Peer Review Training

Below you will find a list of training courses (in alphabetical order) as well as training materials that can be used when designing your own courses. We acknowledge that scientific evidence on the effectiveness of peer review training is still lacking. and we will link to participants’ satisfaction scores or effectiveness studies when they become available. Please contact our Secretary if you are aware of additional resources that should be listed here.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Reviewer Lab
ACS offers a free 6-module interactive online training course that has been developed to educate researchers on the principles of quality peer review. A work-in-progress this 4-hour course covers the basics of peer review and ethics, and included real-life guidance on writing a first-rate review.

Elsevier: Certified Peer Reviewer Course
Directed self-learning in the form of webinars, podcasts and questionnaires, the course can be tackled in your own time. Several core modules must be completed to gain certification, but you can “pick and choose” additional elements to suit your individual learning needs and interests. This course is also available in Chinese.

Nature Masterclasses: Free online course on peer review
This Nature Masterclass is a free four-module course that explores the peer review process, featuring interviews with Nature editors addressing the role of the peer reviewer, peer review reports, ethics, and innovations.

Springer: How to Peer Review tutorial
Springer offers a short but nonetheless comprehensive text-based resource. Requiring no registration or log-in this bite sized resource includes an eight-question quiz to consolidate your knowledge.

Training package for The BMJ’s peer reviewers
An extensive collection of training materials aimed at those who review for the BMJ.

Web of Science Academy
The Web of Science Academy (previously Publons Academy) is a practical module based, interactive, research and publishing skills course for early career researchers, with several elements addressing peer review. It has been developed together with expert academics and editors to teach the core competencies and skills needed of a peer reviewer.

Wiley: Peer Review Training
A range of resources including top tip guides and infographics, videos and webinars introducing essential principles of peer review, discussing transparency and trust, and promoting recognition.

IOP Publishing Peer Review Excellence elearning hub
This free and hand-on course is co-delivered by top-level physicists and offers a blend of online learning and hands-on peer review experience. 

Peer Review Training materials:

EASE Peer Review Card Exchange Game
A group discussion game of 32 card statements published in the EASE journal ESE. Helpful for hands-on sessions addressing responsibility and integrity in peer review.