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Unisa Press

Guidelines for authors

To submit a manuscript to Unisa Press for publishing:
For enquiries & submissions, contact
Ms Sharon Boshoff, Unisa Press
Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Theo van Wijk Building, B Block,
(Use Goldfields Entrance), Fourth Floor, B4-03, Pretoria
PO Box 392, Unisa, Pretoria 0003,   South Africa
tel +27+12 429 3316    fax +27+12 429 3449

Please take some time to read the information below.
Thank you for your interest in Unisa Press! We look forward to making contact with you.

A    Application to publish

  1. An application form, obtainable from Unisa Press, must be completed and submitted to the above office, preferably before 15 February; or see the online version at http://www.unisa.ac.za/dept/press/appformf.html
  2. Such an application will be considered by the Publications Committee with a view to possible publication in the following calendar year.
  3. Late applications will be considered by the Publications Committee with due regard to available funds and to the publishing schedule of Unisa Press.
  4. Precise and complete information must be supplied on the application form. Should there be more than one author/editor, this should be clearly indicated, as well as the name of the author who will act as contact person.
  5. In his/her application, an author furnishes a date on which he/she agrees to submit the manuscript. A request for an extension of time will be considered by the Publications Committee, for a maximum of two periods of three months each, after which the Committee will decide whether such an author is required to renew his/her application for publication. Authors should set themselves a realistic date, thus making it possible for them to keep to it.
B    Copyright
  1. If the intended publication is an adapted thesis, in accordance with University regulations PG18 and PG23 (see Annexure A appended hereto) the author must obtain the necessary approval for publication from the Chairman of Senate, via the Department of Postgraduate Student Affairs. Proof of this consent, as well as a written statement by the author’s promoter recommending publication, must be handed in to Unisa Press before the Publications Committee will finally approve publication.
  2. Clause 4.6 of the contract between the author and the University specifies that the author is responsible for obtaining and submitting written permission to use material on which copyright exists and which the author wishes to include in his/her manuscript. The author is also responsible for any payment or other form of compensation that a copyright holder might require for the privilege of the use of such material.
  3. The author must also cede full copyright of his work to Unisa. (Refer to F1 Contract in these Guidelines.)

C    Procedure when submitting a manuscript

  1. Should there be any changes to the language and/or the title of the proposed manuscript after the application has been submitted and accepted, you are kindly requested to inform the Head, Unisa Press, in writing without delay.
  2. If a work is intended to be a prescribed work for Unisa students after publication, it is essential that the final manuscript be submitted to Unisa Press at least seven months before the book is required as a prescribed work.
  3. An author/editor is responsible for reading and approving the translation of his/her manuscript before it is submitted to Unisa Press. Remuneration for the translation of the work will only be paid once the translation has been approved.
  4. It is the author’s responsibility, prior to submission of the final manuscript, to make a copy for his/her own use.
  5. The Publications Committee determines the order of priority in which approved manuscripts will be published. Unisa Press is committed to this publishing schedule as far as it is practicable, unless the schedule is altered as a result of unforseen circumstances.
  6. The professional staff of the publication section of Unisa Press will consult with the author on the design of the cover. The Head, Unisa Press, will take the final decision in this regard.

D   Technical requirements with which a manuscript must comply

  1. A computer printed manuscript (double spacing) must be submitted with a minimum of handwritten editorial amendments, before or on the promised submission date to Unisa Press, together with the disks. A receipt will be issued.
  2. Only in exceptional cases will final masters of a manuscript prepared by an author or editor be accepted for publication. Further information regarding the requirements for this may be obtained from the Head, Unisa Press.

E   Appraisal

  1. Manuscripts which are submitted for publication will be subject to appraisal by anonymous referees. Authors also remain anonymous to referees. Authors will be required to consider the changes recommended by the referees, with a view to amendments, before Unisa Press will finally consider the manuscript for publication.
  2. While a manuscript which has been appraised and approved for publication awaits its turn to be processed, an author may take it back for essential updating and revision, with the approval of the Publications Committee. Amendments must be typed on disk. The author/editor has to make the same amendments to the translation of his/her manuscript.
F    Contract
  1. When, after appraisal, the Publications Committee has finally committed itself to publishing the manuscript, a contract is concluded between the author and the University concerning the publication of his/her work. In this it is stipulated, inter alia, that the author cedes complete copyright in his/her work to Unisa. The contract can be studied at the offices of Unisa Press.

