Why does a journal ask you to pay after your article is accepted? In open access publishing, the reader does not pay a subscription, so the journal needs another source of income. Article processing charges, usually called APCs, are one answer: a fee paid by the author, the institution or the funder when an article is accepted. For a master’s student or early researcher, the fee can be a surprise, and it is often the moment when a legitimate journal is confused with a predatory one.
This article is part of our guide How to Write a Master’s Thesis by the Mastermind PhD team and relates to our Journal Article support service. Sources last checked: November 2026.
This guide explains what APCs are, how the five main open access models differ, who usually pays, and how to check a journal’s charges before you submit.
What are article processing charges? Article processing charges (APCs) are fees that some open access journals charge to publish an accepted article, so that the final version can be free to read online, usually under a Creative Commons license. They cover editorial handling, peer review management, production and hosting. They are normally invoiced after acceptance, not at submission, and they are paid by the author, the author’s institution or a research funder.
How do article processing charges fit into open access?
Open access means that research articles are free to read and reuse. Someone still pays for publishing, and the five common models differ in who that is:
| Model | Who pays | Is an APC charged? | Typical license |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold open access | Author, institution or funder | Yes, in most cases | Creative Commons (often CC BY) |
| Diamond open access | Institutions, societies or consortia that fund the journal | No fee to authors or readers | Creative Commons |
| Hybrid journal | Subscribers, plus authors who choose to open their article | Yes, for the open article only | Creative Commons for that article |
| Green open access | Subscription journal; author archives a version in a repository | No APC | Depends on publisher policy and embargo |
| Transformative agreement | Institution pays a combined publish-and-read fee | Covered for eligible authors | Creative Commons |
Article processing charges vary widely between publishers and disciplines, from modest fees to several thousand dollars at well-known journals, so always check the current figure on the journal’s own website.
Who usually pays article processing charges?
The author is rarely expected to pay from their own pocket in well-funded systems. The cOAlition S funders behind Plan S state that open access publication fees are covered by funders or research institutions, not by individual researchers. In practice:
- Funders may allow APCs as an eligible grant cost.
- University libraries often run open access funds or hold transformative agreements that cover fees for their corresponding authors.
- Publishers may offer waivers or discounts for authors from lower-income countries or without funding.
- Students without any of these should look first at diamond open access journals, which charge nothing.
Ask your library before you submit. Many authors discover too late that their institution would have covered the fee in a different journal from the same publisher.
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What are waivers and discounts?
Many publishers reduce or waive article processing charges for authors who cannot pay, often based on the author’s country or circumstances. Waivers are usually requested at submission, not after acceptance. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) requires journals it lists to state all author charges clearly, to say so if there are none, and to specify the conditions of any waiver. If a journal hides its fees or waiver terms, treat it with caution.
Why do funders object to hybrid journals?
In a hybrid journal, a library pays subscriptions while authors pay APCs to open individual articles, which critics call “double dipping”. Plan S states that its funders do not support the hybrid model, except as a transitional pathway toward full open access within a defined timeframe. Transformative agreements are one such pathway, combining reading and publishing costs in a single contract.
How do you check a journal’s article processing charges?
Use this sequence before you submit:
- Find the fee page on the journal’s own website and note the amount, currency and whether taxes apply.
- Check whether there are other charges: submission fees, page charges or color figure charges.
- Check the DOAJ listing if the journal claims to be open access.
- Ask your library whether a transformative agreement or open access fund covers the journal.
- Look for waiver conditions and apply at submission if you qualify.
- Confirm the license (CC BY or another) and whether you keep copyright.
Article processing charges and predatory journals
Predatory journals exploit the APC model: they promise fast acceptance, hide or change their fees, and provide little or no peer review. Warning signs include an invoice that appears before peer review, fees that are not stated on the website, unsolicited emails inviting submission, and false claims of Scopus or Web of Science indexing. Our guide to predatory journals explains the Think. Check. Submit. checklist in detail.
Paying article processing charges is normal in legitimate gold open access. Paying them to a journal you have not verified is the risk.
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Frequently asked questions
Do all open access journals charge article processing charges?
No. Diamond open access journals charge neither authors nor readers, and many society and university journals follow this model. Green open access also involves no APC.
When do I pay the APC?
Normally after acceptance. A journal that asks for payment at submission or before peer review needs extra checking, unless it clearly states a separate submission fee in advance.
Can my university pay the fee?
Often yes, through an open access fund or a transformative agreement with the publisher. Ask your library before choosing a journal.
Is a journal with high fees better?
Not necessarily. Fees reflect business models and brand as much as quality. Judge a journal by its peer review, editorial board, indexing and fit with your topic.
Do I keep copyright if I pay an APC?
In many gold open access journals the author keeps copyright and publishes under a CC BY license, but terms vary. Read the license agreement before signing.
Sources
- cOAlition S. Plan S Principles. https://www.coalition-s.org/plan_s_principles/ (accessed November 2026)
- Directory of Open Access Journals. Guide to applying. https://doaj.org/apply/guide/ (accessed November 2026)
- Budapest Open Access Initiative. (2002). Read the Declaration. https://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read/ (accessed November 2026)
- Think. Check. Submit. Journals checklist. https://thinkchecksubmit.org/journals/ (accessed November 2026)
- Grudniewicz, A., Moher, D., Cobey, K. D., et al. (2019). Predatory journals: no definition, no defence. Nature, 576, 210-212. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03759-y (accessed November 2026)
Sources last checked: November 2026. This article is general educational guidance and does not replace your university regulations or your supervisor’s instructions. How we prepare our content.