How to Submit to Scientific Reports: Process, Timeline & APC Guide

Decision cue: If you need a yes/no submission call today, compare your draft with 3 recent accepted papers from this journal and only submit when scope, methods depth, and claim strength line up.

Related: How to choose a journal • How to avoid desk rejection • Pre-submission checklist

Scientific Reports is one of the easiest high-volume journals to publish in, with a 36% acceptance rate and straightforward submission process. If you're preparing your first submission, here's what happens at each stage and how to avoid common mistakes.

Quick Facts

• Acceptance rate: ~36%
• Median time to decision: 30-40 days
• Article processing charge: $2,490 (€2,290, £1,990)
• Desk rejection rate: ~20%
• Impact Factor: 3.8 (2024)
• Scope: Any field of natural or clinical sciences

Submission Timeline

Here's what to expect:

• Initial check: 1-3 days (formatting, completeness)
• Editorial screening: 5-10 days (desk rejection happens here)
• Reviewer assignment: 7-14 days
• First decision: 30-40 days total

Revision timeline:

• Major revision: 60-90 days (your choice)
• Minor revision: 14-21 days (your choice)
• Resubmission to decision: 14-28 days

Step-by-Step Process

1. Prepare Your Manuscript

Scientific Reports uses a simple format:

Required sections:

• Abstract (no word limit, but keep it under 300 words)
• Introduction
• Results
• Discussion
• Methods
• References
• Figure legends

Optional sections:

• Data availability statement (highly recommended)
• Code availability statement (if applicable)
• Acknowledgements
• Author contributions
• Competing interests

Key difference from other Nature journals: Methods go at the END, not after Introduction. Don't put them in the wrong place.

2. Format Your Figures

This is where most people waste time fixing things after submission:

Requirements:

• File format: TIFF, EPS, or PDF (high resolution)
• Resolution: 300-600 dpi minimum
• Color: RGB (not CMYK)
• File size: Under 20 MB per figure
• Labels: Large enough to read when reduced (min 7pt font)

Figure panels:

• Label each panel (A, B, C, etc.)
• Make labels consistent (all uppercase or all lowercase)
• Include scale bars where relevant

If your figures don't meet specs, they'll bounce the submission back to you. That adds 3-5 days.

3. Write Your Title and Abstract

Title guidelines:

• No word limit, but keep it under 20 words
• Avoid abbreviations
• Don't use "novel" or "new" (everything submitted should be new)

Abstract structure:

• What you did (1-2 sentences)
• What you found (3-4 sentences)
• Why it matters (1-2 sentences)

Scientific Reports doesn't require structured abstracts (no subheadings). Just write it as one clear paragraph.

4. Submit Through Editorial Manager

Go to scientificreports.com and click "Submit manuscript."

You'll need:

• All author names, emails, affiliations
• Suggested reviewers (3-5 recommended)
• Opposed reviewers (optional, up to 4)
• Cover letter (optional but recommended)
• ORCID IDs (optional but encouraged)

Suggested reviewers:

• Must have published in your topic in last 3 years
• Can't be collaborators or co-authors
• Should work at different institutions
• Include their email addresses

Cover letter:

You don't need one, but it helps. Keep it to 200 words:

• One sentence: what you found
• One sentence: why it's scientifically sound
• One sentence: why readers will care

Don't waste space on flattery. The editors know their journal is good.

5. What Happens After Submission

Day 1-3: Technical check

Editorial staff verify:

• Files are readable
• All sections are present
• Ethics statements are complete
• Figures meet technical specs

If something's missing, you'll get an email to fix it.

Day 3-10: Editorial screening

An editor reads your paper to check:

• Is it scientifically sound?
• Does it fit the scope?
• Are the conclusions supported by the data?