G    Proofs

  1. As author’s corrections to proofs are costly, the Publications Committee has decided that an author will be responsible for the cost of author’s corrections which exceed 10% of the total typesetting costs, and that such an amount will have to be paid by him/her. It is thus extremely important that an author should thoroughly edit his/her manuscript prior to final submission. Should an author still feel hesitant about the quality of the language and style of his manuscript, this should be brought to the attention of the Head, Unisa Press, when the manuscript is submitted.
  2. It will be the author’s responsibility to proofread first proofs and page proofs. The staff members of Unisa Press will also proofread the manuscript as a control measure. Amendments suggested by an editorial officer may be considered and deliberated by the author before finality is reached.
  3. Authors are expected not to cause unnecessary delays when reading proofs. For its part, Unisa Press undertakes to provide its fullest cooperation in meeting the publication schedule.

H    Promotion / Publicity

  1. Unisa Press endeavours to achieve the most effective promotion of a published work. In this regard the departmental liaises with the author to ensure that all target areas are exploited.

I    General

  1. Authors are urgently requested to refrain from contacting or negotiating directly with the companies involved with different aspects of the production of the book.
  2. An author whose manuscript is published under supervision of the Publications Committee will receive ten (10) free copies of his/her work after publication. In the case of co-authors, the number of free copies will be determined by the contract. The author(s) may, however, purchase further copies at a discount of 30%.
  3. Approximately every six months after the publication of the work an author will receive an author’s report specifying sales and other complimentary copies issued during that period. When, at a later date, a royalty is due according to Unisa’s policy (after recovery of all expenses by Unisa), the author’s report will also contain details of all royalties owing. The reports are audited before being forwarded.

Annexure A

An extract from the University Calendar: 
General Information and Rules


PG18    CESSION OF COPYRIGHT AND PUBLICATION OF A DISSERTATION

The copyright subsisting in a dissertation submitted to the University in fulfilment or part fulfilment of a master’s degree shall vest in the University, irrespective of whether such a dissertation is accepted or not. Consequently —

(a) a cession of the copyright is required. On the registration form the attention of students is drawn to the fact that by signing the form they cede to the University of South Africa the entire copyright subsisting in any dissertation they may complete for the degree concerned at the University unless, in exceptional circumstances, they apply for exemption from the cession of copyright. Such an application must be fully substantiated.

If a student’s dissertation is not accepted, he/she may, subject to the provisions of Rule PG16 (1) (b) (see below), apply to have the copyright ceded back to him/her by the University;

(b) no dissertation or any part thereof, including any summary of the dissertation or any part thereof, shall be printed or published without the permission of the University. Such permission may be granted subject to:

(i) some reference, in the published work, to the fact that it was submitted to the University in the form of a dissertation;
(ii) one or more copies of the published work being handed in at the University;
(iii) effecting such changes as may be recommended by the supervisor, examiners or others; and such other conditions as the University may from time to time deem fit.

If permission is granted that a student may publish his/her dissertation, he/she must publish the work in consultation with his/her supervisor. When the work is published, three copies thereof must be submitted to the Head: Unisa Press.

PG23    THESIS

(1) Unless otherwise decided by Senate, a student who wishes his/her thesis or part(s) of the thesis to be treated as confidential/secret must submit a fully substantiated application, supported by the institution concerned, when the title or topic of the projected thesis is initially submitted for approval. If it is approved that a thesis be kept confidential/secret, the procedure to be followed will be determined by Senate.

