Special issues – frequently asked questions (FAQs)

If you wish to contribute to a special issue, please visit the journal's submission website and select the special issue you are interested in, as well as the correct article type you are submitting. The article type of a special issue is detailed in the call for papers page linked at the end of your invitation letter.

An overview of all open special issues can be found here opens in new tab/window. You can browse through all currently open special issues and search by keywords to see if your current research fits any special issues. Please read the call for papers announcement carefully before submitting your article to ensure that your research aligns with the aims and scope of the special issue in question.

For more information about all our journals, please visit the relevant journal’s submission website. This page will guide you to the journal pages that fit your research area. Alternatively, you can also access the homepage of the journal you are interested in via sciencedirect.com/browse/calls-for-papers opens in new tab/window or through a search engine.

Please read the call for papers announcement on the relevant journal homepage where you can view the open special issue topics, special issue scope, and related keywords.

For journals which support both open access and subscription article publications (known as “hybrid journals”), you are free to choose either option for publishing your research. NB though you are asked to indicate if you want to publish open access at an early stage of the submission process, you do not need to make a final decision on this aspect until the manuscript is accepted. No publication fee will be charged if your article is published under the subscription model. The publication model choice will have no effect on the peer review process or acceptance of your submission.

Many special issues offer discounted article publishing charges (APCs) in gold open access journals. If you have received an invitation from Elsevier to submit to a special issue, any discount available will usually be mentioned in the invitation email. Upon submission, you will be able to see the exact amount you will need to pay if your manuscript is accepted into the journal.

Discounts from the list price can vary depending on any agreement(s) between your research institute and Elsevier. More information on these agreements can be found here. Depending on your geographical location, you might receive significant discounts for certain Elsevier gold open access journals. Further details on our Geographical Pricing Pilot can be found here.

Once you submit your article, you will always see the highest discount that is applicable for you, based on your location and institution. If you, have any questions concerning article publishing support, click here. opens in new tab/window Please note that our support team does not make preliminary determinations of waiver eligibility: APC waivers/discounts are assessed only after acceptance. For more information, please visit: elsevier.com/connect/a-helping-hand-with-your-open-access-journey.

Journals that have an Impact Factor and/or CiteScore display these metrics on their homepage. Additionally, under the about/journal insights link (please see image below the FAQ), you can find a full list of abstracting and indexing services in which the journal is registered.

The deadline for submission is usually mentioned in the call for papers of each special issue hosted on the journal call for papers webpage and in the invitation email to authors. You can also find information about all open special issues and their submission deadlines at sciencedirect.com/browse/calls-for-papers opens in new tab/window.

We are sorry to hear you are experiencing technical issues. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Support Center opens in new tab/window for assistance or visit our author support page.

We understand that receiving a rejection can be disheartening. To help you navigate this situation, please refer to this article for guidance on what steps you can take next.

If you no longer want to receive invitations from Elsevier, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the invitation email.