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Open Access Publishing Support

OA Fee Finder

Search here for journals that fully waive or discount their open access article processing charges (APCs) thanks to agreements signed by MRU Library.

When using the OA Fee Finder, keep in mind the Publisher Requirements to ensure eligibility.

Publisher Requirements for Waivers/Discounts

Canadian Science Publishers via CKRN
  • Waived and 25% discounted APCs inthese hybrid journals
  • How it works: MRU authors will have the APCs in these journals waived or discounted automatically if they list MRU as their affiliation when submitting their manuscript.
  • Key requirements: The corresponding author for the article at the time of submission must be from MRU or another participating institution to be eligible for waived or discounted APCs. The corresponding author can not be changed after submission. 
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025.  CRKN agreement announcement
  • Agreement type: Read & publish 
Cambridge University Press via CKRN
  • Waived APCs in eligible Cambridge hybrid and gold journals. To see the list of eligible titles, visit the CUP website, and select Canada, Mount Royal University to see the details of our agreement.
  • How it works: The waiver is automatically applied via author affiliation once the article is accepted. Additional publishing instructions can be found on the CKRN website.
  • Key requirements: The corresponding author for the article at the time of submission must be from MRU or another participating institution to be eligible for waived APCs. The waiver applies to the following types of submissions: Research Articles, Rapid Communications, Review Articles, Brief Reports, and Case Reports. MRU authors should use their mtroyal.ca email address when submitting to the journal to flag their eligibility for the waiver.
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. 
  • Agreement type: Read & publish. 
Company of Biologists
Elsevier via CKRN
  • Waived APCs in the following 1805 hybrid journals
  • 15% discount on APCs in the following 677 gold open access journals. This discount will drop to 10% in 2027 (and dropped from 20% in 2021-2023).
  • How it works: Starting January 1, 2024, authors will be offered the option to publish open access in eligible journals for free or at a discount after article acceptance.
  • Key requirements: The corresponding author for the article at the time of submission must be from MRU or another participating institution to be eligible for waived or discounted APCs.
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. 
  • Agreement type: Read & publish. 
MDPI
  • 10% discount on APCs at MDPI journals as part of the Institutional Open Access Program.
  • Key requirements: MRU authors must use their mtroyal.ca email address when submitting to MDPI journals to flag their eligibility for the discount.
  • Agreement period: Ongoing. 
  • Agreement type: Open access partnership. 
Oxford Journals via CKRN
  • Waived APCs to publish in 350 hybrid journals (refer to the List of Eligible Hybrid Titles in the spreadsheet)
  • 10% discount on article processing charges (APCs) in 155 gold open access journals (see the Gold APC discount tab in the spreadsheet)
  • How it works: Starting February 1, 2024, MRU authors will be automatically offered the option to make their article open for free or at a discount in eligible journals upon acceptance of their work. This applies to research articles, review articles, case reports or brief reports. Please note that articles in supplement issues are excluded from the waiver.
  • Key requirements: The corresponding author for the article at the time of submission must be from MRU or another participating institution to be eligible for waived or discounted APCs. The corresponding author can not be changed after submission in order to qualify for the waiver or discount. 
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. 
  • Agreement typeperiod: Open access partnership. 
PLOS

A non-profit, high-impact open access publisher with leading journals in science and medicine.

