I went back to my university where I did my first degree and met some of the professors who taught me to discuss my career plans and seek their advice on how to make my next PhD applications successful. One of them advised me to do small-scale research, write it up and try to publish it in an academic journal.

In fact I have come up with some research ideas that I want to implement. But I am wondering whether academic journals will accept research articles by MPhil or PhD students? What do you think?

Yes they will.

If the work is to a high enough standard then it doesn't matter who submits the article.

Thank you for your reply, Timmy. I will try and hope I can make it. Thanks!

These are on my wish list, thought they may be of interest:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/141295701X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2BMQ2JEBMRDH3&coliid=IR7MRF8UADPH8

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0415809312/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2BMQ2JEBMRDH3&coliid=IWNY7X4O2P4PW

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0335234585/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2BMQ2JEBMRDH3&coliid=ILAKNMV1DFPLV

Yes journals will accept submissions from students as well as post-docs and experienced academics. A bigger question is whether a student could produce work of enough depth and analysis to be deemed publication worthy by the anonymous reviewers. Your work will need to be of an extremely good standard. But give it a go!

I had 2 journal papers (peer-reviewed) published during my part-time PhD. Sole authored by me (history student), in a subject area where sole authorship is normal. On the downside sole authorship means you take all responsibility for the submission. And peer review can be really tough - be prepared to get really tough feedback! It can be much harder than e.g. feedback from a PhD supervisor. It is common for example to be offered revise and resubmit, where you are told lots of things that are wrong with your paper, and given tips, often not necessarily too clear, on how to fix it. Don't be depressed. View this as having a foot holding the door open, make the changes, and resubmit. You have a very good chance of being accepted.

In social sciences and humanities it is not uncommon to publish papers from your Masters thesis. I suggest this as a nore doable route than new research as MA dissertations have been graded and received feedback and you already know the work.

Thank you all for your replies. The books seem very useful to me. I will go back to my university library to borrow them after work today. haha!

To make my CV look better, I am thinking about submitting a paper to a local academic journal. Perhaps it is easier for me to publish it in a local academic journal than an international one. Also, co-authorship is common in academia. Should I work on a paper with my supervisor or other academics ? Would there be a higher chance of the paper being published in an international academic journal?

I am not so sure about the difference between peer-reviewed journals and academic journals. Which one counts more?

Peer reviewing is where your article, anonymised, is sent out to at least 2 other academics to read, critique, and recommend to the editor whether to accept it.

An academic journal that is peer reviewed is regarded more highly on CVs than one that isn't. Your article is deemed to have gone through a more rigorous selection process, and the subsequent publication is therefore viewed as more impressive and worthy. Generally you should submit to a peer reviewed academic journal. If in doubt contact the editor to see if they do peer review.

As I said peer review can be a tough process. It can also take quite some time. So get submitting as soon as reasonably possible. Journal publication can be a very slow process.

Thank you, BilboBaggins.