feedback which can help to improve your manuscript and can help further collaboration.
• Depositing your preprint in a preprint server establishes the originality of your work and helps prevent scooping.
• By depositing in a preprint server you can retain copyright of your work.

The video below provides an overview of what are preprints.

A comprehensive list of preprint servers can be found at the global Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR). Below are links to several preprint servers for a range of disciplines:

• arXiv -  For the fields of physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology, quantitative finance, statistics, electrical engineering and systems science, and economics. Note: preprints are moderated but not peer reviewed on this server.
• bioRxiv - For the field of biology. Note: preprints are not peer reviewed but submissions are basically screened and checked for plagiarism. 
• ChemRxiv-  For the field of chemical sciences. Note: preprints are not peer reviewed but are screened for plagiarism, offensive language, non-scientific and inappropriate content. 
• EarthArXiv - For all earth and planetary science. Note: preprints are not evaluated for scientific quality.
• medRxiv - For health sciences. Note: preprints have not been peer reviewed and as such should not be used for guidance on clinical practices of health-related behaviour. 
• SciELO - For agriculture sciences; applied social sciences; biological sciences; engineering; exact and earth sciences; health sciences; human sciences; linguistic, literature and arts; and, interdisciplinary. Note: preprints are not peer reviewed  but is screened across three quality controls by editorial team.
• SportRxiv - For sport and exercise field. Note: preprints are nor peer reviewed, but they are reviewed before being published on the server.
• SocArXi - For social sciences. Note papers are moderated before appearing. 
• SSRN - For a variety of disciplines: applied sciences, health sciences, humanities, life sciences, physical sciences and social sciences. Note: some papers request a download fee.