APC Waiver Criteria

Introduction

Lex Gazette is dedicated to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent the publication of high-quality research. To this end, we offer waivers and discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) for authors who may not have the means to cover these costs. This policy outlines the criteria and application process for obtaining an APC waiver or discount.

Eligibility Criteria

· Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries:

o   Authors from countries classified by the World Bank as low-income or lower-middle-income are eligible for full or partial waivers. A list of eligible countries can be found on the World Bank’s website.

· Financial Hardship:

o   Authors who can demonstrate financial hardship may apply for a waiver. This includes, but is not limited to, researchers from underfunded institutions or independent researchers without funding support.

· Early Career Researchers:

o   Early career researchers (ECRs), such as recent graduates and post graduate’s fellows, may be eligible for waivers, particularly if they do not have grant funding available to cover APCs.

· Unfunded Research:

o   Authors who do not have access to funding specifically designated for covering publication costs are eligible to apply for a waiver.

· Exceptional Circumstances:

o   Waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis for authors with exceptional circumstances that do not fall under the above categories.

   Collaboration:

Any university, college, company agency etc. seeking to make a meaningful contribution to the field of research and requiring assistance related to publication may qualify under this criterion. Such entities are invited to formally collaborate with us through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or a Letter of Intent. This collaboration may entitle their authors to partial or full waivers of Article Processing Charges (APCs).

Application Process

1.  Submission:

o   Authors wishing to apply for an APC waiver or discount should submit their request before the manuscript submission. The request should be made through the submission via email, providing the following information:

  1. The title of the manuscript
  2. The names and affiliations of all authors
  3. A brief explanation of the reasons for requesting a waiver, including details of any financial hardship or lack of funding.

2.  Documentation:

o   Applicants may be required to provide supporting documentation, such as a letter from their institution or funding body, to substantiate their claim for a waiver.

3.  Review:

o  All waiver requests are reviewed by the editorial team on a case-by-case basis. The decision to grant a waiver or discount is based on the eligibility criteria and the merits of the request.

4.  Notification:

o   Authors will be notified of the outcome of their waiver application within 14 days of submission.

Confidentiality

All waiver applications are treated confidentially. Information provided by authors in support of their waiver requests will only be used for the purpose of assessing the application and will not be disclosed to third parties.

Conclusion

Lex Gazette is committed to supporting researchers from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that the ability to publish is not hindered by financial constraints. We encourage authors who meet the waiver criteria to apply and assure them that their applications will be handled with fairness and confidentiality.

NOTE: All decisions regarding the criteria for Article Processing Charge (APC) waivers are vested solely in the discretionary authority of the Editor-in-Chief. No author shall have any claim to an APC waiver as a matter of right. While we strive to support researchers, the granting of waivers remains at the Editor-in-Chief’s sole discretion.

For any questions or further information regarding our APC waiver criteria, please contact [contact@lexgazette.com].