Plagiarism Policy

The Universal Journal of Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies (UJHMDS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious breach of scholarly ethics and is strictly prohibited.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text, data, images, or ideas from published or unpublished sources without proper citation
  • Paraphrasing substantial portions of another work without appropriate acknowledgment
  • Self-plagiarism, including duplicate submission or publication of previously published work without disclosure
  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
  • Inappropriate or misleading attribution of authorship

Any form of intellectual dishonesty undermines the credibility of research and will not be tolerated.

Plagiarism Screening Process

All manuscripts submitted to UJHMDS undergo plagiarism screening using reliable similarity detection software such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent tools.

  • Similarity reports are evaluated by the editorial team.
  • Overlaps arising from references, common terminology, or methodological descriptions may be excluded from evaluation.
  • The editorial board reserves the right to interpret similarity results contextually rather than solely based on percentage scores.

Acceptable Similarity Limits

The journal follows general similarity guidelines:

  • Up to 10–15% similarity: Generally acceptable, excluding references and commonly used phrases.
  • 15–25% similarity: Manuscript may be returned to the authors for revision and clarification.
  • Above 25% similarity: Manuscript is liable for immediate rejection.

The final decision rests with the editorial board based on the nature and seriousness of overlap.

Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected:

Before Publication:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript
  • Notification to the author(s)
  • Possible temporary restriction from future submissions

After Publication:

  • Retraction of the published article
  • Publication of a formal retraction notice
  • Notification to the author’s affiliated institution, if necessary

Serious or repeated violations may result in a permanent ban from submitting to the journal.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are fully responsible for ensuring that:

  • Their work is original and properly cited
  • All sources are appropriately acknowledged
  • Permissions are obtained for copyrighted materials
  • Data presented is authentic and ethically obtained

By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that their work complies with the journal’s plagiarism and ethical standards.

Editorial Commitment

UJHMDS follows internationally recognized publication ethics guidelines and reserves the right to take appropriate corrective action in cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct. The journal remains committed to transparency, fairness, and integrity in scholarly publishing.

Policy Review

This policy may be updated periodically to align with evolving academic standards and ethical best practices. Any revisions will be published on the journal’s official website.