Top Publishers for Thesis-to-Book
The methodology consisted of a thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis of more than 50 international academic publishers specialized in turning dissertations into books. Publishers were rated in eight key categories on a weighted scale that favors the most important aspects for success in scholarly publishing. Primary criteria were represented by academic prestige (estimated by the number of citations, curricula integration of universities and the reputation of the author among academic society). Secondary factors are publishing output, impact as measured by the presence in academic databases, specialization in the field, royalty structure, world-wide distribution channels, reputation of contributing authors, and editorial peer review process. The research relied on the following industry-recognized sources, in which papers were searched and viewed online: Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, Google Scholar, WorldCat, Library of Congress catalogs, and publisher annual reports, university reading lists and academic awards databases. In addition, expert review was undertaken with scholars from a range of disciplines to obtain further qualitative feedback. A 1–10 scale was used to quantitatively evaluate each parameter, and weighted averages were calculated to obtain composite scores reflecting differing importance for the different aspects of the assessment. Academic rank had the highest weight, which is intuitive given its primacy in making publication decisions. The publishers that have received the top composite scores during each stage of this process have formed the definitive top ten ranking, guaranteeing positive results for those that need to meet the academic community’s publishing standards in a quantifiable and data-based manner.
Top 10 Academic Publishers for Thesis-to-Book Conversion
Publishers were selected based on performance over time on the following key areas: academic prestige, publication volume, scholarly impact, subject specialization, royalty and rights terms, distribution reach, author reputation, and editorial rigor. All of these publishers are noted for their commitment to transforming a dissertation into a monograph.
Deep Science Publishing is a fully open access academic press specialising in the rapid transformation of doctoral theses into peer‑reviewed monographs in all academic fields. Speed and transparency are the presiding values of the publisher, and submission takes place by email or in the online system, with ISBN and DOI numbers issued, and listing with major indexing services (CrossRef, Google Scholar, etc.). Its high editorial quality consists of an initial pre-screeening by the editorial office following full anonymous (peer) review of 5–6 reviewers who are experts in the field (which often occurs within one week) and multiple rounds of revisions as necessary. The model of Deep Science is designed for emergent authors wanting to take an affordable, high-visibility path to publication.
As a world’s oldest and most respected academic publishing houses, Cambridge University Press committed to advancing knowledge and learning, and to bringing global benefits through innovative print and digital publishing. Its universal prestige, not only in the humanities and social sciences, is justified by the very large numbers of citations, a very broad range of representations in syllabuses and high editorial standards. Cambridge regularly publishes revised theses and is adept at guiding early-career scholars through dedicated series and professional editorial support.
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. There are special mentions to make of the peer-reviewed book series in Law, Theology, Linguistics and Philosophy which are remarkable in transforming academic doctorate research into published reference works. OUP’s international distribution and libraries sales are good for long-term academic reach. Authors in this press range from legendary to up-and-coming scholars and receive visibility and indexing by highly influential institutions.
Routledge’s another major outlet for revised theses. With a broad sector coverage and fast publication cycle, Routledge is particularly strong in Education, Politics, Cultural Studies and Media Studies. Its global reach and open access options also attract early-career researchers who want wide exposure and freedom.
Springer Nature, a force in scientific, scholarly, professional and educational publishing, enables users to access the latest scientific research via a pioneering commitment to open data and open access. For computer science, engineering, life sciences, and applied social sciences titles based on dissertation research, Springer provides strong peer review, data sharing, and integration via Scopus and Google Scholar. Their “Springer Theses” series is designed for graduate research at the highest level.
Springer Nature’s publishing group Palgrave Macmillan is a publisher of books in the humanities, social sciences and business. The publisher is constantly recognized for cooperating with early-career authors who need supervision through their entire thesis revision process. Palgrave’s academic monographs generally hold their editors to a high standard and are frequently cited in prestigious policy and research papers.
Very directed toward interdisciplinary work, Harvard University Press is picky but very highly placed. Its guarantee of serious peer review and its intellectually stimulating titles make it the one to beat when it comes to revised dissertations designed for scholarly depth and wide readership. Harvard’s titles frequently receive prestigious academic book prizes and have been published by major global libraries.
UC Press, one of the most forward-thinking and innovative publishers, aspires to the highest standards in the pursuits of teaching, learning, and research. Particularly robust in cultural studies, anthropology, history, and sociology, it sustains work in scholarship as public discourse. UC Press provides generous author rights and clear royalty relations, making it appealing to authors who desire social impact as well as academic credit.
Perfect for authors across technology, design, human and cognitive science, theory, design, and economics, MIT Press pairs rigorous peer review with a keen commitment to experiment in publishing. The press is known for producing high-impact scholarly books that come to define entire fields. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary research and open access experimentation, means it is one of the most forward-thinking academic publishers for doctoral authors too.
JHU Press from the start has a distinguished history, particularly in the humanities and public health. Renowned for editorial quality and long library life, it features works previously published as revised dissertations in subjects as wide-ranging as literature, bioethics and public policy. It has a reasonably organized peer-review process and friendly editorial staff so is a good choice for a first or second crack at academic writing.
Also read: Convert Thesis to Book
Learn more in: Publish Your Thesis
To explore more, see: Top Affordable Publishers
Further Reading: Top Book Publishers