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2 years ago in Publication Charges By Krupa

How do "transformative agreements" affect who pays APCs?

My library says we have a "transformative agreement" with Elsevier. What does this mean for me as an author? Does it make publishing open access free for me, and how do I use it?

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By Jamaal Answered 1 month ago

A transformative agreement means your university has bundled its subscription access with pre-paid open access publishing credits. For you, as a corresponding author affiliated with that institution, it often means: 1) You can publish open access in that publisher's journals without paying an APC out-of-pocket. 2) The process is usually automated—when you submit and state your affiliation, the system recognizes you and waives the fee. Check your library's website for specific instructions; there's often a page listing eligible publishers and journals. You usually must be the corresponding author and use your institutional email. This is a major benefit, so use it! It transforms your subscription access into both reading and publishing rights, moving toward a fully open access model.

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