APC Waiver Criteria

Lex Gazette International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is committed to making scholarly publishing accessible by offering waivers or discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs). This policy outlines who is eligible, how to apply, and how waivers or discounts are granted, ensuring no deserving research is excluded due to financial limitations.

Eligibility Criteria

Authors may be considered for full or partial APC waivers under the following conditions:

1.Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries

Authors based in countries classified by the World Bank as low-income or lower-middle-income are eligible for APC relief.

2. Financial Hardship

Authors demonstrating financial difficulty—such as those at underfunded institutions or independent researchers without financial backing—may request a waiver.

3. Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

Recent graduates, postgraduate students, and early-career scholars without access to grants or institutional funds are encouraged to apply.

4. Unfunded Research

Research conducted without the support of grants or financial sponsorship qualifies for consideration.

5. Exceptional Circumstances

On a case-by-case basis, other compelling situations may be considered at the discretion of the editorial team.

6. Institutional Collaboration

Institutions such as universities, colleges, research organizations, NGOs, and professional bodies that collaborate with Lex Gazette Academy through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or Letter of Intent (LoI) may be entitled to partial or full APC waivers for manuscripts submitted by their affiliated authors. These waivers are granted as part of the mutual commitment to promote accessible and inclusive academic publishing. Waivers under this category are subject to verification of affiliation and approval by the editorial team.

7. Journal and Academy Members

Any active member of the Lex Gazette Academy or Board may be eligible for a waiver. Members may also recommend waiver consideration for others, subject to review.

Application Process

Note: APC waiver or discount requests are accepted only after successful abstract submission and assignment of a unique paper ID.

1. Submission of Request

    • Authors must send a waiver request via email to:

📧 editorialboard@lexgazette.com (for waiver evaluation)

    • The email must include:
      • Title of the manuscript
      • Unique abstract/paper ID (issued upon abstract approval)
      • Names and affiliations of all authors
      • Reason for requesting the waiver or discount 

2. Supporting Documents

Authors may be asked to provide:

    • Proof of institutional affiliation, student status, or unemployment
    • A declaration of lack of funding or financial hardship
    • Supporting letters from an institution or collaborator (if applicable) 

3. Review Process

Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the editorial team under the direction of the Editor-in-Chief.

4. Notification & Discount Code

  • If the waiver or discount is approved, a unique discount code (either full or partial) will be emailed to the applicant.
  • This code must be used at the time of final manuscript submission and payment.

**Author and Co-author Policy

  • APC Waivers/Discounts are granted only to the First Author of the paper.
  • Co-authors are required to pay certification and processing charges, as per the journal’s guidelines.
  • In special cases, the Editor-in-Chief may waive co-author charges, especially if:
    • The co-author is affiliated with Lex Gazette Academy or partner institutions
    • The contribution is essential, and the co-author qualifies under any of the waiver categories

Confidentiality

All applications and supporting materials are handled with strict confidentiality. No personal or institutional information will be shared beyond the waiver assessment process.

Conclusion

Lex Gazette International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is committed to empowering global scholarship. Our APC waiver policy is designed to support inclusive participation in academic publishing, regardless of economic background. Authors are encouraged to apply where appropriate, understanding that:

All final 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]