Reviewing for MDPI Just Became More Rewarding: Reviewer Benefits
In addition to our collaboration with Publons to recognize the hard work of our reviewers, we also provide APC vouchers to reviewers who provide timely and substantial comments. We realize that without their contribution the success of our Open Access journals would not be possible. So, let’s discuss the reviewer benefits that MDPI offers.
Peer review is an essential part of the publication process and it ensures that MDPI maintains the highest quality standards for its published papers. Therefore, all manuscripts submitted to our journals are strictly and thoroughly peer-reviewed by experts.
Moreover, scholars see reviewing as an essential part of their job. They know that the effort they put in is reciprocated by others when they submit their own work to journals. Many also want to have advanced access to the latest work in their field, or as an activity that can be used to strengthen their resume.
What reviewer benefits do MDPI offer?
We have decided to increase the discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) that we provide to our reviewers. From now on, any timely review will receive an APC discount voucher, and vouchers can be cumulated.
We want to recognize the efforts of reviewers as much as we can. The problem is that it is often a confidential process. Our journals have several other ways of saying thank you:
- Many of our journals are enrolled with Publons, which provides credit for reviewers. You can even upload reviews from journals that don’t directly cooperate with Publons to receive more credit.
- You can download a letter confirming your contributions from your reviewer profile in our submission system, Susy.
- Once a year, a list of reviewers is published in the journal.
- Many journal offer prizes for outstanding reviewers.
These reviewer benefits are in addition to knowing that you have contributed to maintaining the quality of published papers in your field and having access to research before publication.
Understanding how to become a peer reviewer
We want to make becoming a peer reviewer as easy and as beneficial as possible. If you want to learn more about our general guidelines for reviewers, we have plenty of information that may help you.
If you have any more questions about peer review for any MDPI journal, you can write to the editorial office.
For more information on our journal APCs, please see here.
The original version of this article was written in 2014. It has been updated for content and tone.
If I apply a voucher that is due to expire in a few weeks and if the reviewer takes longer than a few weeks to review and accept, do I lose the voucher? Or because I applied the voucher before it expired, will it still count?
Hi,
I would recommend reaching out to the editorial office directly. They will be able to answer your question.
All the best.
When I can use the vouchers? During the application? How? No options to use, as far as I see. Please explain in detail. Thank you!
Hi,
Please see this information, from this page: https://www.mdpi.com/about/apc_faq
“6. I have a discount voucher and I want to apply it to my paper. How do I proceed?
Discount vouchers will be shown under the Submissions Menu in the Discount Vouchers list. In order to be able to use all vouchers sent from MDPI, authors are allowed to link multiple emails to the current profile being used.
Please add your voucher code in the MDPI system when you submit your paper, then, you will automatically receive a reduction on the APC.
Note that vouchers cannot be used after an invoice has been issued. In case of rejection, the voucher can be reapplied in your next submission. If you are not sure how to apply your voucher, please contact the assigned editor.
Authors affiliated with participating universities receive up to one IOAP discount on the APC for any paper published in an MDPI journal which may be combined with reviewer vouchers.”
I hope this answers your question.
Until July 2024, I have been granted the discount vouchers for my review assignment. Afterwards, I also reviewed few papers, but I could not get any discount vouchers for them.
Hi,
Please email the journal or journals you reviewed for directly. They will be able to explain what has occurred to you.
All the best.
I have reviewed and published scientific articles in several different MDPI journals. How can I find out if I have any valid MDPI vouchers? Many thanks
Hello Peter,
Please login in to Susy and check the Submissions Menu. You’ll find this information under Discount Vouchers. Hope this helps.
Hi I have lot of reviewer’s vouchers but unfortunately 4 of them are expired recently can I use it now.
Hello Senthil-Nathan,
Unfortunately we do not have information on the expiry of vouchers. If you reach out to the journal you want to submit to, they are better able to give you an answer as to whether they will allow an expired voucher. My assumption is that this will probably not be allowed however. Hope this information helps.
It is suggested that the teachers and students who contribute to the mailbox of the institution give a discount, so that more people will pay attention to the mdpi journals.
Thank you for your feedback.
Revievers’ vouchers cannot be combined with institutional discounts.
I received today this piece of information: “Unfortunately, according to the policy, voucher discount can not be combined used with IOAP institution discount.”
Thanks for your interest, see https://www.mdpi.com/reviewers for details about how to sign up as a reviewer.
How, I can get the Disciunt Voucher for MDPI Journals ?
Yes, no problem. You can use more than one voucher per article.
Is it possible for the co-authors of a manuscript to use their own vouchers all together? or only corresponding author can use his vouchers?
If it is possible, how I can use the co-authors’ voucher alongside mine?
Co-authors can also use their vouchers, but the person who was issued the voucher must be an author
If I have two reviewers’ vouchers, can I use both for one article? For example, if the APC is 550 CHF, will I pay 350 CHF with these two vouchers applied?
I think this is not correct for all MDPI journals. Most of them provide a maximum 100 CHF for a timely review.
We have modified the amounts over time, but the principle of rewarding reviewers in this way has not changed.
Hi Matthew. Thanks for your interest. You can go to https://susy.mdpi.com/volunteer_reviewer/step/1 and apply as a reviewer. The managing editor will check your background and let you know if it fits with the journal.
Please sign me up as a reviewer for;
Sensors, Agriculture, Agronomy, Fluids, Electronics, Fibers