Science Advances Under Review: What the Status Means and What to Expect

Total to first decision: 6-12 weeks from submission. Papers at the borderline of the journal's scope (questions of breadth, not just quality) tend toward the longer end because reviewer recruitment is harder.

Science Advances uses active research scientists as academic editors, not full-time professional editors. This structural difference matters for your timeline. Academic editors handle manuscripts alongside their own research, which can add 1-2 weeks to the desk stage relative to professional-editor journals like Nature Communications.

The desk-rejection rate is roughly 40% of all submissions. Papers that are desk-rejected typically see a decision in 2-4 weeks. Papers that survive the desk move to external review, which is where the 6-12 week window applies.

Passing the desk at Science Advances is the meaningful threshold. The AAAS academic editor has decided the work is potentially significant enough for peer review. That judgment is specific to Science Advances' requirement for broad interdisciplinary significance, not just technical quality.

Yes, if the timing is right. Here is how to read the clock:

• Under Evaluation for less than 2 weeks: Could still be at the desk stage. No conclusion yet.
• Under Evaluation for 3-4 weeks: Probably past the desk. Likely in reviewer recruitment or active review.
• Under Evaluation for 4+ weeks: Almost certainly in external peer review. A positive sign at Science Advances given the desk rejection rate.
• Under Evaluation for 8+ weeks: Normal for papers in active review. Reviewer report collection often runs 4-6 weeks.
• Under Evaluation for 12+ weeks: Longer than typical. A polite inquiry is appropriate.

Wait at least 8 weeks from submission before contacting the editor. When you do:

• Email the handling editor (listed in your submission portal)
• Keep it brief: request a status update, do not express frustration
• One follow-up per 4-week interval is the standard norm

Science Advances does not offer an author query hotline. The submission system is the only channel.

If the paper passes external review, the next status is Decision Pending. From there:

• Reject: You will receive reviewer reports. Resubmission to a different journal with the reviews can be useful.
• Major revision: Expect to address 3-5 substantive reviewer concerns. Revision windows at Science Advances are typically 2-3 months.
• Minor revision: Usually resolved in 1-2 months.
• Accept: Rare without at least one revision round for papers at the top of the quality distribution.

If you are preparing a revision, a pre-submission review on the revised manuscript can assess whether the response to reviewers is complete before you resubmit.