The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) publishes original research, focused investigations, clinical cases, scholarly reflections, invited reviews, interviews, and substantive correspondence.
Authors must select the article type that most accurately reflects the manuscript’s purpose, design, scope, and content. Selecting a shorter article type does not permit incomplete methods, partial analyses, fragmented findings, or insufficient reporting.
This page is the authoritative source for article-type-specific requirements. General instructions concerning files, masking, authorship, CRediT contributions, ORCID, references, tables, figures, ethics, and online submission are provided on the linked author-guidance pages.
| Start a New Submission |
| Article type | Primary purpose | Submission status |
|---|---|---|
| Original Research | Complete original research, including systematic reviews with meta-analysis. | Open submission |
| Short Communication | Complete original research with a narrower scope or more concise presentation. | Open submission |
| Case Report | A patient case or small case series with a clear clinical, scientific, ethical, or educational contribution. | Open submission |
| Review | A critical synthesis of literature, including narrative, scoping, or systematic reviews without meta-analysis. | Invitation only |
| Experience | Critical reflection on an academic, clinical, research, educational, community, or professional experience. | Open submission |
| Interview | A structured scholarly discussion with a relevant clinician, researcher, educator, policymaker, editor, or leader. | Prior approval recommended |
| Letter to the Editor | Substantive commentary on an article in the current or immediately preceding issue. | Open submission |
| Down | Top |
| If the manuscript primarily... | Choose | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Reports a complete original research study | Original Research | Includes systematic reviews with meta-analysis. |
| Reports a complete but narrowly focused, smaller, pilot, or preliminary study | Short Communication | Methods, results, and interpretation must remain complete. |
| Describes an important patient case or small case series | Case Report | Requires a clear learning point and appropriate consent. |
| Synthesizes literature without conducting a meta-analysis | Review | Invitation only. |
| Critically reflects on a meaningful academic or professional experience | Experience | Must include analysis and transferable lessons. |
| Presents a structured discussion with an expert or leader | Interview | Prior editorial approval is recommended. |
| Comments on a recently published IJMS article | Letter to the Editor | Must address the current or immediately preceding issue. |
Not sure? Review the Aims and Scope or contact the Journal before submitting. The Editorial Team may reclassify a manuscript when another article type more accurately reflects its content.
| Down | Up | Top |
Original Researchs present complete and methodologically rigorous research addressing a defined scientific, clinical, educational, epidemiological, public-health, translational, laboratory, or health-systems question.
| Submission status | Open submission |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract of no more than 250 words |
| Keywords | At least three |
| Senior researcher | |
| Reporting guideline | Required as appropriate to the study design |
| Visual element | At least one figure, flow diagram, graphical summary, or other meaningful visual presentation should be included |
The abstract should ordinarily use the following headings:
Use the reporting guideline applicable to the study design. Examples include:
| Study design | Common reporting guideline |
|---|---|
| Randomized trial | CONSORT |
| Observational study | STROBE |
| Systematic review and meta-analysis | PRISMA |
| Diagnostic-accuracy study | STARD |
| Qualitative research | COREQ or SRQR |
| Quality-improvement study | SQUIRE |
| Prediction-model study | TRIPOD |
| Animal research | ARRIVE |
A systematic review is considered an Original Research only when it includes a meta-analysis. A systematic review without meta-analysis is classified as a Review and is considered by invitation only.
| Down | Up | Top |
Short Communications present complete original research with a focused question, narrower scope, smaller dataset, preliminary nature, or more concise presentation than an Original Research.
A Short Communication must remain a complete scholarly report. It is not appropriate for incomplete analyses, fragmented findings, isolated descriptive results without interpretation, or manuscripts lacking sufficient methodological information.
| Submission status | Open submission |
|---|---|
| Abstract | No more than 250 words |
| Keywords | At least three |
| Senior researcher | |
| Reporting standards | The guideline appropriate to the study design |
The distinction is based primarily on scope and presentation, not perceived importance. A Short Communication may be more concise, but its methods, results, and interpretation must remain sufficient for independent evaluation.
| Down | Up | Top |
Case Reports describe a patient case or small case series with clear clinical, scientific, diagnostic, therapeutic, ethical, public-health, or educational value.
Rarity alone is not sufficient. The manuscript must present a clear learning point and explain how the case contributes to clinical understanding, decision-making, education, or practice.
| Submission status | Open submission |
|---|---|
| Abstract | No more than 250 words |
| Keywords | At least three |
| Senior researcher | |
| Reporting guideline | CARE guidelines |
| Title-page highlights | |
| Consent for publication | Required when the patient may be identifiable |
The separate title page must include a short bulleted list explaining:
The highlights should not merely repeat the abstract.
Appropriate consent for publication is required when the patient may be identifiable from clinical information, images, dates, circumstances, or their combination. State in the manuscript that consent was obtained.
Remove direct identifiers and unnecessary details that could permit identification. Carefully review clinical images, laboratory reports, and other records before submission.
A relevant clinical image, diagnostic image, timeline, diagram, or other visual element is strongly encouraged when it adds educational value and can be published ethically.
| Down | Up | Top |
Reviews provide a critical, structured, and current synthesis of literature on a clinically, scientifically, educationally, or methodologically important topic.
| Submission status | Invitation only |
|---|---|
| Abstract | No more than 250 words |
| Keywords | At least three |
| Senior researcher | |
| Search description | Required, even when the manuscript is not a formal systematic review |
Authors should not submit an unsolicited narrative review, scoping review, or systematic review without meta-analysis unless prior approval has been received from the Editor-in-Chief.