Desk rejection happens here if:

• Methods are obviously flawed
• Results don't support the claims
• Scope doesn't fit (opinion pieces, pure reviews, etc.)
• Writing is too unclear to evaluate

Day 10-25: Reviewer assignment

The editor invites 2-3 reviewers. Finding willing reviewers takes time:

• They invite 6-10 people to get 2-3 acceptances
• Popular fields move faster (more available reviewers)
• Niche topics take longer (smaller reviewer pool)

Day 25-40: Peer review

Reviewers get 10 days officially. Most take 14-21 days. Once all reviews are in, the editor makes a decision.

Understanding Decisions

Accept (5-8%): Rare on first submission. Usually only resubmissions after minor revision.

Minor revision (15-20%): Small fixes needed (clarify methods, add controls, fix figures). If you get this, you're very likely to be accepted after resubmission.

Major revision (30-40%): Bigger issues (add experiments, restructure paper, address reviewer concerns). Most get accepted if you address the concerns properly.

Reject (35-45%): Paper doesn't meet standards. You can appeal, but it rarely works unless reviewers made factual errors.

Article Processing Charges

Standard APC: $2,490 (€2,290 or £1,990)

This covers:

• Open access publication
• Professional copyediting
• Unlimited figures and tables
• Supplementary materials
• DOI assignment
• Archiving

When you pay: After acceptance, before publication. Invoice comes within 48 hours of acceptance.

Waivers available: Yes, for authors in low-income countries (World Bank Group A). Automatic if you're corresponding author from an eligible country.

Full waiver list here

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays

1. Methods in Wrong Place

Scientific Reports wants Methods at the END, after Discussion. If you put them after Introduction (like most journals), the editors will send it back.

Fix: Read the author guidelines template before formatting.

2. Missing Data Availability Statement

This is technically optional but practically required. If you don't include one, reviewers will ask for it, which delays your decision by 30+ days.

What to include:

• Where your data is stored (repository name + accession numbers)
• If data is restricted, why (privacy, commercial agreements, etc.)
• How readers can access it

3. Poor Figure Quality

Low-resolution figures get flagged immediately. Use:

• 300+ dpi for photos and microscopy
• 600+ dpi for graphs and line art
• Vector format (EPS, PDF) for plots whenever possible

4. Vague Cover Letters

If you skip the cover letter or write generic fluff ("We are pleased to submit..."), you're missing a chance to frame your paper.

Better approach:

Tell the editor exactly what's scientifically sound about your work. Did you use validated methods? Appropriate controls? Large sample size? Statistical rigor?

That's what they're screening for at desk rejection stage.

How This Compares to PLOS ONE

Scientific Reports is slightly more selective but faster and higher impact. If you can afford an extra $200, it's worth trying here first.

Should You Get Pre-Submission Review?

Most papers submitted to Scientific Reports don't need pre-review because:

• 36% acceptance rate is decent
• Scope is broad (anything scientifically sound)
• Desk rejection rate is manageable (20%)

But you should consider it if:

• You've been rejected from higher-impact journals and don't know why
• Your methods have gaps you're unsure how to address
• Reviewers previously criticized your statistical approach
• You're submitting here as a backup after multiple rejections

After Acceptance

Once accepted, Scientific Reports moves fast:

• Production editing: 7-10 days
• Proof review: 3-5 days (you review formatted version)
• Publication: 1-2 days after approving proofs

Total time from acceptance to online: 10-17 days.

Your paper gets:

• Immediate DOI
• Listed on nature.com/srep
• Indexed in PubMed Central (within 2-4 weeks)
• Google Scholar (within 1-2 weeks)

For typical review timelines at Scientific Reports, see Scientific Reports review time.

Sources

• Journal official submission and author guidelines
• Author experience data from SciRev and journal tracker communities
• Editorial policies published on journal homepage
• Pre-Submission Checklist , 25-point audit before you submit

The Bottom Line

Scientific Reports has a clear bar: methodological soundness and accurate reporting. Papers that clear desk review typically have clean methods sections, proper data reporting, and no statistical red flags. If yours does, the process is predictable. If it doesn't, peer reviewers will find it. Know your paper's status before you commit to the queue.

See also

• Scientific Reports Impact Factor 2026
• Scientific Reports Review Time
• Is Scientific Reports a Good Journal?