Guidelines for Authors

Welcome to the Author Guidelines hub for the Ho Chi Minh City Open University Journal of Science (HCMCOUJS). This page brings together everything you need at each stage of preparing and submitting a manuscript. Each section links to a dedicated guide - please review the relevant pages before you submit.

1. Before You Submit

• Article Types and Manuscript Structure - check which article type fits your work and its required structure, word count, and reference range;
• Authorship - criteria for who qualifies as an author and how contributions should be declared;
• Author Responsibilities - authors are responsible for ensuring honesty, transparency, and integrity throughout the entire process.

2. Preparing Your Manuscript

• Manuscript Preparation - general guidance on structuring and writing your manuscript;
• Author Guidelines on Manuscript Formatting Requirements - detailed formatting rules (headings, tables, figures, references) following APA 7th Edition.

3. Submission Package & Process

• Submission Package - the full set of documents required (Title Page, Cover Letter, Author Declaration & Statement Form, Main Manuscript, etc.);
• Submission Process - step-by-step walkthrough of submitting through the OJS system;
• Author Submission Checklist - final checklist to confirm before completing your submission in the OJS system.

4. Select the Appropriate Specialized Journal

HCMCOUJS comprises several specialized journals, publishing manuscripts in both English and Vietnamese. Please choose the journal matching your field of research before submitting:

5. Track Manuscript Status

Authors can monitor the status of a submitted manuscript online through the system of the specialized journal they submitted to. Use the ID number the system provides after submission to track its progress.

Authors should also review the journal's publishing policies to ensure compliance with all requirements and deadlines. To keep the review process effective, fair, and consistent, manuscripts rejected at desk review are normally resolved within 15 working days. Manuscripts that enter full peer review have a target processing time of about 120 working days (a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 211 working days), depending on the number of review rounds and how quickly authors revise — see the estimated manuscript processing timeline.