International Students - Finding journal articles

How do I find journal articles?

• Search for journals in your subject area – Business, IT, Nursing
• Search for a particular journal title – select eJournals A-Z.
• Search a particular database – see an alphabetical list of databases under Search for individual databases
• Search across multiple databases - select a search option under Search for journal articles using Metalib.

Why did my search get no results?

There are many reasons why a search may return no results:

• Keywords. The keywords you used may not be the words used to describe articles in that database. Try other keywords, synonyms or combinations of keywords using AND/OR.
• Spelling. The spelling of your keywords may be incorrect. Check a dictionary for correct spelling and variations of words.
• Limits. The limits you have set may be too narrow. Broaden the year range, geographic area or the publication type.
• Database. The database may not have the information you need. Try searching another database; see the Search for individual databases page.

Why can't I get the full-text of a journal article?

There are a number of reasons why a full-text link to your article does not appear, including:

• There is no full-text version available, either for that journal or for specific volumes (i.e. older issues) of that title.
• UB Library does not hold a subscription to that title in electronic format.
• Some publishers place an embargo on journal titles so the most recent issues (i.e. twelve months or more) may not be available for viewing.
• Newly published works may not have been placed in aggregated electronic databases and may require a few weeks to appear.

If you are a postgraduate student you may be able to access the full-text article free of charge through Document Delivery Services.

What is a journal?

A journal is similar to a magazine. It is collection of articles that is published on a regular basis. A journal is an important source of academic research, because it is where researchers report their ideas and findings. Journals can be published more quickly than books, so the information in journals is often more up-to-date.

UB Library subscribes to many print and electronic journals. To find both print and electronic journals, search the Library catalogue, or to access electronic journals only, search our eJournals A-Z listing.

What is a peer-reviewed journal?

A peer reviewed journal is one in which the articles have been examined by people with credentials in the article's field of study before it is published. Peer reviewed publications (often entitled Journal, Review or Research) are produced specifically for academics, scholars and professionals, unlike popular magazines found in newsagents and supermarkets. You can find out more information about peer-reviewed material here.

What is a database?

A database is a collection of online information that can be searched by keyword, title, author, year, etc. Electronic journals can be grouped together in databases. A database may focus on information in a specific subject area, or cover many different subject areas.

To find databases in UB Library, go to the Search for individual databases page.

• Finding journal articles



• Find journals for Business



• Find journals for IT



• Find journals for Nursing