Article Processing Charges

Article Processing Charges

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Open Access Publishing Model

As an open access journal, all published articles are freely available to readers worldwide. To sustain high-quality publishing operations, peer review, editorial management, and technical infrastructure, the journal charges Article Processing Charges (APCs) to authors or their institutions.

Current Article Processing Charges

Article Type APC (USD) Processing Time
Original Research Article $699 3-4 weeks review
Review Article / Systematic Review $799 4-5 weeks review
Case Report $499 2-3 weeks review
Short Communication $399 2-3 weeks review
Letter to the Editor Free 1-2 weeks review

All prices in U.S. Dollars (USD). Prices effective as of February 2026.

What APCs Cover

Article Processing Charges support:

  • Peer review management - Coordinating expert reviewers
  • Editorial oversight - Editor and editorial board operations
  • Copy editing and proofreading - Professional language editing
  • XML and HTML production - Converting manuscripts to multiple formats
  • DOI registration - Permanent identifier for each article
  • Hosting and archiving - Secure, permanent storage and access
  • Indexing and metadata - Distribution to databases (PubMed, Scopus, etc.)
  • Technical support - Platform maintenance and development
  • Open access infrastructure - Ensuring free, permanent public access

When Are APCs Charged?

Important: APCs are only charged AFTER your manuscript is accepted for publication.

  • No submission fees - Free to submit manuscripts
  • No review fees - No charges during peer review
  • No fees if rejected - Only accepted articles incur charges
  • Payment due after acceptance - Invoice sent upon final acceptance
  • Publication after payment - Articles published once payment received

Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

  • Credit Card - Visa, Mastercard, American Express
  • Institutional Purchase Order - For university/institutional billing
  • Wire Transfer / Bank Transfer - International payments accepted
  • PayPal - For individual payments

Payment instructions will be provided in the acceptance notification email.

Who Pays the APC?

APCs may be paid by:

  • Research funders - Many grants include OA publication costs
  • Institutions - Universities often have central OA publication funds
  • Departments - Academic departments may have publication budgets
  • Authors personally - If no institutional/funder support available

Tip: Check with your institution's library or research office about available OA funding before submitting.

Waiver and Discount Policy

Full Waivers (100% Discount)

We provide complete APC waivers for authors from:

  • Low-income countries (as classified by World Bank) - View list
  • No funding available - Authors who can demonstrate lack of institutional or grant funding
  • Invited articles - Specifically commissioned by editors
  • Editorial board members - One article per year for active board members

Partial Discounts (50% Reduction)

We offer 50% APC discounts for authors from:

  • Lower-middle-income countries (World Bank classification)
  • Early career researchers - Graduate students and postdocs (documentation required)
  • Multiple author publications - Where corresponding author is from eligible country

How to Request a Waiver/Discount

  1. Submit your manuscript normally through the online system
  2. If accepted, you will receive an APC invoice
  3. Email the Editorial Office at editorial@[journaldomain].com with:
    • Manuscript ID number
    • Reason for waiver/discount request
    • Supporting documentation (if applicable)
  4. Decision typically provided within 5 business days

Important: Waiver/discount requests do not affect editorial decisions. All manuscripts are evaluated solely on scientific merit.

Institutional Memberships

Coming Soon

We are developing institutional membership programs that will provide:

  • Discounted or waived APCs for affiliated authors
  • Centralized billing and reporting
  • Priority support for members
  • Annual usage reports for assessment

For information about institutional partnerships, contact: partnerships@[journaldomain].com

Funder Agreements

We have agreements with several research funders to facilitate direct APC payment:

  • Check if your funder has a direct billing arrangement
  • Many funders reimburse OA publication costs
  • Provide funder information during manuscript submission
  • We can provide documentation for reimbursement claims

Funder Open Access Policies

Our open access model complies with mandates from:

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • European Commission (Horizon Europe)
  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Many other national and private funders

Invoice and Receipt

  • Invoice sent via email after manuscript acceptance
  • Payment due within 30 days of invoice date
  • Receipt provided immediately upon payment processing
  • Receipts include VAT/tax information where applicable
  • Suitable for grant reporting and institutional reimbursement

Publication Timeline After Payment

  1. Payment received - Confirmation sent to corresponding author
  2. Copyediting - Professional editing (3-5 days)
  3. Proofs sent - Authors review final version (2-3 days for response)
  4. Final corrections - Minor changes implemented (1-2 days)
  5. Publication - Article published online (immediate)

Total time from payment to publication: 7-10 days

Refund Policy

  • Before publication: Full refund available if requested before article goes live
  • After publication: No refunds (article already publicly available with DOI)
  • Technical issues: Refunds provided if publication cannot proceed due to technical problems

No Hidden Fees

The APC is the only fee charged. There are no additional costs for:

  • Color figures or images
  • Supplementary materials
  • Page length (within reasonable limits)
  • Open access distribution
  • Inclusion in databases
  • DOI assignment
  • Corrections or minor revisions after publication

Transparency

We are committed to transparency in our publication costs:

  • APCs clearly stated on website
  • No charges until after acceptance
  • Waiver policy clearly defined
  • Detailed invoicing with itemization

Questions About APCs?

For questions about article processing charges, waivers, or payment methods:

  • Email: editorial@[journaldomain].com
  • Subject line: APC Inquiry - [Your Manuscript ID]

We are committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent publication of high-quality research.

Note: Replace [journaldomain].com with the actual journal domain when implementing.