Submission Guidelines

What we look for, and how to format your work.

Read this before you start writing — most of what we send back for revision is covered here.

Who can submit

Any student in the secondary school. You do not need a teacher to submit on your behalf — you can send work in yourself.

Note the difference: submitting an article to the journal you do yourself, but taking part in the forum is arranged through a teacher, who registers you and supports the research. If you are not sure who to speak to, get in touch.

What we accept

  • Research review — the main format. A question, the evidence, and what it adds up to.
  • Case commentary — a published case, and what it illustrates.
  • Opinion piece — an argued position on something contested.
  • Student perspective — a short, personal piece about the experience of studying or encountering medicine.

Length and format

  • 500–3,000 words, excluding references.
  • A Word document (.doc or .docx). PDF is accepted but harder to edit.
  • Put your name and year group at the top of the document as well as in the form.
  • Double-spaced, 11 or 12 point, pages numbered.
  • An abstract of up to 250 words for research reviews.

Referencing

APA or MLA — either, consistently. Reference the primary source rather than something that cites it. Every reference in the list must appear in the text and the other way round. Our resources include worked examples of both styles.

Structure that usually works

  1. A title that states the question.
  2. An abstract: question, what the evidence shows, what it means.
  3. Background — enough for a reader who does not know the field.
  4. The evidence, organised by theme rather than one paper per paragraph.
  5. Limitations — what your sources cannot tell you.
  6. Conclusion — an answer, hedged as firmly or as cautiously as the evidence allows.
  7. References.

What gets sent back

  • Claims with no source behind them.
  • Conclusions stated far more confidently than the evidence supports.
  • Reference lists that do not match the citations in the text.
  • A summary of one paper, rather than a review of a question.

What happens next

Read the peer review process for what follows. In short: two editors read it, you get written feedback within about three weeks, and most accepted pieces are asked to revise something before publication.

Submit an article

Frequently asked

Who can submit to Medical Review?
Any secondary or undergraduate student anywhere in the world. You do not need to be affiliated with NLCS Jeju.
How long should my article be?
Between 500 and 3,000 words, depending on the format. Research reviews sit at the longer end; commentaries are usually shorter.
How long does review take?
Most submissions receive a first response within three weeks.
Is there a fee to publish?
No. Medical Review is open access and free for both readers and authors.
Does my child need to be studying biology already?
No. Curiosity matters more than prior coursework. Students have come from across the sciences and from humanities subjects too.
How much time does it take?
Most students spend an hour or two a week over a term. The research is designed to fit around school work rather than compete with it.
Is there a cost to take part?
No. Taking part in the forum and being published in the journal are both free.
How does a student enter?
Through a teacher, who registers the student and supports them through the research. If you are not sure who to speak to, get in touch and we will point you to the right person.
What do students get out of it?
A finished piece of research, experience presenting it, and for many a published article they can point to later.