Publishing with FEMS Journals means choosing a publishing model that puts scientists first. This community-first approach is reflected in our publishing practices, with rigorous and constructive peer review, clear communication, and author-friendly policies. We partner with our not-for-profit publisher, Oxford University Press (OUP), to manage the publication of scientific papers in each of our journals.
Explore the portfolio below to find where your research fits, or sign up to receive calls for papers, journal updates, webinars, and opportunities from FEMS.
Explore the journals →
Sign up for updates →
Frequently asked questions →
Our editors pride themselves in being invested in helping your manuscript reach its full potential through considerate peer review and supportive communication.
Authors published between 2022 and 2025 rated their experience with FEMS Journals through the
FEMS Voice of the Customer survey.
8.59/10
Peer review process satisfaction
Fairness, impartiality, and helpfulness
8.94/10
Editorial responsiveness
Communication and support throughout
8.72/10
Likelihood to submit again
Rated from 1, not likely, to 10, extremely likely
FEMS authors benefit from a publishing approach that is clear, constructive, and centred on the needs of researchers.
The FEMS portfolio offers a home for research across the breadth of microbiology. Find out more about each journal below.
Best for: focused microbiology studies with clear biological insight.
Publish a clear scientific story without requiring a full-length manuscript.
Best for: authoritative review articles that shape the field.
Authoritative, high-impact reviews that shape the field of microbiology.
Best for: microbial ecology research across environments and systems.
Publish at the heart of microbial ecology.
Best for: research focused on yeasts and yeast-like organisms.
A specialist home for yeast-focused research.
Best for: robust, sound microbiology research across the field.
An open access home for rigorous studies that move microbiology forward, step by step.
Best for: high-impact, cross-disciplinary microbiology.
The journal of the European Academy of Microbiology, publishing findings with lasting significance.
FEMS Journals are shaped by the researchers who publish, review, edit, read, and share microbiology research. There are several ways to take part.
Find the journal that fits your research and submit to a community-led microbiology journal.
Share your expertise, support rigorous peer review, and help strengthen microbiology publishing.
Hear about calls for papers, thematic issues, webinars, grants, events, and journal opportunities.
FEMS publishes six microbiology journals: FEMS Microbiology Letters, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, FEMS Yeast Research, FEMS Microbes, and microLife. Each journal covers a distinct area of microbiology, from microbial ecology and yeast biology to high-impact, cross-disciplinary research.
Five of the six not-for-profit FEMS Journals are fully open access. FEMS Microbiology Letters offers both open access and free-to-publish options.
The best fit depends on your research area and article type. FEMS Microbiology Letters is suited to focused studies with clear biological insight; FEMS Microbiology Reviews publishes authoritative, field-shaping reviews; FEMS Microbiology Ecology covers microbial ecology across environments and systems; FEMS Yeast Research is the specialist home for yeast biology; FEMS Microbes publishes rigorous open access research across microbiology; and microLife publishes high-impact, cross-disciplinary findings with lasting significance.
Open access publishing costs vary by journal. FEMS aims to keep publishing accessible through routes that can reduce or eliminate these costs. These include the free-to-publish route in FEMS Microbiology Letters, a 20% discount for members of FEMS-affiliated societies, full waivers for authors from countries included in the OUP Developing Countries Initiative, and full publishing support for researchers at institutions with Oxford University Press Read and Publish agreements.
Yes. FEMS Microbes, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, FEMS Yeast Research, and microLife accept format-free submissions. You can submit your manuscript as a single PDF or Word document and may be asked to address minor style points after initial review.
Peer review varies by journal. FEMS Microbiology Letters uses double-anonymised peer review. FEMS Microbes offers a transparent peer review option, allowing authors to publish reviewer reports alongside their article.
Yes. FEMS Journals have preprint-friendly policies across the portfolio, allowing authors to share their work on preprint servers before or during peer review.
Yes. FEMS is a not-for-profit organisation. Surplus revenue from FEMS Journals is reinvested into charitable activities that support the microbiology community.
Published articles are promoted through the FEMSmicroBlog, FEMS social media channels, and the FEMS Webinar series. Articles may also be featured in thematic issues or considered for annual Article Awards, with winning articles receiving dedicated promotion across the community.
Open access is key to supporting the FEMS mission of disseminating high quality research as widely as possible: when high quality, peer reviewed sound science is open access, anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection, can read it. All but one of the not-for-profit FEMS journals are fully open access (OA), with one journal, FEMS Microbiology Letters, offering free-to-publish and OA options.
