Waivers & Discounts

Principles

• Equity: We aim to ensure that ability to pay does not limit publication of high quality research.
• Transparency: Criteria and process are clear and consistently applied.
• Independence: Editorial decisions are made without regard to waiver status.

Requests are assessed confidentially and separately from peer review.

Eligibility

• Geographic: Corresponding authors based in low and lower middle income economies (as defined by the World Bank) are generally eligible for partial waivers.
• Need based: Authors without access to institutional or funder APC support may request assistance.
• Special cases: Early career researchers, independent scholars, or multi author teams with limited resources may be considered.

Types of support

• Partial discount: Typically 10% to 75% depending on circumstances.
• Deferred invoicing: Adjusted billing date to align with grant disbursement where applicable.

How to apply

• When: Preferably at initial submission or any time before acceptance. Requests after acceptance are still considered where justified.
• How: Email the editorial office or use the submission system waiver request option if available.
• What to include:
  • Manuscript title and submission ID (if available)
  • Corresponding author affiliation and country
  • Funding status and any available support
  • Requested level of support with brief justification

Timing and decisions

• Assessment: Requests are typically reviewed within 5 to 10 business days.
• Independence: Waiver decisions do not influence editorial or peer review outcomes.
• Validity: Approved support applies to the specific manuscript and does not transfer to other submissions.

Proof and documentation

• We may request confirmation of affiliation, country, or funding status to confirm eligibility.
• Personal financial details are not required beyond what is necessary to assess the request.

We handle all documentation in accordance with our Privacy Policy and retain it only as long as necessary for the decision process.

Funder and institutional support

• Check whether your funder or institution has an open access agreement or APC fund that covers publication fees.
• Many institutions maintain open access funds or transformative agreements that may cover APCs fully or partially.
• Where an agreement is in place, we will guide you through the appropriate workflow.

FAQs

• Does requesting a waiver affect review? No. Editorial assessment is independent of any financial considerations.
• Can co-authors from HICs apply? Eligibility is primarily based on the corresponding author and funding context; describe the situation for case-by-case review.
• Can I combine discounts? Institutional agreements or funder support are considered first; additional support may be offered where a gap remains.

Contact

Editorial Office - Waivers
Email: [email protected]