Peer review
We want the best for your project. We’ve designed a review process that enables you to develop your work through guidance from our commissioning editors, and recommendations from peer reviewers and the UCL Press Editorial Board. The peer review process is rigorous, and our commissioning editors aim to establish an early collaborative relationship with you so we can be supportive throughout.
Peer review prior to contract
1. When you and your commissioning editor agree that your proposal is ready for review, they’ll send the proposal and any draft materials or chapters (also, the full manuscript if available) to at least two reviewers who are experts in your field for feedback. Completing the review process can take between six weeks and three months depending on the subject area, the availability of reviewers and the length of the material, but we always aim to get comments to you as quickly as possible.
2. On receipt of the reviews, you’ll be invited to respond to them by answering any questions posed by the comments and explaining how you’ll address any suggestions for improvement. Depending on the feedback, you might be required to submit a revised proposal to your commissioning editor.
3. The commissioning editor will present your project to the Editorial Board for a decision on whether to offer a contract for your book. The Monographs Editorial Board meets every month and the Textbook Board meet every two months.
a. If the Board is encouraged by the reviews and your response to them, we’ll award a contract.
b. If the reviews are negative, the reviewers have conflicting opinions or the Board members have questions about your response to the reviews, they’ll discuss how to proceed. You may be invited to revise further the proposal or manuscript, in which case the updated material may be reviewed again before the Board makes a final decision.
In recognition of the work that goes into reviewing a proposal or manuscript, we offer all reviewers a fee. The fee is determined by the amount of material to be reviewed and the required turnaround time.
A proposal can be declined by UCL Press at any point in the consideration process.
Peer review of manuscripts for contracted books
It’s important that your book is well received by its intended readership. To ensure this, and to fulfil our role in the development of your project, we send manuscripts of contracted books for peer review before we proceed to production. We seek one review at this stage, preferably from one of the experts who reviewed the proposal. Your commissioning editor will ask you to comment on any revisions suggested by the reviewer and to carry out the agreed changes.