Open Access funding
The Open Access (OA) funds currently available at the University are:
- UKRI Open Access block grant 2022-23 (for papers acknowledging funding from AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, STFC or Innovate UK)
- The Wellcome Trust Open Access block grant 2022-23
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Open Access block grant 2022-23
- British Heart Foundation (BHF) Open Access block grant 2022-23
These funds are allocated to the University to enable researchers to comply with their funders’ OA policies.
These funders have set conditions for the use of their OA funds. Some journals are not compliant with the requirements of the OA policies of these funders and Article Processing Charges (APCs) cannot be paid in such circumstances. The Library will assess all funding requests according to funder eligibility criteria and may liaise with authors if clarification of funding acknowledged, funds requested or publishing route is required.
- University OA Fund 2022-2023 (for papers not acknowledging funding from any of the above research funders).
The University also provides limited support to unfunded authors publishing in fully Open Access journals via the University OA Fund. See below for information on how to request funding.
Requesting Open Access funding
Funded papers accepted for publication
If you are hoping to access funds from the block grants listed above, you should submit your Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) using the Library deposit form in the Open Access (OA) Gateway, ticking the box to indicate your funder.
Funded research should include a full grant acknowledgement, including grant number/s.
Unfunded papers, or papers not yet accepted for publication
If you wish to ask a general question about Open Access; request funding for a fully Open Access journal; enquire about Open Access for a book chapter or monograph; or seek use of the University Open Access fund for unfunded research, please use our Open Access enquiry form:
If you plan to publish in a fully Open Access journal, please contact us using the above form to discuss funding options prior to submission. Authors should not submit papers to a fully Open Access journal, or request an invoice for Open Access fees from their publisher, before the Library approves their funding request. If Open Access fees are incurred without prior funding approval from the Library, the Library may be unable to commit to paying these charges.
If your publisher requests payment prior to acceptance, please contact us using the above form so we can determine if funding is available for your paper and to confirm the legitimacy of the publisher. Do not request an invoice from the publisher or provide billing details before the Library has considered your funding options and approved your funding request. Schools will be liable for payment of invoices arranged without the Library’s involvement.
Further details on how funds can be used are provided below:
UKRI OA Block Grant
The 2022-23 UKRI Open Access block grant is now available for papers which acknowledge funding from any of the UKRI councils: AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, STFC, or Innovate UK.
If your funded paper has been accepted for publication, please request funding using the Library deposit form in the Open Access Gateway.
If you are planning to submit your funded paper to a fully Open Access journal, or are required to select Open Access for your paper prior to acceptance, please contact us using the Open Access enquiry form.
The Wellcome Trust
Open access fundingThe Wellcome Trust’s Open Access publication policy has now changed. Previously, Wellcome allowed a 6-month embargo on its funded research outputs between publication and a copy being made Open Access.
From 1st January 2021, a 6-month embargo is no longer tolerated.
Wellcome Open Access funding can be used to cover APCs for peer-reviewed original journal articles or non-commissioned reviews, published in either:
- Reputable fully OA journals (i.e. listed in DOAJ or a member of OASPA). Authors will apply for Open Access through the Library’s Open Access Gateway
Or
- Hybrid (subscription) journals that offer the CC-BY licence and have established a Transformative Agreement with the University of Manchester or are approved Transformative Journals. Authors will apply for Open Access through the Library’s Open Access Gateway
Wellcome Trust funded author can use the Journal Checker Tool to confirm if their preferred journal enables them to comply with The Wellcome Trust's Open Access publication policy, and, if so, which route to use.
The Wellcome Trust ask ALL authors to include the following statement on all submissions of original research to peer reviewed journals to guarantee rights retention for immediate Open Access:
'This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust [Grant number] for the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC-BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.’
Please note: Wellcome Open Access funding cannot be used to pay any fees other than those directly associated with OA. Submission, publication, page, colour or cover artwork charges are not eligible for payment.
British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation Open Access funding can be used to cover APCs for peer-reviewed original research articles or non-commissioned reviews, published in either:
Or
- Hybrid (subscription) journals that offer the CC-BY licence and allow deposit to EuropePMC within 6 months of publication
Please note: The British Heart Foundation Open Access policy does not apply to commissioned or invited review articles, conference proceedings, editorials, letters or commentaries.
British Heart Foundation Open Access funding cannot be used to pay any fees other than those directly associated with OA. Submission, publication, page, colour or cover artwork charges are not eligible for payment.
If your funded paper has been accepted for publication, please request funding using the Library deposit form in the Open Access Gateway.
If you are planning to submit your funded paper to a fully Open Access journal, or are required to select Open Access for your paper prior to acceptance, please contact us using the Open Access enquiry form.
Cancer Research UK
For articles accepted on or after 1st January 2022, Cancer Research UK Open Access funding can be used to cover APCs for peer-reviewed original research articles, published in either:
Or
- Hybrid (subscription) journals that offer the CC-BY licence and allow deposit to EuropePMC immediately on publication. A 6 month embargo will no longer be tolerated.