  • Agreement Type: Open Access Partnership
  • APC Discount Type:
    • Waived/fully funded (flat fee model)
    • Eligible titles: PLOS Complex Systems, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Digital Health, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS ONE, PLOS Pathogens
  • How it works:
  • Key requirements:
    • The corresponding author must be from MRU (or a participating institution).
    • Use @mtroyal.ca email when submitting.
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026
  • Licensing & sharing:
    • All articles are published under a CC BY 4.0 license, allowing free sharing and reuse.
    • Authors retain copyright and can deposit their work in repositories.
    • More info.
SAGE via CKRN
  • APC Discount Type:
  • How it works: Authors uses their MRU email for identification. After acceptance, accept the offer to publish open access.
  • Key requirements: 
    • Corresponding author must be from MRU or a participating institution.
    • Not eligible: errata, book reviews, editorials, abstracts, calls for papers, news or similar.
    • Default license: CC-BY-NC (CC-BY available if required).
  • Agreement period: Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2026. 
  • Agreement type: Read & publish. 
Wiley via CKRN
  • Waived APCs for Wiley’s hybrid journals.
  • How it works: Once accepted, eligible authors are notified that their article qualifies for open access publishing at no cost. More details.
  • Key requirements: The corresponding author must be affiliated with MRU or another CRKN institution at submission.
  • Gold Open Access: Wiley’s Gold OA journals are not eligible for waivers but receive a 10% APC discount.
  • Agreement period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026.
  • Agreement type: Read & Publish.

Ensure APC funding is applied: When prompted to declare funding in Wiley Author Services, choose "My APC will be covered by an institution or funder that has a Wiley Open Access Account arrangement with Wiley." Use your MRU email and select Mount Royal University as your institution to ensure the waiver or discount applies.

Looking for other ways to share your work? Authors can also review Wiley’s self-archiving policy to see more options for sharing a version of their article.

Open publishing options

MRU faculty have several ways to make research openly accessible — often at no cost. You can publish in open access journals, deposit your work in a repository, or apply for library-supported funding.

1. Publish open without paying fees

Make your work freely available without article processing charges (APCs).

Tip: If you or someone you mentored presented at Research and Scholarship Days consider depositing your poster or presentation in MRU’s Open Access Repository to increase visibility and preserve your contribution.

2. Pay to publish - with support 

Some open access journals charge APCs. You may be eligible for help.

  • Open access journals. All content is free to readers, but APCs are common. The DOAJ includes a comprehensive list of OA journals. 
  • Hybrid journals. Subscription-based, but offer optional open access for a fee. 
Library support available
Budgeting tips
  • Estimate APC costs in advance. Review journal websites to forecast expenses.
  • Include APCs in grant applications. APCS are Tri-agency eligible.  

3. Showcase your Open Access contributions

Open access supports research impact, equity, and public engagement.

  • Track your contributions.  Include open access publications and repository deposits on your CV.
  • Describe the value. Explain how open access extends reach to practitioners, policymakers, education and communities.
  • Point to evidence.  Cite downloads, reuse, and policy citations to show engagement.
  • Get credit for your work. Get a free ORCID iD to ensure publications and datasets are reliably attributed to you. Publishers, funders, and repositories increasingly require ORCID.. It’s quick to set up, free, and fully controlled by you.  Learn more about ORCID at MRU.
Thinking about how to document the impact of your open research? 

Visit MRU’s Research Assessment page for guidance on narrative CVs, responsible metrics, and ways to showcase open practices, data sharing, and public engagement.

Need support? 

Your Subject Librarian can help you: Identify trusted open access journals; Understand publisher copyright and archiving policies; Explore APC funding options and eligibility for waivers

Publishing Open Access books

Open access (OA) book publishing is an increasingly viable and impactful option for researchers, particularly in the humanities and social sciences. Many university presses and scholarly publishers now offer peer-reviewed OA monographs and edited collections, enhancing the visibility and accessibility of academic work.

Assessing publishers

When considering OA book publishers, consider their reputation and publishing practices:

  • Peer review. Ensure the publisher conducts rigorous peer review to maintain scholarly standards.
  • Licensing. Look for publishers that use clear licensing, such as Creative Commons, to define how your work can be used and shared.
  • Transparency. Verify that the publisher provides transparent information about publication fees and processes.
  • Indexing and distribution. Check if the publisher's books are indexed in major databases and distributed through reputable channels.
  • Check copyright. If you plan to deposit your book or chapter in a repository, review your publishing agreement. You may be able to retain rights or use an author addendum to ensure self-archiving is permitted. Check out the CARL's guide to author rights. 

Canadian open access book publishers

Several Canadian university presses are leaders in OA book publishing.

