Taylor & Francis Journals: Submission Guide (2026)
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Shruti Sharma
Academic Writing Coach & Research Communication Specialist
- Guided 300+ researchers through journal selection and submission to Taylor & Francis / Routledge journals
- Expert in APC negotiation, open access waivers, and peer review response strategies for T&F journals
- Helped social science and humanities PhD scholars publish in top SSCI-indexed Taylor & Francis journals
Taylor & Francis Group, part of Informa plc, is one of the world's largest academic publishers with a portfolio of over 2,700 peer-reviewed journals. Operating through imprints including Routledge (social sciences, humanities, education), CRC Press (STEM), Taylor & Francis (multidisciplinary), and Cogent OA (open access), T&F covers virtually every academic discipline. For researchers in social sciences, management, education, psychology, and humanities in particular, Taylor & Francis journals are among the most important publication venues.
Taylor & Francis publishes around 160 new article submissions per day. Understanding how to navigate the publisher's journal finder, submission systems, peer review processes, and open access options is essential for anyone targeting T&F publications — which are required for many PhD programmes, grant applications, and academic promotions, particularly in social science and humanities fields where SSCI-indexed journals are the gold standard.
Taylor & Francis Publishing Structure
Taylor & Francis Imprints and Platforms
Education, psychology, politics, sociology, history, literature
Mathematics, physics, engineering, computing, environmental science
tandfonline.com — hosts all T&F journal content
Lower APCs; all disciplines; Scopus-indexed
Select fully OA journals across T&F portfolio
Clinical medicine, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences
How to Find the Right Taylor & Francis Journal
| Method | Resource | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Journal Finder Tool | tandfonline.com/page/find-the-right-journal | Paste abstract; get suggested T&F journals with scope match |
| Browse by subject | tandfonline.com → Browse all journals → by subject | Exploring options across your discipline |
| Check WoS/Scopus indexing | WoS Master Journal List + Scopus Sources | Verifying PhD / grant publication requirements |
| Journal metrics check | JCR (Impact Factor) or Scopus (CiteScore, SJR) | Matching journal prestige to your work |
| Read recent issues | Journal homepage → Current Issue | Confirming article style, length, and scope alignment |
| Cogent OA search | cogentoa.com | Finding lower-APC OA options within T&F ecosystem |
Step-by-Step: Submitting to a Taylor & Francis Journal
| Stage | What to Do | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Manuscript preparation | Follow Instructions for Authors on the journal's T&F homepage; prepare main text, abstract, keywords, references, figures, and tables | Most T&F journals use specific referencing styles (APA, Chicago, or journal-specific); check this carefully |
| 2. Cover letter | Address the Editor-in-Chief by name; state the key contribution, significance, and fit with the journal | Confirm the paper is not under review elsewhere; include competing interest statement |
| 3. Create ScholarOne account | Most T&F journals use ScholarOne Manuscripts (mc.manuscriptcentral.com) | Different journals may use separate ScholarOne portals — always access via the journal's homepage submission link |
| 4. Upload files | Submit the manuscript as separate files: main text (blinded), title page (with author details), figures, supplementary material | Blinded manuscripts must not contain author names or affiliations; conflict declarations go in title page only |
| 5. Reviewer suggestions | Most T&F journals request 3–5 suggested reviewers; provide full name, affiliation, and email | Do not suggest collaborators, co-authors, or individuals with conflicts of interest |
| 6. Peer review response | Prepare a detailed point-by-point response letter; make all changes visible in a tracked-changes version | Missing a reviewer comment — even a seemingly minor one — can delay acceptance significantly |
Taylor & Francis Open Access Options in 2026
| OA Type | Platform | APC (Approximate) | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid OA (subscription journal) | Taylor & Francis Online | USD 2,950 – 3,795 | CC BY or CC BY-NC |
| Fully OA (Taylor & Francis Open) | Taylor & Francis Online | USD 950 – 2,500 | CC BY |
| Cogent OA | cogentoa.com | USD 395 – 1,350 | CC BY |
| Read-and-publish agreement | Via institution agreement | USD 0 (covered by institution) | CC BY |
| APC waiver (eligible country) | Applied at submission | USD 0 (waived) | CC BY |
Taylor & Francis Read-and-Publish Agreements for Indian Researchers
Taylor & Francis has established read-and-publish (transformative) agreements with several institutions worldwide. Under these agreements, corresponding authors from eligible institutions can publish open access in T&F hybrid journals without paying a separate APC — the cost is covered by the institution's agreement. Indian researchers should check with their library or visit tandfonline.com/openaccess/agreements to see if their institution has a T&F agreement. If no agreement exists, apply for an APC waiver through the journal's submission system — waivers are routinely granted for researchers from India and other developing countries.
