Journal Guide
Applied Sciences Impact Factor 2.5: Publishing Guide
Applied research across engineering, materials, and technology development
2.5
Impact Factor (2024)
~50-60%
Acceptance Rate
~60-90 days median
Time to First Decision
What Appl. Sci. Publishes
Applied Sciences published by MDPI is an open-access multidisciplinary journal covering applied research across engineering, materials, technology, and related fields. With JIF 2.5 and broad Q2-Q3 coverage, AS emphasizes research with practical application. The journal publishes research on materials engineering, mechanical systems, control, and technology development. Critically: Applied Sciences values work addressing practical problems with functional solutions. Pure theoretical analysis without application context is less competitive. The journal seeks papers showing how research advances real-world technology.
- Materials engineering: polymers, composites, ceramics, coatings
- Mechanical engineering: design, optimization, mechanical systems
- Control systems: automation, robotics, intelligent control
- Manufacturing and processing: industrial processes, production technology
- Environmental technology: pollution control, waste management, remediation
- Energy systems: renewable energy, power generation, energy efficiency
- Chemical engineering: process design, catalysis, separation
- Instrumentation and measurement: sensors, testing, characterization
Editor Insight
“Applied Sciences publishes engineering and applied research advancing real-world technology. We seek novel materials or systems with demonstrated practical utility and clear path to implementation.”
What Appl. Sci. Editors Look For
Novel approach or material solving practical engineering problem
Present technology or material addressing real application need. Improved mechanical properties? Better environmental performance? Enhanced manufacturing efficiency? Show practical utility and quantify benefits.
Complete characterization and performance validation
Rigorously characterize material or system: mechanical properties, thermal behavior, chemical stability as relevant. Validate performance under realistic conditions. Testing in relevant application context essential.
Design methodology and optimization for practical implementation
Show design thinking and optimization approach. How were parameters selected? What design constraints were addressed? Engineering methodology strengthens papers.
Economic and manufacturability feasibility assessment
Address production cost and manufacturing feasibility. Can this be made at scale? What equipment and skills required? Practical manufacturability crucial.
Comparison with existing solutions and clear advantages
Show how your approach outperforms conventional alternatives. What advantages justify adoption? Cost-benefit analysis strengthens positioning.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Appl. Sci.'s editorial review:
Material or design development without practical application context
Applied Sciences expects application relevance. Developing material with interesting properties without showing how it solves real engineering problem is insufficient.
Laboratory-scale results without manufacturability discussion
Show how material or system can be scaled to practical production. Lab-scale without manufacturing pathway has limited real-world impact.
Incomplete performance characterization
Rigorous testing under relevant conditions essential. Partial characterization or testing under non-realistic conditions weakens papers.
No economic or cost analysis
Engineering decisions driven by cost. Show material or system cost relative to performance and compare with existing solutions.
Weak comparison with state-of-the-art
Show quantitatively how your material or approach compares with current commercial or academic solutions.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Appl. Sci.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Appl. Sci. Authors
Sustainable materials and green engineering increasingly competitive
Materials with environmental benefits (biodegradable, recycled, low-impact manufacturing) align with sustainability priorities.
Industry-relevant materials like composites and high-performance polymers valued
Materials with proven industrial applications or addressing manufacturing challenges receive strong editorial interest.
Novel processing methods enabling cost or performance improvements competitive
Manufacturing innovations improving efficiency or reducing cost have practical industrial relevance.
Functional materials (smart, responsive, multi-functional) trending
Materials with active properties or multi-functional behavior increasingly competitive.
Life-cycle assessment and sustainability metrics increasingly important
Papers addressing full environmental impact over product lifetime more competitive than short-term benefits alone.
The Appl. Sci. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep5,000-8,000 words with 5-7 figures. Include material/system description, complete characterization data, performance testing under realistic conditions, manufacturability discussion, economic analysis, and comparison with alternatives.
Submission via MDPI system
Day 0Submit at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/. Required: manuscript emphasizing practical application and advantages, figures showing characterization and performance, cover letter highlighting novelty.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses practical relevance and novelty. Papers lacking application context or manufacturability discussion face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~15-25%.
Peer review
60-90 days2-3 engineering experts assess novelty, characterization rigor, practical significance. First decision 60-90 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 2-4 weeksRevisions often request additional testing or cost analysis. Publication 1-3 weeks after acceptance (fast MDPI OA).
Appl. Sci. by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 2.9 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 3.1 |
| Acceptance rate | ~50-60% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~15-25% |
| Median first decision | ~75 days |
| Open access APC | ~$1,800-2,200 |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Founded | 2013 |
Before you submit
Appl. Sci. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Appl. Sci.. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Research Article
5,000-8,000 wordsApplied technology or material with characterization and testing
Review
7,000-12,000 wordsApplied engineering topic review
Landmark Appl. Sci. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Novel polymer composites (various) - improved structural materials
- Manufacturing process innovations (various) - efficiency improvements
- Smart material development (2010s+) - responsive functional materials
- Sustainable material alternatives (2010s+) - green engineering solutions
Preparing a Appl. Sci. Submission?
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Primary Fields
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