Please note: The Cancer Research UK Open Access policy does not apply to book chapters, monographs, editorials, reviews (except for meta analyses, such as Cochrane reviews) or conference proceedings.
Cancer Research UK Open Access funding cannot be used to pay any fees other than those directly associated with OA. Submission, publication, page, colour or cover artwork charges are not eligible for payment.
If your funded paper has been accepted for publication, please request funding using the Library deposit form in the Open Access Gateway.
If you are planning to submit your funded paper to a fully Open Access journal, or are required to select Open Access for your paper prior to acceptance, please contact us using the Open Access enquiry form.
Versus Arthritis
The Charity Open Access Fund (COAF) ended on the 30th September 2020. Versus Arthritis funded authors should now apply directly to their funder for help meeting the cost of an Article Processing Charge (APC).
Authors requiring support to publish articles resulting from work funded by Versus Arthritis should apply directly to their funder through Grant Tracker.
More information about Versus Arthritis’ Open Access policy and funding option can be found on the Versus Arthritis website.
Blood Cancer UK
The Charity Open Access Fund (COAF) ended on the 30th September 2020. Blood Cancer UK-funded authors seeking Open Access funding are advised to use existing grant funds or to contact their funder for help meeting the cost of an Article Processing Charge (APC).
More information about Blood Cancer UK's Open Access policy and funding options can be found on the Blood Cancer UK website.
Parkinson's UK
The Charity Open Access Fund (COAF) ended on the 30th September 2020. Parkinson’s UK funded authors seeking Open Access funding are advised to use existing grant funds or to contact their funder for help meeting the cost of an Article Processing Charge (APC).
More information about the Parkinson's UK Open Access policy can be found on the Parkinson's UK website.
University Open Access Fund
The 2022-23 University Open Access Fund is now open for requests to support unfunded authors publishing in fully Open Access journals. Authors should request funding via the Open Access Enquiry Form when they are preparing to submit their paper.
This fund is extremely limited and is available on a first come, first served basis. Do not request an invoice from the publisher or provide billing details before the Library has considered your funding options and approved your funding request. Schools will be liable for payment of invoices arranged without the Library’s involvement.
Unfunded authors are encouraged to make use of publisher agreements, where the payment of an APC is not required. Further information about these agreements is available via the following webpage:
If you have any other questions about funding, please contact the Open Access Service team.
Publisher transformative agreements
The Library has arranged transformative agreements with several publishers, details of which are available via the below webpage. Some agreements are restricted to authors funded by UKRI or the medical charities, or are limited to certain journals. The Open Access team can provide information and guidance for authors interested in accessing one of these agreements
Publisher APC discounts
Some learned societies offer APC discounts to their members, e.g. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Discounts are available to Manchester authors publishing Open Access with the following publishers:
Bioscientifica
Summary
- 50% discount on APCs (approximate APC cost of £1,620)
- Deal applies to hybrid Open Access (subscription) journals
Author actions
- During the submission process state that you are affiliated with The University of Manchester
Science Advances
Summary
- 10% discount on APC for Manchester authors
Author actions
- When completing the 'author charge' within the Rightslink system, click 'Apply Discounts'
- Under 'Affiliation discount,' enter The University of Manchester. It is essential to include 'The' at the start of the University's name
- Click 'Apply discount,' then 'Next' to complete the Rightslink form
The Microbiology Society
How the agreement works
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Review and original research articles can be published immediately Open Access at no cost to the author
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Agreement applies to all Microbiology Society journals, both Open Access and subscription-based
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Agreement applies to both funded and unfunded papers
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Corresponding author must be affiliated with The University of Manchester
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Deal covers full cost of APC
How to access the agreement
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The publisher will notify corresponding authors from participating institutions of the deal through the manuscript peer review process.
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To facilitate this, please state that you are affiliated with the University of Manchester during the submission process
Publisher’s portfolio – which disciplines can benefit from this agreement?
This publisher’s portfolio is focused on topics within microbiology.
More information and support
The Library’s Open Access team can provide further information on this agreement and related enquiries. Please use the Open Access enquiry form to contact the team:
Your Faculty Engagement Librarian will work in partnership with you to ensure the Library is meeting your teaching and research needs.
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
How the agreement works
- Review and original research articles can be published immediately Open Access at no cost to the author
- Agreement applies to eight journals: PLoS One, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Pathogens, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS Digital Health, PLoS Medicine and PLoS Biology
- All other PLoS journals are excluded from this agreement
- Agreement applies to both funded and unfunded papers
- Corresponding author must be affiliated with The University of Manchester
- Deal covers full cost of APC
How to access the agreement
During the submission process, state that you are affiliated with the University of Manchester
Publisher’s portfolio – which disciplines can benefit from this agreement?
This agreement applies to eight journals: PLoS One, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Pathogens, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS Digital Health, PLoS Medicine and PLoS Biology
More information and support
The Library’s Open Access team can provide further information on this agreement and related enquiries. Please use the Open Access enquiry form to contact the team:
Your Faculty Engagement Librarian will work in partnership with you to ensure the Library is meeting your teaching and research needs.