First Author Programme

Designed for students who take research seriously and want to become independent researchers. We strongly advise completing one of our Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis programmes first to build a solid research background before joining First Author. This is a recommendation, not a mandatory prerequisite.

Develop your own idea and validate it with a mentor, or bring an unfinished research project and complete it with guidance.

The programme runs for 10 to 12 weeks: a 10-week systematic review pathway or a 12-week pathway with meta-analysis where the evidence supports pooling.

We target journal submission within 15 weeks of the confirmed programme start, depending on timely student communication, responses to mentor feedback and adherence to the timelines set by the mentor. Delays in student tasks, inputs or approvals can extend this target.

Work solo or bring up to four friends. One student leads as first author, and every author contributes meaningfully. One purchase covers the entire project. You retain ownership of the paper and choose the journal with mentor guidance.

Your mentor supports submissions, repeated submissions and reviewer-response rounds through acceptance. Support continues beyond the programme and submission target; journal acceptance and its timing remain independent.

Authorship follows ICMJE criteria and requires meaningful contribution to the research.

Publication fees are not included in the First Author project price. Journal options and any publisher charges are discussed before submission.

Research training, conference poster preparation and presentation training are included.