Charges Policy

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply only after a manuscript has successfully undergone peer review and been officially accepted for publication. These charges support the operational costs of the open-access publication, including editorial management, peer review administration, online hosting, archiving, and ongoing journal development.

Use of APCs

APCs are used to cover the following key activities:

1. Editorial Management: Guaranteeing efficient handling of manuscripts throughout the publishing process.
2. Peer Review Administration: Overseeing and coordinating the peer review process to ensure high academic standards.
3. Online Hosting: Ensuring the article is hosted on a secure, accessible platform accessible worldwide.
4. Archiving: Preserving published articles through long-term storage to ensure ongoing access and protection.
5. Journal Development: Promoting the ongoing improvement and expansion of the journal, including technological upgrades and improved publishing practices.

Waiver policies for economically disadvantaged nations

Based on the World Bank’s classification, our journal is dedicated to promoting fair access to research publishing. Therefore, we provide Article Processing Charge (APC) waivers and discounts to authors from low- and lower-middle-income economies, as defined by the World Bank.

World Bank Economic Classification and APC Waivers (effective from Feb 2028)

Income Group	World Bank Classification	APC Waiver Eligibility	Charge
Low-income economies	Countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of $1,045 or less (as per World Bank data)	Eligible for full waiver	$200
Lower-middle-income economies	Countries with a GNI per capita between $1,046 and $4,095	Eligible for partial waiver	$400
Upper-middle-income economies	Countries with a GNI per capita between $4,096 and $12,695	Eligible for partial waiver	$600
High-income economies	Countries with a GNI per capita of $12,696 or more	Not eligible for waiver	$1000

Source: World Bank. (2023). World Bank country and lending groups. The World Bank. https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups

 

Policy Details

·         Full Waiver: Authors from low-income economies qualify for a full waiver of the APC.

·         Partial Waiver: Authors from lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries are eligible for a partial waiver or discount on the APC, depending on the journal's specific policies.

·         High-income economies: Authors from high-income countries are not eligible for APC waivers, but they may qualify for discounts or other promotional offers, which are clearly explained on the journal's website.

All applicable APCs, waiver policies, and discount details are clearly listed on the journal’s website to ensure authors are fully informed of the costs before submitting their manuscripts.

APC Fee Update

Please note that the journal currently charges a flat fee of $200, which will increase to $1,000 once the waiver terms take effect in February 2028.

Source for Income Group Classification

For more details on the World Bank's classification of countries by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, please visit the official World Bank page:
World Bank - Country and Lending Groups (Income Classification).