APCs & Waiver Policy — IJRGP
IJRGP supports open access and transparent fee practices. We do not charge any fee at the time of initial submission. An Article Processing Charge (APC) is only requested after peer review and formal acceptance, and only when applicable. We operate a clear, fair waiver and discount program to ensure that inability to pay does not prevent publication.
No submission fee — APC only after acceptance
Purpose and scope
This policy explains when APCs apply, the current APC levels, payment procedures, refund rules, and how authors may request waivers or discounts. It applies to all journals published by IJRGP unless a specific journal states a different APC in its journal home (in which case that amount will be displayed prominently on the journal’s page). The goal is to be fully transparent and indexer-ready (DOAJ/Scopus/Web of Science expect clear APC disclosure).
Policy applies to all journals
Principle: equity and transparency
IJRGP believes that scholarly merit, not ability to pay, should determine whether work is published. APCs (where charged) support editorial operations, production (copy-editing, XML/HTML conversion, PDF production), DOI registration, and archiving/preservation. We publish our APCs openly and process waivers without bias.
When APCs apply
- No fee at submission. Authors may submit manuscripts at no cost.
- APC applies only after formal acceptance. Authors will be notified in the acceptance letter and provided an invoice if an APC is required.
- APC is charged per article (not per author) unless otherwise stated.
No fee at submission
Current APC
| Article Type | APC (USD) |
|---|---|
| Original Research Article | USD 200 |
| Short Communication / Brief Report | USD 150 |
| Review Article (invited) | USD 120 |
| Case Study / Policy Brief | USD 100 |
Invoicing & payment procedure
- After acceptance, authors receive a formal acceptance letter and an APC invoice with payment instructions.
- Payment methods accepted: bank transfer (details on invoice), major credit/debit cards, and payment gateway (PayPal). Provide clear instructions for international transfers (IBAN / SWIFT) where relevant.
- APC must be paid within 30 days of invoice (or a specified time agreed in writing). Delays may result in temporary withholding of DOI/metadata deposit or postponement of publication until payment/waiver is resolved.
Taxes, VAT and additional charges
APC amounts are published exclusive of local taxes unless otherwise stated. Where taxes apply (VAT/GST), these will be added to the invoice as required by law. Authors or institutions are responsible for any bank transfer fees.
Refund policy
- If an article is withdrawn before production (after acceptance but before invoicing), the publisher will process a full refund if payment was already made — subject to any transaction fees.
- No refunds are available for articles that have entered final production and metadata/DOI deposit except in exceptional and documented circumstances. Refund cases are handled on a case-by-case basis — contact contact@ijrgp.com.
Waiver & discount policy
IJRGP operates a generous waiver and discount program to promote equity:
- Full or partial waivers are available for authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries (per World Bank classification) and for those who can demonstrate financial hardship.
- Discounts may be offered for authors with institutional agreements, members of partner organisations, or for special calls (e.g., special issues sponsored by a funder).
- Waiver/discount applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and decisions are made by the publisher’s editorial office independent of editorial assessment.
Waivers decided independently — no influence on editorial decision
Eligibility criteria for waivers and discounts
- Automatic full waiver: corresponding authors based in World Bank low-income economies.
- Substantial partial waiver (50–75%): corresponding authors based in lower-middle-income economies or authors who demonstrate limited institutional support.
- Case-by-case waivers: for authors (any country) demonstrating financial hardship, unfunded researchers, early-career researchers without grant support, or authors whose funders mandate OA but provide no APC.
- Institutional discounts or waivers: established through signed agreements with institutions or consortia.
How to apply for a waiver or discount
- When to apply: Authors should request a waiver at the time of submission or as soon as financial concerns are identified. Early request helps with planning. (Although APC is charged only after acceptance, applying early speeds decision-making.)
- What to submit:
o Manuscript title and corresponding author name & email.
o Country of corresponding author and institutional affiliation.
o Statement of reasons for waiver (brief).
o Any supporting documentation (institutional support statement, funding denials, student status). - Where to send: Email the waiver request to contact@ijrgp.com with subject: APC Waiver Request — [Manuscript Title].
- Decision timing: We aim to respond to waiver requests within 2 business days. Waiver decisions are independent of editorial decisions and do not influence peer review.
- If approved: the acceptance letter will specify the waiver/discount and adjusted invoice amount.
Institutional agreements, membership & sponsorship
IJRGP welcomes institutional and consortial agreements that cover APCs for affiliated authors. Institutions may negotiate bulk discounts or prepayment arrangements. Please contact contact@ijrgp.com to discuss institutional partnerships and to set up invoicing procedures.
Waiver abuse & verification
To protect the scheme’s integrity, IJRGP may verify claims and supporting documents. False claims may lead to invoice rescindment, publication delay, or other actions. Waivers are granted at the publisher’s discretion and are not transferable.
Appeals & complaints about APC decisions
If an author is dissatisfied with an APC or waiver decision, they may submit an appeal to contact@ijrgp.com within 7 days of the decision. Appeals are reviewed by senior staff not involved in the original decision. Complaints about policy application may be escalated via the publisher’s complaints procedure
Record keeping & reporting
IJRGP keeps records of invoicing, waiver applications and decisions for a minimum period to ensure accountability and to provide aggregated reports for indexers and stakeholders. Aggregate waiver statistics will be made public annually.
IJRGP’s APC & Waiver Policy is designed to balance sustainability with fairness. We will ensure that authors are treated equitably, that charges are transparent, and that inability to pay will not bar worthy research from publication.