Systematic reviews with meta-analysis should be submitted as Original Researchs.
A Review should:
Authors must explain how the literature was identified and selected. Unsupported statements claiming that a review is comprehensive should be avoided.
| Down | Up | Top |
Experience manuscripts present a critically reflective analysis of an academic, clinical, research, educational, community, international, leadership, advocacy, editorial, or professional-development experience relevant to medical students and recently graduated physicians.
An Experience manuscript must do more than describe events. It should analyze the experience, explain its significance, identify lessons learned, and offer insights transferable to other learners, educators, clinicians, institutions, or communities.
| Submission status | Open submission |
|---|---|
| Abstract submission | Submitted in the editorial response rather than within the manuscript |
| Abstract length and publication | Up to 250 words; published on the article webpage |
| Senior researcher | |
| Visual element | A relevant figure, photograph, illustration, or diagram should be included |
Use references when factual, educational, scientific, ethical, clinical, or policy claims require support.
Protect the privacy of patients, participants, colleagues, institutions, and communities. Reflections must remain respectful, accurate, and free from unnecessary identifying information.
A personal narrative primarily recounts events. An Experience manuscript must add critical analysis, context, and transferable learning. Purely descriptive manuscripts may be declined or returned for substantial revision.
| Down | Up | Top |
Interviews present a structured and professionally edited discussion with a clinician, researcher, educator, editor, public-health professional, policymaker, or other leader whose expertise is relevant to the readership of the IJMS.
| Submission status | Prior editorial approval recommended |
|---|---|
| Senior researcher | |
| Interviewee approval | Required before publication |
| Photograph | Optional, with permission |
Interviewees may include individuals with significant contributions to:
The interviewee must approve publication and should have an opportunity to review the final edited version.
Substantial editing, paraphrasing, or condensation must not alter the intended meaning of the interviewee’s statements.
Disclose professional, academic, institutional, financial, or personal relationships with the interviewee that may be relevant to readers.
| Down | Up | Top |
Letters to the Editor provide concise, substantive, and evidence-based commentary on an article published in the current issue or immediately preceding issue of the IJMS.
A Letter should contribute meaningfully to scholarly discussion. It should not be used solely to congratulate the authors, repeat the article’s conclusions, or express unsupported agreement or disagreement.
| Submission status | Open submission |
|---|---|
| Article discussed | An article from the current or immediately preceding IJMS issue |
| Senior researcher | |
| Original research | A complete original study should not be submitted as a Letter |
A Letter may:
Letters concerning older articles may be considered only in exceptional circumstances.
The Journal may invite the authors of the original article to respond. Publication of a Letter does not guarantee publication of a response.
Letters must remain professional, evidence-based, and focused on scholarly content. Personal criticism, speculation about motives, and unsupported allegations are not acceptable.
| Down | Up | Top |
| Manuscript type | Journal position |
|---|---|
| Study protocols | Not accepted as regular manuscripts. |
| Narrative reviews | Considered by invitation only. |
| Systematic reviews without meta-analysis | Classified as Reviews and considered by invitation only. |
| Incomplete research | Incomplete analyses, fragmented findings, insufficient methods, and partial reports are not suitable. |
| Purely descriptive personal narratives | May be considered only after development into a critically reflective Experience manuscript with transferable lessons. |
| Previously published manuscripts | Duplicate or redundant publication is not permitted. |
| Manuscripts under consideration elsewhere | Simultaneous submission is prohibited. |
| Promotional or commercial material | Content primarily intended to advertise a product, service, institution, organization, or commercial interest is not considered scholarly editorial content. |
Authors uncertain about classification may contact the Journal before submission through the Contact Us page.
| Down | Up | Top |
The following requirements apply across article types but are explained on their dedicated pages to avoid duplication:
| Question or requirement | Authoritative page |
|---|---|
| Author eligibility and overall submission pathway | Instructions for Authors |
| Title page, masked manuscript, formatting, references, tables, figures, reporting standards, and supplementary materials | Manuscript Preparation |
| Authorship, CRediT contributions, ORCID, funding, and disclosures | Manuscript Preparation: Authorship and Disclosures |
| Final readiness before submission | Submission Checklist |
| OJS account, metadata, file upload, and final submission | Submit a Manuscript |
| Editorial assessment, peer review, decisions, and revisions | Editorial and Peer-Review Process |
| Final files, copyediting, licensing, proofs, and publication | After Acceptance |
| Ethics, consent, registration, and participant protection | Research Ethics |
The online SCISCO tools for preparing the required CRediT author-contribution statement are maintained on the Manuscript Preparation page. They are also available directly below.
| Build the CRediT Statement Online | Use the PDF Author Form |
| Prepare the Manuscript | Review the Checklist | Submit a Manuscript |
| Up | Top |
Dear IJMS Readers,
The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) is pleased to invite you to the 2026 World Conference of Medical Student Research (WCMSR), taking place live on July 11 and 12, 2026.
WCMSR 2026 brings together medical students, trainees, and early-career researchers from institutions across the...
Dear IJMS Readers,
On behalf of the International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS), we are pleased to announce the research selected for presentation at the World Conference of Medical Student Research (WCMSR), taking place on July 11–12, 2026 freely available for everyone and streemed online in our
This journal is published by Pitt Open Library Publishing.
ISSN 2076-6327 (online)
