November 13, 2025 By Mahira
YouAlberta is written by students for students.
Mahira (she/her) is in her fifth year of a BSc with a specialization in psychology. In her free time, she loves being outside, going on hikes or walks and swimming. She enjoys connecting with the ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ community through her work with the Open Publishing team and position with the Student ALS Club.
As you settle into the mid-semester rush and finalize your extracurricular plans, I’d like to introduce you to a lesser-known campus opportunity: student journals.
Over the past three years, I’ve worked closely with student journals through my role with the Open Publishing team, and I’ve seen firsthand how many opportunities can arise from getting involved. I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you!
Whether you love research, writing or just want to try something new, getting involved with a student journal at the ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ can be a great way to grow academically and professionally.
The ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ has that are almost entirely student-led. This means that students manage and staff editorial teams, conduct peer review and contribute research.
You may think that your discipline, interests or the work you produce are too niche — but I’ve seen students with very specific passions find their community through working with student journals.
Our journals span a variety of fields and academic levels, so whether you’re a first-year undergraduate student in sociology or a final-year graduate student in economics, there’s likely a journal for you.
Getting involved with student journals offers many benefits, no matter your role!
Did you know that you can submit work you’ve written or created for a class? It doesn’t have to be a traditional research paper — some journals, like , even publish multimedia work. Publications look great on a résumé or graduate school application, so as long as you own the rights to the work and meet the submission criteria, why not take the next step and submit it?
You can also get involved by becoming a reviewer or joining an editorial team. When I first learned about how journals operate, I was surprised at how collaborative the process is. You get to read other students’ work, discuss ideas and learn how academic publishing really works, all while improving your own writing and critical thinking skills.
The Open Publishing team also loves hosting networking and outreach events for student journals. Over the past few years, we’ve hosted a showcase event, poster presentation and roundtable discussion. Through these experiences, student journal members have connected with mentors, potential employers and others who share their interests.
Pretty much anyone! Each student journal has its own criteria for submissions and team roles, and the ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ has options for both undergraduate and graduate students.
You can check out the of student journals on the ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ Library website, and if you’re unsure whether you qualify or where to start, just reach out to them directly.
If you’re feeling extra ambitious and want to start your own journal, you can also contact the for help at library.publishing@ualberta.ca
At the ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥, student journals are open access, which means authors keep their copyright and don’t have to pay to publish their work. It’s a great way to make knowledge more inclusive and available to everyone.
If you’ve ever found the perfect research article for an assignment, only to realize it’s locked behind a paywall, you know how frustrating that can be. As students, paying large fees to submit or access publications can also be a huge barrier. Open access journals remove those obstacles, making knowledge freely available to everyone.
By getting involved, you’re not just developing new skills; you’re helping make research and ideas more accessible to others.
YouAlberta