What is an article processing charge (APC)?

What is an article processing charge (APC)?

Article processing charges (APCs) and book processing charges (BPCs) are author-facing fees which are (sometimes) charged to publish open access. These fees may be covered by the author, the author's institution or by the research funder.

APCs are usually charged for publication in gold and hybrid journals, while diamond journals do not charge a fee for open access publication.

APCs and BPCs vary enormously from journal to journal and from publisher to publisher. We advise that you consult the journal’s/publisher’s webpages for information on APCs and BPCs prior to submission.