Can One Author List Multiple Affiliations in an SCI Paper Submission?

In today’s research environment, it’s common for scholars to be affiliated with more than one institution—whether through joint appointments, cross-institution projects, or visiting scholar programs. If you’re preparing an SCI-indexed journal submission, you might be wondering: Can I list more than one affiliation? The answer is generally yes, but there are important formatting and policy considerations.

1. Most SCI Journals Allow Multiple Affiliations

SCI journals, especially those published by Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and IEEE, typically have no issue with authors listing more than one affiliation—provided they are legitimate and verifiable.

Common reasons for multiple affiliations include:

• Joint academic appointments

• Concurrent positions at a university and a research institute

• Industry collaboration with a corporate R&D department

• Visiting scholar roles

Listing multiple affiliations can help enhance institutional recognition and improve the visibility of your work across multiple organizations.

2. Formatting in Manuscripts

When submitting, each affiliation is usually numbered or lettered and linked to the author via superscripts. For example:

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Li Ming¹², Zhang Wei²³  
¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, ABC University, Beijing, China  
² Institute of Advanced Materials, XYZ Research Center, Shanghai, China  
³ Department of Energy Systems, DEF University, London, UK

Key points:

• Keep institution names official and consistent with their formal English version.

• Include city and country for each affiliation.

• Use the submission system’s “Add Affiliation” option—don’t try to combine two into one line.

3. Check the Journal’s Author Guidelines

While most SCI journals allow multiple affiliations, some have formatting restrictions:

• Limit on the total number of affiliations

• Requirement that the first affiliation be the “primary” one

• Rules on matching affiliations to institutional funding sources

Always review the “Guide for Authors” section on the journal’s website before submission.

4. Funding & Acknowledgment Considerations

If you list multiple affiliations, the funding section of your paper should reflect any support provided by each institution. This is not only ethical but also often required for grant compliance.

5. Benefits of Listing Multiple Affiliations

• Institutional Credit: Each organization gets visibility in databases like Web of Science and Scopus.

• Networking: Increases discoverability among peers connected to different institutions.

• Collaboration Opportunities: Signals cross-disciplinary or cross-border cooperation.

However, avoid adding affiliations just for prestige—journals may verify employment or association if there’s a concern.

Final Thoughts

Yes, in most cases, SCI journals allow an author to have multiple affiliations, as long as they are legitimate, correctly formatted, and aligned with the journal’s submission guidelines. This practice can boost your research’s reach and your academic network, making it especially valuable for collaborative and international work.

If you’re also presenting related work at a conference, platforms like iconf.org can help you find reputable academic events where multiple institutional ties can strengthen your research visibility.