Peer Review Process

Publication Process & Timeline

Three Teachings Studies (TTS) operates an annual publication model with rolling online publication. The timeline below outlines the typical lifecycle of a manuscript, from initial submission to online publication and final inclusion in the annual volume released each year on December 30.

 

Phase 1: Submission & Desk Review

⏱ Estimated Time: 1–2 Weeks

The Editorial Office conducts a technical and academic screening, including checks for formatting, scope alignment, and plagiarism (Similarity Index < 15%). Manuscripts that do not meet basic requirements are returned or declined at this stage.

 

Phase 2: Double-Blind Peer Review

⏱ Estimated Time: 2–4 Months

Manuscripts are evaluated by independent experts under a double-blind peer review system. Reviewers assess originality, scholarly rigor, textual interpretation, and contribution to the study of the Three Teachings. Decisions at this stage may include Accept, Minor/Major Revision, or Decline.

 

Phase 3: Revision & Acceptance

⏱ Estimated Time: 1–2 Months

Authors revise their manuscripts in response to reviewer comments. Depending on the depth of revision required, more than one revision round may be requested. Once the Editor-in-Chief confirms that all scholarly and ethical standards have been satisfied, a formal Letter of Acceptance is issued.

 

Phase 4: Copyediting & Production

⏱ Estimated Time: 3–5 Weeks

After acceptance, manuscripts enter the production stage, including academic copyediting, layout, typesetting, and author proof review (galley proofs). Any applicable APCs must be completed prior to publication.

 

Phase 5: Online Publication (Rolling)

⏱ Acceptance → Publication: approximately 3–5 weeks

Accepted articles are published online individually on a rolling basis once production is complete. Each article is assigned its final DOI and full citation information at the time of online publication.

Annual Volume Policy: Although articles are published online on a rolling basis, all articles published during the calendar year are formally compiled into the annual volume released on December 30.

Submission Cut-off Recommendation: To ensure inclusion in the current year's volume, authors are strongly encouraged to submit manuscripts before September 1. Submissions received after this date may be scheduled for the following year's volume.

All timelines above represent typical editorial timeframes. Actual durations may vary depending on reviewer availability, revision complexity, and editorial scheduling.