1. Article Processing Charges (APC)
Submitting a manuscript to APSSHS journals is free of charge. An Article Processing Charge (APC) applies only after a manuscript is accepted following peer review. As an open access publisher, APSSHS makes all published content freely and permanently accessible online immediately upon publication. The APC covers the costs of editorial handling, DOI assignment, production, and online dissemination. For fee details, see the Author Guidelines of the respective journal.
2. What the APC Covers
DOI assignment
Editorial and peer-review coordination
Copyediting and language refinement
Typesetting and formatting
Proof preparation and quality assurance
Open access hosting
Metadata preparation for indexing and discoverability
3. Payment Process
Once a manuscript is accepted, the corresponding author receives an official invoice with payment instructions and is responsible for ensuring payment, whether personally or through an institution or funder. Publication proceeds only after payment is confirmed.
4. Waiver & Discount Policy
APSSHS offers full and partial APC waivers based on internationally recognized country income classifications, to support equitable access to publishing. Waiver requests must be submitted at the time of manuscript submission; requests made after acceptance may not be considered. In addition, active reviewers who complete 15 high-quality reviews are eligible for a 25% discount on the APC for one future submission, as outlined on the Become a Reviewer page.
5. Refund Policy
APCs are generally non-refundable once a manuscript enters production (copyediting, typesetting, or online preparation). Refund requests made before production may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
6. Currency & Taxes
All fees are stated in USD. Bank charges, transaction fees, and local taxes are the responsibility of the author(s) or their institution.
7. Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are made solely on academic merit, originality, validity, and ethical compliance — never influenced by an author's ability to pay.
8. Policy Updates
APSSHS may revise this policy at any time to reflect operational or industry changes. Updates apply only to manuscripts submitted after the revision date.
