Our Story
The British Student Doctor Journal (BSDJ) is a novel, peer-reviewed, open-access, medical journal targeted at a medical student readership, established in 2016.
The BSDJ was co-founded by James Kilgour and Shivali Fulchand, who were final year medical students at Cardiff University School of Medicine. James and Shivali recognised the difficulty medical students experienced in finding opportunities to publish and gain journal management experience at a junior level, and founded the journal to address these issues.
After drafting a business proposal in March 2016, James and Shivali gained funding from Cardiff University School of Medicine. In May 2016, The BSDJ was incorporated as an imprint of Cardiff University Press.
Subsequently, following many months of hard work, the BSDJ established its Editorial and Management Team and Faculty Advisory Board. In October 2016, submissions for our first issue opened.
The journal's first issue was published on the 31st January 2017. The occasion was commemorated by a launch party, including a keynote speech delivered by Nobel Prize Winner and Chancellor of Cardiff University, Professor Sir Martin Evans.
Our Ethos
We believe all scientific thought should be shared completely open-access. Restricted access creates an information-deficit for countries and universities with lower incomes and resources. Therefore, the most ethical method of publishing is to make all articles published available to all free of charge. The British Student Doctor supports this initiative and all of our articles will be fully open access.
Ethical Publishing
Providing Opportunity
Currently less than 14% of medical students even attempt to publish their work in journals. We want to provide medical students the opportunity to publish their work, as well as the chance to gain editorial and peer-review experience. Furthermore, we aim to educate students on the process of publication and the benefits of academic publishing.
Beautiful Design
We want to create a journal for the social media generation. Through clean design and branding, we aim to set a new standard for all academic journals and engage more students through doing so.
Our vision is to create a platform for sharing the critical thought and creative flair of medical students packaged in a simple, modern and accessible way.
Aims and Scope
The BSDJ is a high quality journal which aims to champion the academic work of medical students and junior doctors. The journal accepts academic research and articles pertaining to all specialties, and current issues affecting medical practice.
For more information on article formats accepted by the BSDJ, please peruse the author guidelines.