TCI Journal Submission: Format, Requirements, and AI Tips (2026)

The Thai Citation Index (TCI) is Thailand's national journal indexing system, managed by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF). Getting published in a TCI-indexed journal is a key requirement for Thai academics seeking promotion, tenure, or research funding. But the submission process has strict formatting rules that trip up many first-time authors.

What Is TCI?

TCI evaluates and indexes Thai academic journals across all disciplines. Journals are classified into three tiers:

• TCI Tier 1: High-quality journals with rigorous peer review — equivalent to Scopus Q1-Q2
• TCI Tier 2: Quality journals with standard peer review processes
• TCI Tier 3: Journals under development, working toward higher tier status

TCI Submission Format Requirements

While each journal may have specific guidelines, most TCI-indexed journals follow these standard formatting requirements:

1. Language

Papers can be submitted in Thai or English. Most Tier 1 journals prefer English to increase international visibility. Bilingual abstracts (Thai + English) are usually required regardless of the main language.

2. Paper Structure

1. Title (Thai + English)
2. Abstract (Thai + English, 250-300 words each)
3. Keywords (3-5 in both languages)
4. Introduction — Background, problem statement, objectives
5. Literature Review — Related work and theoretical framework
6. Methodology — Research design, population, instruments, analysis
7. Results — Findings with tables and figures
8. Discussion — Interpretation and implications
9. Conclusion — Summary, limitations, recommendations
10. References — APA 7th edition or journal-specific style

3. Formatting Specifications

• Paper size: A4
• Font: TH Sarabun New (Thai) or Times New Roman (English), 16pt for body
• Margins: 2.54cm all sides (1 inch)
• Line spacing: 1.5 for body text, single for tables
• Length: Typically 15-25 pages including references
• Tables and figures: Numbered sequentially, titles above tables, captions below figures

Common TCI Rejection Reasons

1. Bilingual requirements not met — Missing Thai or English abstract is an automatic desk reject at many journals
2. Incorrect citation format — Using APA 6th instead of APA 7th, or mixing citation styles
3. Thai font specification — Using Angsana New instead of TH Sarabun New (the official Thai academic font since 2020)
4. Weak literature review — Not citing recent TCI-indexed work in the same field
5. Methodology gaps — Missing sample size justification, instrument validation, or ethical clearance

How AI Helps with TCI Submissions

Momei V3 supports TCI-formatted academic papers with:

• Bilingual abstract generation: AI writes both Thai and English abstracts automatically
• Auto-formatting: Correct font (TH Sarabun New), margins, spacing applied automatically
• APA 7th citations: All references formatted correctly with proper Thai author name conventions
• Structure enforcement: Paper follows the standard TCI section order

The Thai Citation Index is growing rapidly — with over 800 indexed journals and increasing international recognition. Getting your research published in TCI is more accessible than ever, especially with AI handling the formatting burden. Start your TCI paper with Momei today.