  • Athabasca University Press (AU Press): Canada's first open access scholarly press, publishes peer-reviewed books across disciplines, including Indigenous studies, education, and labour history. All titles are freely available online under Creative Commons licenses.
  • University of Calgary Press: Publishes peer-reviewed academic books across the humanities and social sciences. Signficant open access component available Creative Commons license. See the OA collection
  • Concordia University Press: Focusing on scholarly works in the humanities and social sciences. Peer reviewed open access 

These presses are members of the Association of Canadian University Presses, which supports scholarly publishing in Canada

Depositing books and chapters

If you've published a book or book chapter, consider depositing it in MRU's Open Access Repository (MROAR) to increase its visibility:

  • Publisher policies. Review your publishing agreement to determine if self-archiving is permitted.
  • Version. Typically, the accepted manuscript (post-peer review, pre-layout) can be deposited.
  • Embargo periods. Some publishers may require an embargo period before deposit; ensure compliance with these terms.

For assistance with depositing your work, consult the MROAR FAQs or contact the repository team at repository@mtroyal.ca

Funding and support

Publishing OA books may involve costs, such as book processing charges (BPCs). The Tri-Agency recognizes these as eligible expenses within grant applications. Additionally, MRU authors can:

  • Apply for the MRU Open Access Fund. Supports OA publishing costs for eligible works.
  • Explore publisher discounts. Some publishers offer discounts or waivers for OA publishing, check with the publisher.

Tip. If you’re publishing a textbook or other resource for teaching, check our Open Education page for supports and funding options.

Additional Resources

Considering open access publishing?

Here’s a quick overview of common benefits and challenges to help guide your decision.

Summary of the opportunities and considerations for open access publishing
Opportunities
Considerations
Wider reach and greater research impact APCs may apply and can be expensive
Free access for the public, practitioners, and policymakers  Fewer OA journals in some disciplines
Encourages reuse in teaching and education Risk of predatory or low quality publishers
Often cited more frequently
i.e. Piwowar et al., 2018		 May involve more administrative work (e.g., deposits, licensing)
Enhances visibility & transparency; helps meet funder mandates Prestige still often tied to traditional journals

Tri-Agency Open Access policy - how the Library can help

If you’ve received funding from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC, you’re required to make your peer-reviewed journal articles openly available within 12 months of publication. MRU Library offers support to help you meet these requirements, whether through publishing in an open access journal or depositing your manuscript in a repository (self-archiving).

Note. Updates expanding the open access mandate coming soon to the Tri-agency. We’ll update this page when details are announced. See the draft policy). 

What do researchers need to do? 

You must either deposit your article (self-archive) or publish in a compliant journal.

Open Access logo Option 1: Publish in an Open Access Journal

Choose a fully open access journal or select the open option in a hybrid journal. MRU faculty can:

  • Apply to the Open Access Fund for APC support.
  • Use the OA Fee Finder to check for journal discounts and waivers.
  • Find no-fee open journals in the DOAJ
  • Get help identifying compliant journals and interpret publisher policies and embargo periods from your Subject Librarian
 Option 2: Deposit your manuscript in a repository
        aka self-archiving or green open access

Deposit the accepted manuscript (post-peer review, pre-layout) within 12 months of publication in:

An institutional repository such as MRU’s Open Access Repository (MROAR) which accepts post-peer reviewed manuscripts, supports restricted access when needed and accepts a wide range of file types and materials. See the MROAR FAQs for more information. 

A disciplinary repository (e.g., arXiv, PubMed Central)

We can help you confirm whether your journal permits self-archiving and how to comply with embargo rules.

Special considerations

CIHR grant holders. Must provide immediate open access (no embargo). Must deposit research data in a suitable repository. SSHRC and NSERC encourage ethical and open data sharing where possible.  Contact our Data Librarian for help using MRU’s Open Data Repository.

Books and chapters: Not subject to this policy, but we’re happy to help you interpret applicable guidelines.

