Q. Why was my request for Open Access funding declined?

There may be a number of reasons why an open access fee support request was declined.

For further information, please see the Library website or email the Library at lib-research@westernsydney.edu.au

Possible reasons include:

Limited funds

Western Sydney University provides limited funding to assist researchers to publish papers in open access journals, and the Library administers these funds on behalf of the University.

If funds are fully committed to papers submitted and under editorial review the request will be declined. The researcher will be offered the option for the Library to hold the request until more funds are available.

Publishing in a hybrid journal

The University has stipulated that open access fee support funds be used to support APCs for fully open access journals only, not hybrid publications. Hybrid publications are those which offer an open access option in a subscription journal.

Journal ranking

The journal must have a Scimago quartile ranking of 1 or 2, depending on the corresponding author’s academic employment level.