Academic Publishing Support Programme 2026
APSP supports early career RSC members in publishing by providing resources, guidance, and mentorship.
When your schedule is full, it can be challenging to carve out time to raise your profile, publish your research, and establish a strong reputation in the field of chemical sciences.
This is where the Academic Publishing Support Programme (APSP) comes into play.
The programme aims to support RSC members who are early career researchers (such as yourself) through offering dedicated resources, guidance, and mentorship. By providing support for publishing in our high impact journals, you will have the opportunity to share your research with a global community of chemical science professionals. Together, we will work towards expanding your publication portfolio and propelling your career forward.
Why join the programme?
By joining the programme, you get access to:
- One-to-one mentorship from an RSC Associate Editor for eligible participants
- Access to dedicated publishing resources and videos
- Helpful advice from RSC teams about every step of the submission/publication process
- Key contacts within RSC journals
- Future opportunities to get involved with the RSC
The APSP module list
During the programme, you'll have access to exclusive content designed to support your publishing journey with the RSC.
Module 1: Where to start
RSC journals - choose the right one for you
Explore a range of resources and informative webpages designed to help you identify the most suitable journal for publishing your research.
Understanding the manuscript journey
Learn about the manuscript journey through submission to publication at the RSC.
What do our editors do?
Gain a deeper understanding of how our editors handle your research throughout the manuscript submission and review process.
Careers in academia
Whether you're beginning your PhD or thinking about your next step as a postdoctoral researcher, learn about the different roles available in academia through our resources.
RSC Mentorloop
Eligible cohort members can access information and guidance on using RSC Mentorloop to connect with a mentor during the programme.
Module 2: Hints and tips from the editors
Preparing your paper
Discover valuable insights and practical advice from publishing experts to help you effectively prepare your research paper.
Beginning your mentorship
Eligible cohort members can embark on their mentoring journey and receive valuable guidance and support throughout the upcoming months of the programme.
Module 3: Open Access
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Open Access and discover everything you need to know about the RSC's Open Access processes through various resources in this module.
Module 4: After peer review
Handling article feedback
Access guidance on effectively responding to reviewer comments and gain a clear understanding of the RSC's appeal process.
Transferring journals
Gain a better understanding of the reasons behind journal transfers and how they can enhance the visibility and impact of your research.
Peer review
Learn how to apply to become a reviewer at the RSC, deliver high-quality feedback, and develop the skills to excel as an outstanding reviewer.
Making your research visible
Access expert guidance on how to extend the reach of your published research. You will also learn about the promotional services offered by RSC journals and gain valuable tips from RSC professionals to enhance your visibility and impact within the scientific community.
Journal prizes and awards
Explore the range of prizes and awards offered across RSC journals, including the criteria and steps required for consideration.
Mentorship
Eligible members will be offered the opportunity to receive personal mentoring from an academic researcher who is an active handling editor working on an RSC journal. This opportunity is targeted at those who are actively writing research papers and have some limited publishing experience already - generally at post-PhD level.
The APSP team will reach out to eligible members during the first month of the programme to discuss this further.
Joining Instructions
The main modules of APSP are hosted on RSC Pathfinder, a benefit, exclusive to RSC members, that offers a clear, easy-to-navigate interface for managing your professional development. Register your interest for APSP using the "book now" link at the top of this entry, and once the registration period closes we will add you to the relevant private RSC Pathfinder modules. You will receive email notifications once this is completed.