(2) The Senate shall appoint:

(a) a promoter who will normally be a teacher of the subject at the University; provided, however, that Senate may appoint as promoter another member of the University staff or a person not attached to the University. One or more internal and/or external joint promoter(s) may also be appointed;
(b) an examination commission which shall include the promoter and normally the joint promoter(s);
(c) a chairman of the examination commission, in a non-examining capacity, who shall normally be the Head of the Department or another senior member of the Department, subject to (b) above.

(3) A thesis must show proof of original work and must be a decided contribution to the knowledge of and insight into the subject.

(4) Rules PG15 (3) (see below) to PG18 with PG15 (6) (see below) amended as follows, shall hold good mutatis mutandis for a thesis. The title page of a thesis shall bear the following inscription:

(a) full title of the thesis
(b) by full name of the candidate|
(c) (i) submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of ...
(ii) in the subject ... ((c) (ii) is not applicable in the case of the degrees DBL, LLD, DMus, DCompt and DPA. In the case of a Doctor’s degree in Nursing Science or Classics (not Latin or Greek), (c) (ii) shall read: in the Department of ...)
(iii) at the University of South Africa.
(d) (i) Promoter: ...
(ii) Joint promoter: (if applicable) ...
(e) date submitted: ...

(5) A candidate for the LLD degree whose thesis has been accepted is requested to submit, in addition to the number of additional copies stipulated in Rule PG17 (see below), a further one bound copy which will be forwarded by the office of the Dean to the library of the Appeal Court.

PG15   DISSERTATION

(3) No dissertation which has previously been submitted for a degree at another university shall be accepted, but material taken by the candidate from existing publications may be incorporated in the dissertation. Such material must be clearly indicated. If called upon, the candidate shall submit, together with his/her dissertation, a copy of every dissertation previously submitted by him/her for another degree, whether it was accepted or not.

(6) The title page of a dissertation shall bear the following inscription:

(a) For a degree, the curriculum of which comprises a dissertation only:
(i) full title of the dissertation ...
(ii) by full name of the candidate ...
(iii) (1) submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of ...

(2) in the subject ... ((iii) (2) is not applicable in the case of the degrees MA (Cur), MCompt, MMus, MBibl and MA (FA). In the case of a Master’s degree in Classics (not Latin or Greek), (iii) (2) shall read: in the Department of ... )

(3) at the University of South Africa.
(iv) (1) Supervisor: ...

(2) Joint supervisor: (if applicable) ...
(v) Date submitted: ...
(b) For a degree, the curriculum of which does not comprise a dissertation only:
(i) full title of the dissertation ...
(ii) by full name of the candidate ...
(iii) (1) submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of ...

(2) in the subject ... ((iii) (2) is not applicable in the case of the degrees LLM, MA (Cur), MBibl, MA in Clinical Psychology, MA in Counselling Psychology, MMus S with specialisation in either Performance or Composition, MA (SS) (Mental Health), MPA, MA (International Communication), MEd S with specialisation in Environmental Education, MEd S with specialisation in Natural Science Education and MEd S with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling.)

(3) at the University of South Africa.
(iv) (1) Supervisor: ...

(2) Joint supervisor: (if applicable) ...
(v) Date submitted: ...

PG16    COPIES OF DISSERTATION FOR EXAMINATION

(1) (b) If a candidate’s dissertation is not accepted, one or more examination copies may, at the exclusive discretion of the University, be returned to the candidate after the elapse of one year. The copies remain the property of the University.

PG17    ADDITIONAL COPIES OF DISSERTATION

(1) After approval of the dissertation, and before conferment of the degree, the candidate shall submit a further three copies of his/her dissertation (unless special permission has been granted to submit fewer than three) which must comply with the following requirements:
(a) One of the copies must not be bound; and
(b) the remaining two copies shall be bound between hard covers with a glued spine. The title of the dissertation and the name of the candidate shall appear on the cover as well as on the spine of each bound copy.

(2) If a dissertation is written in the field of Transport Economics, an additional one bound copy shall be submitted which will be forwarded by the University to the National Transport Commission.

(3) Candidates for the LLD degree are referred to Rule PG23 (5) above.