How to (Kind of) Download Academic Papers for Free

Looking for academic papers for your research but frustrated because Sci-Hub isn’t as reliable as it used to be? I completely understand the struggle. Luckily, I came across a great solution by chance, and I’m excited to share it with you!

Prerequisites

Here’s the catch: you’ll need a Google Scholar account that’s verified with your university email. Don’t worry—it’s super easy to set up. While you still have access to your university email, take a few minutes to register and get it verified. It’s worth it!

Log in to your Google account, head over to Google Scholar, and verify your account using your university email—assuming you still have access to it. Once that’s done, go to the My Profile section in Google Scholar. You’ll see that your account is now linked and verified with your university email. Simple as that!

How to do Institutional Sign In?

When you open the publisher's website, you might notice that you’re still not logged into their system. No worries! Head back to Google Scholar and search for the paper you want. This time, you’ll see a handy PDF link next to the search result. Just click on it, and the paper should open right in your browser.

As a bonus, when you visit the publisher's homepage, you'll notice that your access is now provided through your university!

In conclusion, make sure to register for Google Scholar and link it to your university email while you still have access. Once that's done, you can easily search for academic papers through Google Scholar, and you’ll be automatically logged in with your institutional account, giving you seamless access to papers and research materials.