1. Introduction
The Universal Scholar Journal (Multidisciplinary Research Journal) is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to publishing high-quality, original research across diverse disciplines. The journal aims to promote interdisciplinary knowledge, innovation, and global academic collaboration.
2. Aims and Scope
The journal publishes scholarly work from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to:
- Social Sciences
- Management and Commerce
- Engineering and Technology
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Humanities and Education
The journal encourages interdisciplinary and innovative research that contributes to academic and practical advancements.
3. Editorial Independence
The editorial board maintains full independence in decision-making. All editorial decisions are based solely on:
- Academic merit
- Originality
- Relevance to journal scope
- Clarity and quality of research
No commercial, institutional, or personal interests influence editorial decisions.
4. Peer Review Policy
The journal follows a Double-Blind Peer Review process:
- Authors and reviewers remain anonymous
- Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts
Review outcomes may include:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject
The editorial board ensures a fair, unbiased, and timely review process.
5. Publication Ethics
The journal adheres to ethical standards inspired by best practices of organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Authors must ensure:
- Original and unpublished work
- Proper citation of sources
- No plagiarism (similarity index should be within acceptable limits)
- No data fabrication or falsification
- Disclosure of conflicts of interest
Editors and reviewers must ensure:
- Confidentiality of manuscripts
- Objective evaluation
- No misuse of unpublished data
6. Plagiarism Policy
All submissions are checked using plagiarism detection tools.
- Acceptable similarity: ≤10–15% (excluding references)
- Manuscripts exceeding limits may be returned for correction or rejected
- Strict action is taken in cases of plagiarism or ethical misconduct
7. Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have:
- Contributed significantly to the research
- Participated in drafting or revising the manuscript
- Approved the final version
- All co-authors must agree to submission and publication
8. Conflict of Interest
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that may influence the research or its evaluation.
9. Data Availability Policy
Authors are encouraged to:
- Provide access to research data where possible
- Clearly state data sources
- Ensure transparency and reproducibility
- Data availability statements may be published alongside accepted manuscripts
10. Open Access Policy
- Free and immediate access to all published articles
- No subscription barriers
- Wider dissemination of knowledge
11. Copyright Policy
- Authors retain copyright of their work
- The journal is granted publishing rights
- Articles may be distributed under appropriate licensing terms (e.g., Creative Commons)
12. Corrections and Retractions
The journal takes responsibility for maintaining the integrity of published content.
- Corrections are issued for minor errors
- Retractions are issued in cases of ethical violations, data manipulation, or serious errors
13. Editorial Board Responsibilities
- Ensures quality and integrity of publications
- Oversees peer review process
- Maintains transparency and ethical standards
- Promotes academic excellence
14. Publication Frequency
The journal publishes issues on a monthly basis. Special issues may also be released on emerging topics.
15. Archiving Policy
- Institutional repositories
- Digital archiving systems
- Online database indexing
16. Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the journal or its editorial board.
17. Contact Information