On-campus access:
On-campus users can access to many of our electronic resources. Visit a McGill Library computer workstation, and log in as a guest.
Off-campus access:
If you cannot come to campus, begin by searching PubMed. You can limit your results to ‘Free Full Text’ articles. Watch the video tutorial below for instructions.
YouTube video link (.mp4)
Tip: If you require access to an article from a subscription-based journal, try asking at your local public library. This service may be offered for a fee.
Other free full text journal options:
Repositories:
- PubMed Central is an open-access repository. It includes journal articles from participating publishers, and author-submitted manuscripts. Anyone can search for and download full-text articles.
- eScholarship@McGill is an open-access repository of publications and theses by McGill faculty and students.
Publisher sites:
- BioMed Central (BMC) publishes over 275 peer-reviewed open access journals in biology, biomedicine, and medicine. Browse by journal title, or register for a free account for more search options.
- Example BMC journals:
- Public Library of Science (PLoS) publishes 7 open-access journals.
- Example PLoS journals:
- HighWire Press: Publisher of open access, hybrid and subscribed journals. Over 100 journal titles offer immediate full-text access. (Look for the ‘free site’ label.) Many journals offer free access to full text after a pre-specified period of time, usually 12 months.
- Example open access HighWire Press journals:
Directories:
- Directory of Open Access Journals is a listing of peer-reviewed open access journals, including international content. Search at the journal or article level.
EBM Tools:
For evidence-based medicine tools, see our guide to Clinical Decision-Making. Note that resources marked with the globe icon are freely available.