Waiver Policy

Waiver Policy

EJLMS is committed to the principle that financial circumstances should not be a barrier to scholarly publication. The journal offers full and partial waivers of Article Processing Charges (APCs) on a transparent, equitable basis.

Automatic full waiver

Authors whose corresponding institution is based in a country classified by the World Bank as low-income are eligible for an automatic full APC waiver. No application is required — eligibility is verified at submission.

Discretionary waiver (full or partial)

Authors who do not meet the automatic-waiver criterion but face genuine financial hardship may apply for a discretionary waiver. Eligible categories include:

  • Authors from lower-middle-income economies (per World Bank classification) without institutional APC support.
  • Independent / unaffiliated researchers.
  • Postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates without external grant support.
  • Authors based in regions affected by humanitarian crises.

How to apply

At submission, indicate in the cover letter that a waiver is being requested and identify the relevant category. Provide a brief (1–2 paragraph) statement of the funding circumstances. The Editor-in-Chief reviews waiver requests independently of the editorial-merit decision — waiver eligibility never affects acceptance.

Editorial-board waiver

Members of the EJLMS Editorial Board, Editorial Advisory Board, and active reviewers receive complimentary publication of one article per calendar year.

The journal commits to fairness, confidentiality, and prompt response on waiver decisions — typically within 5 working days of request.