Open Access
Open Access (OA) means that research publications are made freely available online. The global movement toward open access is supported by universities, research funders, interest organizations, and publishers worldwide. Since 2005, researchers at Lund University have been expected to publish open access whenever possible. The most recent Open Access Policy, adopted in June 2021, states that researchers at LU are "responsible for making their publications and artistic works open access to the greatest extent possible".
(Read the Open Access Policy for Publications and Artistic Works (PDF, opens in a new window)).
Research funders increasingly require that publicly funded research be openly accessible. These requirements are often outlined in specific policies, including when and how the publication must be made available. In many cases, publication fees are covered by the funder and included in the project budget from the start.
Routes to Open Access
Diamond OA
Publishing without any fees for authors or readers.
Gold OA
Publishing with an open access publisher, often involving an Article Processing Charge (APC) or Book Processing Charge (BPC).
Green/Parallel OA
Publishing in a subscription-based journal or with a traditional publisher, while also making the publication freely available in an institutional repository or a research information system (e.g., LUCRIS). Restrictions may apply, such as embargo periods or limitations on which version can be shared.
Hybrid OA
Publishing open access in a subscription-based journal by paying an APC.
Parallel Publishing at Lund University
When signing a publishing agreement, try to retain the right to parallel publishing. If the agreement does not allow it, you can contact the publisher to request permission.
University Library on Copyright and Letter Templates
University Library on Parallel Publishing in LUCRIS
Rights of Use (Licenses and Agreements)
Open access can involve different levels of openness regarding what users are allowed to do with the publication. The basic level is free online access. Usage rights—such as copying, sharing, and reuse—are often defined using a Creative Commons license (CC license).
National Library of Sweden on Creative Commons for Researchers (opens in a new window)
Journals and publishers may have different copyright and parallel publishing policies. Always check the publisher’s website if you're unsure.
Choosing the Right Publishing Channel
The easiest way to publish open access is to choose a journal or publisher that supports OA from the start.
- DOAJ – Directory of Open Access Journals lists OA journals
- DOAB – Directory of Open Access Books indexes books that are published with an open license and have undergone peer review
- OAPEN – Open Access Publishing in European Networks (especially for humanities and social sciences)
Questionable OA Journals
Unfortunately, some researchers receive offers from non-reputable OA journals. If you’re unsure about a journal or publisher, feel free to contact us.
Read more about questionable journals on our Publishing Strategy page
University Library on Questionable OA Publishers
Publication Fees (APC/BPC)
More and more journals and publishers offer OA publishing options. Many but far from all OA publications are funded via so-called APCs (Article Processing Charges) or BPCs (Book Processing Charges).
The fees vary greatly, but a sum for APC often mentioned for publishing in OA journals is about 1500 USD. If you instead choose to publish according to the hybrid model, you can expect about double the price, around 3000 USD per article. Book processing charges also vary, largely depending on the type of licensing chosen.
Support for Publication Fees
The University Library manages funds that can be used to cover APCs for OA journals that meet reasonable quality standards. Support is not available for hybrid journals. In such cases, funding must come from the author, their department, or research grants.
University Library on APC Support
Authors affiliated with Lund University can also apply for funding to publish OA books (monographs or anthologies). Full funding is not available if the book is already funded by other sources, but partial funding may be granted.
University Library on BPC Support
Lund University has agreements with several publishers that offer discounts or waived fees for OA and hybrid journals.
Use the SciFree search tool to find journals included in current publisher agreements: