Withdrawal Policy

Frontiers in Multidisciplinary Studies (FMS) recognizes that there may be circumstances where authors wish to withdraw their manuscripts from consideration for publication. This Withdrawal Policy outlines the conditions under which a manuscript may be withdrawn and the process involved.

1. Conditions for Manuscript Withdrawal

  • Before Submission to Review: Authors can request to withdraw their manuscript at any time before it is sent for peer review. In such cases, no further action will be taken, and the manuscript will be removed from the submission system.

  • After Submission to Review: If a manuscript has already been sent for peer review but not yet accepted, authors may request withdrawal. However, the editorial team will require a valid reason for the withdrawal, and the manuscript will be removed from the review process only after receiving confirmation from the authors.

  • After Acceptance: Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, withdrawal is no longer permissible unless there are significant and valid reasons. In such cases, authors must provide a written explanation, and the journal's editorial board will decide whether to grant the request based on the nature of the situation.

  • After Publication: Withdrawal of a published manuscript is not allowed unless there are serious ethical or legal reasons, such as in cases of proven scientific misconduct or data fabrication. If the request for withdrawal is granted post-publication, the journal will issue a retraction notice, which will be clearly indicated in the article’s record.

2. Process for Manuscript Withdrawal

  • Formal Request: Authors wishing to withdraw a manuscript must submit a formal request to the editorial office, clearly stating the reasons for withdrawal. The request should be sent via email to [contact email], and the subject line should indicate “Manuscript Withdrawal Request.”

  • Response Time: The editorial office will acknowledge the withdrawal request within 5 business days. If the manuscript is in the review process, the editorial team will notify the reviewers and stop further review work.

  • Confirmation of Withdrawal: Once the manuscript withdrawal is approved, the corresponding author will receive written confirmation from the editorial office. If the manuscript is withdrawn after submission to peer review, a notification will be sent to all involved parties, including reviewers.

3. Reasons for Withdrawal

While authors may request manuscript withdrawal for various reasons, some common reasons include:

  • Change in research direction or project focus.

  • Authorship changes or disputes.

  • Issues with manuscript quality or data integrity.

  • Withdrawal due to submission to another journal or publication.

  • Technical issues or errors identified after submission.

4. Implications of Withdrawal

  • Impact on Future Submissions: Authors who repeatedly withdraw manuscripts after submission or review may face delays in future submissions or may be restricted from submitting to FMS for a specific period. This is to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the submission and review process.

  • Refunds: Since FMS operates on an open-access model with no submission or publication charges, there are no fees to refund in case of withdrawal.

  • Acknowledgment of Previous Work: If a manuscript is withdrawn after peer review or acceptance but before publication, the journal may still acknowledge the work and its contributions in future issues if appropriate.

5. Ethical Considerations for Withdrawal

  • Transparency: The decision to withdraw a manuscript should be communicated transparently and respectfully. Authors should avoid withdrawing manuscripts for trivial reasons after they have entered the review process, as it can disrupt the journal's workflow and impact reviewers' time.

  • Ethical Violations: If a manuscript is withdrawn due to ethical violations, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or other breaches of academic integrity, the journal may issue a public retraction or notify relevant institutions and stakeholders.