{"id":2412,"date":"2020-10-28T15:31:30","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T15:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=2412"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:37:18","slug":"open-access-policy","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/knowledge-base\/open-access-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Open access policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">1. Purpose and Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The University of Gloucestershire (UoG) is committed to maximising the visibility, accessibility, and impact of its research. This Open Access (OA) Policy sets out our institutional principles and operational framework for enabling open dissemination of research outputs, supporting researcher autonomy, ensuring compliance with funder mandates, and aligning with our strategic research ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The updated policy replaces the 2015 Green Only OA Policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">2. Strategic Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The OA landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. A sector-wide move towards immediate (Gold) Open Access, uptake of transformative agreements, the shortening of Green OA embargo periods, and the importance placed on OA in research assessment all require an updated institutional position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a new OA policy, researchers risk reduced reach, noncompliance with funder expectations, and missed opportunities within existing Read &amp; Publish (R&amp;P) agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">3. Scope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This policy applies to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">All UoG academic staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Doctoral researchers who are studying or working at the University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">UoG professional services staff who produce research outputs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Visiting researchers where UoG is the lead or corresponding institution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Journal articles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Conference proceedings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Book chapters (covered by current transformative agreements with publishers do not cover these)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Monographs and longform outputs (with considerations for Book Processing Charges beyond REF 2029)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Underpinning research data (aligned with future phases of policy work)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">4. Policy Principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.1 &#8211; Commitment to Open Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The University supports OA as a default position. All outputs should wherever possible be made open access via Gold or Green routes in accordance with funder mandates and REF requirements. Further advice and guidance may be sought from the University\u2019s Gloucestershire Research Office (GRO) or the University Library Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.2 &#8211; Use of Read and Publish Deals <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The University subscribes to R&amp;P agreements with the following publishers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">ACM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">BMJ<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Elsevier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">IEEE (only allows Green OA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Sage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Springer Nature<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Taylor &amp; Francis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Wiley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These deals should be used as the first route to Gold OA for eligible outputs. Previous restrictions &#8211; such as externally funded criteria or UK lead authorship &#8211; will be removed. Guidance on publishing is available via GRO or the University Library Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.3 &#8211; Support for Article Processing Charges Outside Deals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The University acknowledges financial limits but has developed clear criteria for supporting Article Processing Charges (APCs) for journals not covered by R&amp;P agreements. This involves UoA level decision making, transparent allocation processes, and equity focused prioritisation (see section 4.7 for the decision process for publishing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.4 &#8211; Green Open Access Compliance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Green OA will remain a valid route when Gold OA is not feasible. Embargo periods must comply with current mandates (typically 6\u201312 months from 2025). Advice on current mandates can be obtained from <a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.glos.ac.uk\/c.php?g=722177&amp;p=5290173\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Support: Open Access<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/eprints.glos.ac.uk\/id\/page\/4?open\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UoG Open Access policies.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.5 &#8211; Rights Retention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure that all authors retain the necessary rights to make their research openly available, the University adopts an institutional Rights Retention approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The University asserts a nonexclusive licence to make the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) of any scholarly article publicly available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence via the research repository upon publication, regardless of publisher embargoes.<br><br><strong>For all scholarly articles submitted after 1 April 2026, the author retains the right to make the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) openly available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence, with no embargo, via the University\u2019s repository. This right is granted to the University of Gloucestershire at the point of acceptance and takes precedence over any publisher-imposed restrictions.<\/strong><br><br>Guidance for authors on the correct procedure for applying a Rights Retention Statement to AAMs, along with a suggested wording, can be provided upon request from GRO or the University Library Service.\u00a0 See: <a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.glos.ac.uk\/c.php?g=722177&amp;p=5290173\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Support: Open Access<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.6 &#8211; Researcher Autonomy and Accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Staff must understand their responsibilities when signing publishing contracts\/agreements. Authors are advised to read their funding agreements carefully and should be aware of the potential consequences of not adhering to funder mandates, which differ according to funder. If in doubt, please refer to GRO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">4.7 &#8211; Financial Sustainability <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The University set a limit on APC funding. Approval to fund APCs will be required and must be managed within budget allocations. Each budget unit or centre will apply oversight and tracking mechanisms to ensure fairness, transparency and equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors should follow the decision pathway below to determine the appropriate route for making their journal articles open access:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Is the journal in an R&amp;P deal? If yes, APC free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If not in a deal, is the research externally funded, and are there funds available for publishing via the funding body (funding body criteria will apply here)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If not in a deal and charges are not covered by an external funder &#8211; Is the APC fundable according to discipline criteria (to be determined by the UoA coordinators\/School Research Leads in conjunction with GRO)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Are there sufficient budget allocations within the UoA\/School funds?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If not fundable and if the journal publishing criteria allow, the author may deposit the AAM in the research repository using Green OA (embargoes may apply)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If none of the above is possible, the author should seek an alternative journal for possible publication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is the author\u2019s responsibility to initiate and manage the above process from start to completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">5. Operational Framework<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">5.1 &#8211; Repository Deposit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All outputs must be deposited in the research repository by the author upon acceptance. For book chapters or monographs\/longform works, the University encourages Green Open Access via self-archiving in the research repository, where permitted by the publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">5.2 &#8211; Publication Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To embed good practice, publication planning should become a standard part of objective-setting in Staff Review &amp; Development (SRD) discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">5.3 &#8211; Guidance and Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The University will provide centralised resources to support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Journal selection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Using R&amp;P agreements effectively<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Understanding impact metrics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">APC cost awareness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Predatory publisher avoidance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">5.4 &#8211; Community Engagement <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">GRO\/University Library Service will provide a regular programme of training, advice, and guidance to support understanding and implementation of Open Access requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Support will be delivered through blog posts, webinars, and training sessions, which will be widely publicised to maximise engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Communications will highlight updates, good practices, and emerging sector developments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Dialogue with academic colleagues will inform ongoing refinement of Open Access practices and policies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">6. Governance and Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">This policy is governed by the Research Committee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Annual monitoring of APC spend, R&amp;P usage, compliance levels, and disciplinary differences will inform rolling updates in the form of annual reports to the Research Committee (at the first meeting of each calendar year, thus aligning with the subscription cycle for transformative agreements).