How to take advantage of article processing charge (APC) discounts

On the occasion of Open Access Week, we would like to remind you that VDU authors can take advantage of article processing charge discounts.

What is an article processing charge (APC)?

APC (Article Processing Charge) is a fee paid to the publisher so that the publication becomes immediately available online to everyone. It can be paid by the author, institution, or funders. Discounts depend on publisher agreements and the institutional affiliation of the corresponding author.

Where you can publish for free (if the corresponding author is from VMU)?

• Cambridge University Press (CUP) – free publication in journals from the list.
• Cogitatio Press – free publication in all open access journals.
• De Gruyter – free publication in English and German journals from the list.
• Emerald – free publication in journals from the list. The agreement provides for a limited number of free articles. Lithuanian authors can publish 15 articles per year free of charge. You can check how many free publication opportunities are left here.
• Microbiology Society – free publication in journals from the list.
• Oxford University Press (OUP) – free publication in journals from the list. The agreement provides for a limited number of free articles. Lithuanian authors can publish 14 articles per year free of charge. You can monitor how many free publication opportunities remain here.
• SAGE – free publication in hybrid journals.

Where discounts are applied

• Brill – 60% discount when publishing in journals from the list.
• Edward Elgar – £500 discount when publishing in journals from the list.
• MDPI – 10% discount when publishing in open access journals.
• SAGE – 20% discount when publishing in gold open access journals.
• Taylor & Francis – 50% discount when publishing in journals from the list.
• World Scientific – 50% discount when publishing in journals from the list.

How to make use of it (5 steps)

1. Check the list of agreements with VMU: whether your journal/publisher is included and what conditions apply.
2. When submitting your manuscript, indicate your VMU affiliation and use @vdu.lt email address – this will identify whether you are eligible for a discount.
3. Follow the instructions in the publisher’s system (Rightslink, SciPris, SAGE Choice, T&F Submission Portal, etc.) and select the discount if requested.
4. Select a Creative Commons license (CC BY is recommended).
5. If the discount is not applied, contact the publisher or the VMU library.

What to note

• Discounts are determined based on the institutional affiliation of the corresponding author.
• Journal type:
  • Gold Open Access – all journal articles are open access, APC fees are paid by the author/institution/funding agency.
  • Hybrid journals – closed journals, accessible only to subscribers. Only paid articles are open access.
• When annual limits apply (Oxford University Press and Emerald), the option to print for free is given on a first-come, first-served basis (apply as early as possible).
• Technical details are important: carefully indicate your institutional affiliation, use @vdu.lt; if necessary, indicate that a discount should be applied and manually add a note.
• Lithuanian research Council project funds do not usually cover publishing in hybrid journals.