Can You Publish Without an Institutional Affiliation?

If you're currently unaffiliated with any institution and you may ask these common questions:

• I'm on a gap year / freelancing / between jobs — can I still submit a paper?

• What should I fill in the "Affiliation" field if I'm not employed by a university?

• Will reviewers or editors reject my paper because I have "no institution"?

Don’t worry. The answer is — Yes, you absolutely can publish. And in fact, many journals explicitly welcome independent contributors.

Yes.

Major publishers like Elsevier, Springer, IEEE, and Wiley do not require authors to be institutionally affiliated. As long as your work meets academic standards and peer review expectations, it will be evaluated on its merit — not on your title or affiliation.

Many publishers include disclaimers like:

"Remaining neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. "

Here are four accepted ways to identify yourself in journal submission systems:

This is the most common and widely accepted format.

For example, IOP Publishing and Cambridge University Press both explicitly accept "Independent Researcher" or "Independent Scholar" as valid affiliations.

Example

You can find real examples of published papers using this affiliation by searching "Independent Researcher[Affiliation]" in Stork's PubMed Multi-language Search, Translate & Alert. Set your native language, and the results will appear in both English and your chosen language side by side.

While not officially listed in many author guidelines, terms like "Freelance Researcher," "Independent Consultant," or "Freelance Scientist" are used successfully by many independent academics.

A bibliometric analysis has shown these labels are among the top alternative affiliations found in published articles.

Example

If you've registered your own research business (LLC, consultancy, or nonprofit), you can list it as your affiliation. This is especially helpful when collaborating with clients, offering research services, or applying for grants.

Example

Example

However, most journal editors advise not leaving the field blank. It's important to remain identifiable and contactable.

No, not officially.

Most journals use double-blind peer review, meaning reviewers don't see author names or affiliations at all.

Even in single-blind systems (where reviewers see your identity), editors are bound by ethical guidelines that prohibit discrimination based on race, nationality, gender, or institutional affiliation.

In short, your paper will be judged by its quality — not your badge.

⭐  Paper Quality Matters More Than Ever

Without institutional prestige, your work needs to speak for itself. Be rigorous in methodology, clarity, and originality.

⭐  Provide a Professional Email

A working email is essential for correspondence. Some journals may ask for a mailing address too.

⭐  Be Prepared for Publication Fees

If you submit to open access journals, article processing charges (APCs) may apply — and you’ll likely need to cover them yourself unless you have external funding.

Having no formal affiliation ≠ no right to publish
Being an independent researcher ≠ being less valuable

All you need is:
✔ A well-written, meaningful manuscript
✔ Clear, honest author information
✔ Good communication with the journal

And you can make your mark in the academic world.

If you're an "atypical scholar" walking an unconventional path — know that you're not alone.

Share your story below, or tag a friend who might find this helpful.