What Is ORCID iD and Why Do Students and Researchers Need It? Complete Beginner Guide

If you have ever submitted a journal paper, applied for a scholarship, created a research profile, or searched for academic opportunities online, you may have seen something called an ORCID iD.

Many students ignore it at first because it looks like just another long number:

0000-0000-0000-0000

But in reality, ORCID has become one of the most important academic tools for students, graduates, lecturers, and researchers around the world.

Today, many journals, publishers, universities, funding organizations, and research databases ask for an ORCID iD during registration or manuscript submission.

The good news is that ORCID is completely free and only takes a few minutes to set up.

This guide explains what ORCID is, why it matters, how to create one, and how students and graduates can use it professionally.

Quick Summary

ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID.

It is a free persistent digital identifier that permanently connects researchers to their academic work, publications, projects, affiliations, and professional activities.

Your ORCID iD stays with you throughout your career even if:

you change schools
you move to another country
you change your name
you switch jobs
you publish in different journals

Many publishers and academic platforms now use ORCID to correctly identify authors and automatically connect publications to their profiles.

What Is ORCID?

ORCID is a non profit organization that provides researchers with a unique academic identity.

Your ORCID iD is a personal 16 digit identifier such as:

0009-0007-6871-3102

Think of it as a digital academic passport.

Instead of relying only on your name, ORCID creates a permanent identity linked specifically to your research activities.

This helps avoid confusion between researchers who may have similar names.

For example:

Mohammed Balogun
M. Balogun
Mohammad J. Balogun

could all refer to different people.

With ORCID, your work remains connected specifically to you.

Is ORCID Free?

Yes. ORCID is completely free for students, graduates, lecturers, and researchers.

You do not need to pay to:

create an ORCID iD
add publications
update your profile
connect journals
link your research activities

Once you register, your ORCID iD belongs to you permanently.

Why ORCID Is Important for Students and Researchers

Many people think ORCID is only for professors or PhD holders.

That is no longer true.

Even undergraduate students and fresh graduates now benefit from having an ORCID iD.

1. It Prevents Name Confusion

One of the biggest problems in academic publishing is author confusion.

Two researchers may have similar names, initials, or spellings.

ORCID solves this problem by assigning every researcher a unique identifier.

This ensures your papers, conference presentations, and research activities are correctly linked to you.

2. It Makes Journal Submission Easier

Many journals now request ORCID during paper submission.

Instead of repeatedly typing:

your name
affiliation
email
publication details

your ORCID profile can automatically provide that information.

This saves time and reduces mistakes during submission.

3. It Helps Build Your Academic Reputation

Your ORCID profile acts like an online academic portfolio.

People can view:

your publications
research projects
affiliations
education history
conference papers
professional activities

This becomes useful for:

scholarship applications
postgraduate admissions
grant opportunities
research collaborations
job applications

4. It Stays With You for Life

Unlike university portals or institutional emails, your ORCID iD remains the same throughout your career.

If you graduate from one university and later move elsewhere, your research history stays connected to the same ORCID profile.

5. It Improves Research Visibility

Platforms like:

Crossref
Scopus
Web of Science
journal publishers

can connect your research outputs directly to your ORCID profile.

This helps other researchers discover your work more easily.

Who Should Create an ORCID iD?

ORCID is useful for:

final year students
postgraduate students
lecturers
researchers
journal authors
conference presenters
scholarship applicants
independent researchers

Even if you have not published a paper yet, creating your ORCID early is still a good idea.

How to Create an ORCID iD

Creating an ORCID account takes only a few minutes.

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Go to:

ORCID Official Website

Step 2: Register

Click “Register” and enter:

your name
email address
password

Step 3: Verify Your Email

ORCID will send a verification email to confirm your account.

Step 4: Complete Your Profile

You can then add:

education
employment
publications
keywords
websites
biography
research activities

How to Add Publications to ORCID

There are two common methods.

Add Using DOI

If your paper already has a DOI, ORCID can automatically import the publication details.

Simply:

go to Works
click Add
select Add DOI
paste the DOI

ORCID retrieves the paper information automatically.

Add Manually

If your paper is unpublished or still under review, you can manually add it as:

working paper
report
conference paper
preprint

You can update it later after publication.

Example of How ORCID Works

Imagine a student publishes a paper titled:

“An IoT-Enabled High-Frequency Smart Energy Meter with Web Based Data Management and Control”

After publication, the student adds the paper DOI to ORCID.

Later, the same student begins another research project on AI generated web application security.

Even if the student changes institutions or emails in the future, both projects remain permanently connected to the same ORCID iD.

This creates a reliable academic history over time.

Should You Add ORCID to Your CV?

Yes.

Adding your ORCID iD to your CV looks professional and helps people verify your academic work easily.

You can place it near your contact details.

Example:

Mohammad-Jamiu Babatunde Balogun
Email: example@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0000-0000-0000

If your CV is a PDF, make the ORCID link clickable.

ORCID vs Google Scholar

Many students confuse ORCID with Google Scholar.

They are different.

ORCID

creates your permanent researcher identity
connects publications to you
used during journal submissions
controlled by you

Google Scholar

tracks citations
indexes academic papers
measures visibility and citations

Most researchers use both together.

ORCID vs ResearchGate

ResearchGate is a research networking platform.

ORCID is an official researcher identification system.

ResearchGate focuses more on:

networking
paper sharing
discussions

ORCID focuses on:

identity verification
publication tracking
institutional integration

Common ORCID Mistakes to Avoid

Creating Multiple Accounts

Try to maintain one ORCID iD throughout your career.

Multiple accounts can split your publication history.

Leaving Your Profile Empty

After registration, update your:

education
affiliations
publications
keywords

An empty profile provides little value.

Forgetting to Verify Email

Always verify your email so you do not lose access later.

Incorrect Employment Information

If you were only a student at a university, list it under Education rather than Employment unless you officially worked there.

Why ORCID Matters More in 2026

Academic publishing is becoming more digital and automated.

Many systems now use ORCID for:

manuscript tracking
author verification
grant applications
citation indexing
institutional reporting

Some journals even update ORCID profiles automatically after publication.

Having an ORCID iD today is becoming as important as having a professional email or LinkedIn profile.

Conclusion

ORCID may look like a simple number, but it plays a major role in modern academic and research identity.

For students and graduates, creating an ORCID iD early helps establish a professional academic presence before opportunities start appearing.

Whether you plan to:

publish research papers
apply for scholarships
pursue postgraduate studies
build an academic career
join research collaborations

an ORCID iD helps ensure your work remains connected to you permanently.

The best part is that setting it up is completely free and only takes a few minutes.

FAQs

What does ORCID stand for?

ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID.

Is ORCID free?

Yes. ORCID is completely free for individuals.

Can undergraduate students create ORCID?

Yes. Undergraduate and final year students can create ORCID accounts even before publishing papers.

Does ORCID replace a CV?

No. ORCID supports your CV by providing a verified online academic profile.

Can I add unpublished work to ORCID?

Yes. You can manually add working papers, reports, and ongoing research projects.

Can I edit my ORCID profile later?

Yes. You can update your profile anytime.

Should I add ORCID to my CV?

Yes. Adding ORCID to your CV looks professional and helps people verify your research work.

Can I have two ORCID accounts?

It is recommended to maintain only one ORCID iD throughout your career.

Is ORCID useful outside academia?

Yes. ORCID can also support research related jobs, innovation projects, consulting work, and professional portfolios.

How long does ORCID last?

Your ORCID iD is permanent and stays with you throughout your career.