Applied Sciences (Basel) Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

Applied Sciences uses a straightforward abstract format.

• Word limit: About 200 words maximum

• Structure: Single paragraph in the style of a structured abstract (background, methods, results, conclusion) but without headings

• References: No references to the bibliography or to figures

• Abbreviations: Avoid non-standard abbreviations; define essential ones at first use

The abstract should state the problem, the methods, the key quantitative results, and the conclusions. MDPI abstracts tend to be functional and direct. Don't waste words on vague statements. Get to the point early and include specific numbers. "We investigated the properties of a composite material" should be replaced with "We fabricated a CNT/epoxy composite with 3 wt% filler loading, achieving a 47% increase in tensile strength and a 23% increase in thermal conductivity compared to neat epoxy."

Applied Sciences doesn't impose a strict figure limit, but figures should be relevant and necessary.

Figure formatting requirements:

Table formatting: Tables are reformatted to the standard MDPI style before publication. Every table column should have an explanatory heading, smaller fonts (no smaller than 8 pt) may be used for larger tables, and tables should be created with the Word Table option so staff can edit them, not supplied as images. Vertical lines, blank rows, and blank columns are not advised.

Color figures: Free. The instructions say there is no additional cost for publishing full-color graphics.

Supplementary Materials: Additional data, figures, tables, and code can be uploaded as supplementary files. These are hosted alongside the article on the MDPI website. Label supplementary figures as Figure S1, S2, etc.

Applied Sciences uses the MDPI reference format, which is a numbered system with square brackets.

In-text citations: Square brackets: [1], [2,3], [4-7]. Numbers in order of first appearance.

Reference list format:

1. Last, F.I.; Last, F.I. Title of Article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, Page Range.

Key formatting details:

• Author names: Last name, then first and middle initials (Last, F.I.)

• Semicolons between authors

• Article title in sentence case

• Journal name abbreviated according to the ISO 4 rules (if you are not sure how to abbreviate a title, leave the full title and the Editorial Office will abbreviate it)

• Year follows journal name

• Volume after the year

• Page range (or article number for online-only journals)

• DOI numbers are not mandatory but highly encouraged

Worked example:

1. Zhang, Y.; Chen, L.; Patel, W.R. Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2/Graphene Composites for Water Purification. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 1234.

Important difference: MDPI abbreviates journal titles according to the ISO 4 rules, so "Applied Sciences" is cited as "Appl. Sci." Authors who carry full journal titles over from a citation manager preset may need to correct them, although the Editorial Office will abbreviate titles that are left in full.

The MDPI template is encouraged, not mandatory. Applied Sciences accepts free format submission. It has no strict formatting requirements at first submission, but every manuscript must contain the required sections: Author Information, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Conclusions, Figures and Tables with Captions, Funding Information, Author Contributions, Conflict of Interest and other Ethics Statements. When the manuscript reaches the revision stage you will be asked to format it according to the journal guidelines, so downloading the template early saves work.

Layout at first submission. Free format is accepted at first submission, so you do not need to match the final published layout to enter peer review.

Author contributions section required. For research articles with several authors, Applied Sciences requires a short Author Contributions paragraph that uses the CRediT taxonomy terms. This must be included in the manuscript, not just submitted as a separate form.

Funding section is separate. Funding information must be listed in a dedicated "Funding" section, separate from Acknowledgments. Include grant numbers and funding bodies.

Data availability statement required. You must include a Data Availability Statement in the manuscript. MDPI lists recommended statements, for example "The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request." and "The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/supplementary material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author(s)."

ORCID is strongly recommended. MDPI strongly recommends that authors have an ORCID account. The ORCID can be added in the submission system and is shown in the final paper with an icon linking to the ORCID profile. The instructions do not make it mandatory.

No supplementary-only results. Keep all essential results in the main text. Supplementary materials should contain supporting data, not primary findings. Reviewers may flag papers where important results are only in supplementary files.

Open access and APCs. Applied Sciences is fully open access, and there's an article processing charge (APC) upon acceptance. The APC doesn't affect the formatting requirements, but it's worth knowing about before submission. MDPI's APC page lists discount and waiver routes through institutional agreements, reviewer vouchers, and invited submissions.

Special issue submissions. Many Applied Sciences publications are part of Special Issues, which are organized by guest editors. The formatting requirements are identical regardless of whether you're submitting to the open journal or a Special Issue.

A standard Applied Sciences research article follows this order:

The section structure is flexible. You can combine Results and Discussion, add subsections as needed, and adjust section titles to fit your content. Numbered sections are standard.

If you are migrating a manuscript from another publisher, these are the axes where Applied Sciences (MDPI) diverges most from the conventions you may carry over from Nature, Science, or JACS.

Source: MDPI, Nature Portfolio, AAAS, and ACS author guidelines, accessed June 2026.

For manuscripts targeting Applied Sciences (Basel), four patterns generate the most consistent desk-rejection outcomes.

MDPI template not used. Applied Sciences encourages the MDPI article template in either Word or LaTeX and says it substantially shortens copy-editing time, but it accepts free format at first submission. Manuscripts that skip the template still have to be reformatted to the journal guidelines when they reach the revision stage, and the Editorial Office's technical pre-check looks at adherence to the Instructions for Authors.

Reference list uses full journal titles. MDPI cites journals with ISO 4 abbreviations (for example "Appl. Sci." for Applied Sciences), and full journal names left in the reference list have to be corrected or abbreviated by the Editorial Office. Authors migrating a manuscript from a publisher that spells out journal names commonly carry those full titles over from their citation manager preset.

ORCID not provided. MDPI strongly recommends that authors have an ORCID iD, which can be added in the submission system. The instructions do not make it mandatory, so a missing ORCID is a missed opportunity rather than a ground for return.

Cover letter omits subject area. Applied Sciences handles a high volume of submissions across engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, and biology. Cover letters that do not specify the relevant subject area face slower triage and a higher rate of desk rejection for poor fit, as the editorial team cannot efficiently route the paper across so broad a multidisciplinary scope.

In our pre-submission review work, naming the matching Special Issue or section editor and stating the manuscript's primary subject category measurably shortens the technical-check-to-editor handoff and reduces scope-mismatch returns before peer review even begins.

A Applied Sciences (Basel) submission readiness check evaluates manuscript template compliance, reference formatting, ORCID completeness, and scope alignment against these desk-rejection patterns.