Need help identifying the right Taylor & Francis journal, preparing your manuscript, or writing a strong cover letter? Thesis Ace Writers' publishing experts can guide you at every step.
Common Rejection Reasons at Taylor & Francis Journals
| Rejection Reason | How to Address It Before Submission |
|---|---|
| Insufficient theoretical contribution | Clearly state the theoretical framework and how your work advances or challenges it |
| Scope mismatch with the journal | Read the last 12 months of the journal's published articles; confirm alignment before submitting |
| Weak literature review | Include seminal works + recent (2022–2026) literature; cite papers published in the target journal |
| Methodological concerns | Justify your choice of method; address limitations explicitly; report statistical analyses fully |
| Poor writing quality | Use professional academic editing; ensure grammar, syntax, and clarity are publication-standard |
| Missing ethical approvals | Include IRB / ethics committee approval information for all research involving human subjects |
Related Reading from Thesis Ace Writers
Targeting a Taylor & Francis journal and need manuscript preparation, editing, or peer review support? Book a session with Thesis Ace Writers today.
Frequently Asked Questions
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To find the right Taylor & Francis journal, use the Journal Finder tool at tandfonline.com/page/find-the-right-journal — paste your abstract and the tool suggests suitable T&F journals. You can also browse all journals at tandfonline.com by subject area or discipline. Once you identify your target journal, go to its homepage, read the Instructions for Authors, and click 'Submit an article' to access the journal's submission system (most use ScholarOne Manuscripts or Editorial Manager). Always read the journal's Aims and Scope and recent issues before submitting.
Many Taylor & Francis journals are indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science, but coverage varies by journal. T&F publishes both prestigious SSCI/SCIE-indexed journals and newer journals that may only be in Scopus, ESCI, or not yet indexed. Always verify the specific journal at the WoS Master Journal List and Scopus Sources before submitting. Taylor & Francis also includes Routledge (social sciences and humanities) and other imprints under the Informa Group umbrella.
Taylor & Francis open access APCs (Article Processing Charges) for 2026 range from USD 500 to USD 4,000 depending on the journal tier. Standard APCs for SSCI/SCIE-indexed T&F hybrid journals are typically USD 2,950–3,795. Taylor & Francis Open (fully OA journals) generally charge USD 950–2,500. Cogent OA (T&F's lower-cost OA platform) charges USD 395–1,350. Waivers are available for corresponding authors from low-income countries, and some institutions have read-and-publish agreements with Taylor & Francis that cover APCs.
Review timelines at Taylor & Francis vary by journal. Typical timelines: initial editorial assessment (desk review): 1–4 weeks; peer review if sent out: 6–16 weeks; first decision from submission: 8–20 weeks. If revisions are required (major or minor), the revision and re-review cycle adds another 4–12 weeks. Acceptance to online first publication: 2–6 weeks. Overall, first submission to publication can take 6 months to 2 years depending on the journal and number of revision rounds.
Cogent OA (cogentoa.com) is Taylor & Francis's fully open access publishing platform, launched in 2014. It publishes fully OA journals across all major disciplines at lower APCs than mainstream T&F journals. Cogent OA journals follow the same peer review standards as other T&F journals and are indexed in Scopus. They use the Cogent OA submission system. Cogent OA is a suitable option for researchers who want open access publication at a more accessible APC price point while remaining within the Taylor & Francis publishing ecosystem.