Related Tri-Agency requirements

The Tri-Agencies are also shifting expectations in two key areas:

Narrative CVs

Some programs use CV formats that highlight contributions, context, and impact. Visit our Research Assessment page to learn more about narrative CVs and responsible research assessment

Research data management

Most applications require a DMP (Data Management Plan).  Visit our RDM page for guidance and tools and read the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy

Adapted with permission from Simon Fraser University Library, under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

Open access fund

The Library maintains an Open Access Fund to support scholarly publishing by MRU authors seeking to openly disseminate their research by reimbursing eligible open access fees related to publishing their research in OA formats. To date the Library OA fund has supported more than 40 publications by MRU authors. View them in our repository.

Author eligibility

The Fund accepts applications from the primary author (e.g., lead, first-named, or corresponding), who will take responsibility for submitting the grant request and receiving reimbursement. This author must be affiliated with MRU as a:

  • Tenured, tenurable, or contract faculty member
  • Full-time administrator or staff member
  • Undergraduate student

Co-authors do not have to be affiliated with MRU.

In the event that a project has existing research funding, the request must be accompanied by a declaration that the open access APCs have not already been covered by the grant or are ineligible under the grant.

Publication criteria

Articles: The Fund reimburses article processing charges (APCs) for manuscripts accepted to peer-reviewed journals that:

Check the journal webpage to find this information or search the DOAJ for journals and license options.

Books/Chapters: The Fund reviews OA publishing fees for books/book chapters on a case-by-case basis to account for the varying OA models used by monograph publishers. Generally we expect the following criteria:

If this information is not available, contact us with supporting evidence (e.g., your publishing contract, emails from your publisher, etc.) and we will review details with you.

Reimbursement limits

Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, at the time of reimbursement, and require a paid invoice before approval of the reimbursement.

  • Maximum reimbursement is normally capped at $3,000 (CDN) per individual per fiscal year. This can be for a single publication or split across multiple publications.
  • We retroactively reimburse fees paid within the past calendar year, based on the date of application to the Fund. All other Fund requirements, eligibility criteria, and processes still apply.

Mandatory deposit in the Open Access Repository

Authors who accept their awarded grant under this fund must deposit a version of their research in the Mount Royal University Institutional Repository (MROAR). Authors are also encouraged to consider depositing appropriate supporting data in the Mount Royal University Data Repository. In the case of publisher embargo, the manuscript should still be deposited as soon as possible with the appropriate repository embargo provisions in place.

The Library can assist with this process. Contact mrujs@mtroyal.ca for more information.

Applying to the fund

Please use the electronic application form to apply.

Common questions

How much is in the Fund?

  • We have set aside $15,000 (CDN) to reimburse authors for the current fiscal year.

Are formats other than journal articles and books/chapters eligible?

  • Maybe. We recognize and are encouraged that open access research can come in a wide variety of formats beyond traditional articles and books. We are willing to consider alternative formats on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further information.

How do I apply?

 How long does it take to get reimbursed?

  • Normally about 2-3 weeks. The Library will process your expense report quickly, then forward it to Finance for their usual payment processes. Note: reimbursements will be delayed from March 1 until mid-April (each year) to account for the university's fiscal year-end. You can still apply during this period, and we will clearly communicate about this delay if your application is successful.

Who do I contact if I have questions or want some help?

  • We welcome any questions and are happy to assist you with any part of the process. Please use the contact section to find out how to get in touch with us.

Do other universities offer this kind of fund?

  • Many universities in Canada and around the world also offer an open access fund in support of their local researchers. For examples, please see the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) curated list showing OA funds in action.

How do I budget for OA fees or article processing charges (APCs) in my grant proposals?

  • We recommend budgeting publication charges as part of your grant proposal since many funding agencies treat open access fees as allowable grant expenses. Some examples include:
    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
    • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
    • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  • To estimate these costs, try reviewing the websites of appropriate journals/publishers where you hope to publish your research. Your subject librarian can help you with this.

Contacts