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">A full policy review will occur every three years or earlier if prompted by major sector changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading wp-block-heading is-2 is-2--mobile\">7. Glossary of Definitions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"heading wp-block-heading no-mt\">NB additions or amendments to the glossary will not require committee approval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Article Processing Charge (APC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A fee charged by some journals to make an article immediately Open Access on publication (Gold OA). &nbsp;Read &amp; Publish agreements, central funds, or discipline level budgets may cover APCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The final version of a manuscript after peer review, incorporating all revisions, but before the publisher\u2019s typesetting or branding. The AAM is the version usually deposited in the research repository for Green Open Access (with an embargo period).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Book Processing Charg<strong>e (BPC)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A fee required by some publishers to make monographs or book chapters Open Access. Approaches to BPCs post REF-2029 are evolving and may involve new sector frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Article Processing Charge (APC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A fee charged by some journals to make an article immediately Open Access on publication (Gold OA). &nbsp;Read &amp; Publish agreements, central funds, or discipline level budgets may cover APCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The final version of a manuscript after peer review, incorporating all revisions, but before the publisher\u2019s typesetting or branding. The AAM is the version usually deposited in the research repository for Green Open Access (with an embargo period).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Book Processing Charge (BPC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A fee required by some publishers to make monographs or book chapters Open Access. Approaches to BPCs post REF-2029 are evolving and may involve new sector frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>CC BY<\/strong> is the preferred licence for most funders and the default licence for Rights Retention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Other variants (e.g., <strong>CC BYNC<\/strong>, <strong>CC BYND<\/strong>) impose additional restrictions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Diamond Open Access<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A route to OA where neither publishing authors nor readers have to pay for the content. Usually, diamond OA journals are sponsored by major institutions or organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Embargo Period<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The delay imposed by publishers before an AAM can be made Open Access via a repository. Rights Retention eliminates the need to observe journal article embargoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Fully Gold Open Access Journal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A journal where all articles can be read\/accessed free of charge immediately upon publication via the publisher site, with no subscription fee payable by the reader.&nbsp; Publishing fees are usually paid for via an article processing charge<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Funder Open Access Mandates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Policies set by research funders (e.g., UKRI, Wellcome, NIHR) that require outputs derived from funded work be made openly available. They normally specify deposit requirements, licensing, and, for some funders, Rights Retention wording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Gold Open Access<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A route to OA where the final published version (Version of Record) is made openly available immediately on the publisher\u2019s website, usually under a CC BY licence. May involve an APC unless covered by a Read &amp; Publish deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Green Open Access<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A route to OA where the AAM is deposited in an institutional or subject repository. Embargoes may apply unless Rights Retention is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Hybrid Journal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A journal that publishes both gold open access (with an article processing charge) and subscription-based articles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Institutional Repository<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A digital archive (e.g., University of Gloucestershire Research Repository, that stores, preserves, and makes available research outputs produced by the institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Open Access (OA)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The free, unrestricted online availability of research outputs. OA supports transparency, reuse, global accessibility, and increased research visibility and impact. It includes both Gold and Green routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Predatory Publishers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Organisations that present themselves as legitimate scholarly publishers but lack proper peer review, editorial processes, or governance. They often target authors with aggressive solicitation and charge APCs without providing quality services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Read &amp; Publish (R&amp;P) Agreements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Transformative agreements negotiated between universities and publishers. They typically cover two components:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Read<\/strong>: subscription access to the publisher\u2019s content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Publish<\/strong>: the ability for authors to publish Gold OA in eligible journals without paying individual APCs. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These agreements are expected to evolve as publishing transitions to full OA models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">REF\u202f2029 Open Access Requirements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Rules set by Research England for the submission of research outputs to REF&nbsp;2029. Compliance usually includes repository deposit on acceptance, timely Open Access, and use of compliant licences. Full requirements for monographs, chapters, and creative outputs are still in development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Repository Deposit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The process of submitting an AAM or other research output to the research repository, normally occurs upon acceptance. Deposit enables the University to ensure REF compliance and long-term preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Research Data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporting data that underpins scholarly outputs. While not always mandated for deposit, many funders require data to be made as open as possible and as closed as necessary, with appropriate metadata and storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Research Metrics (Bibliometrics)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Quantitative indicators used to assess research influence (e.g., citations, h-index, journal metrics). The University encourages responsible metrics aligned with DORA and responsible research evaluation principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Rights Retention (Institutional Rights Retention Policy)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>An approach that allows authors to retain the rights needed to make their AAMs available via the research repository without embargo.<br>Under Rights Retention, the University asserts a <strong>nonexclusive licence<\/strong> to make AAMs openly available under <strong>CC BY<\/strong>, taking precedence over publisher-imposed restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Scholarly Article<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A peer-reviewed journal article or conference contribution intended as a formal dissemination of research findings. For REF and funder compliance, this includes articles published in hybrid or fully OA journals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Submitted Manuscript<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The version of an article first submitted to a journal for peer review, before revisions and before acceptance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Transformative Journals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Hybrid journals that are committed to transitioning to full Open Access. They must demonstrate annual increases in OA content to retain transformative status under cOAlition S criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"heading wp-block-heading\">Version of Record (VoR)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The final, typeset, publisher-branded version of an article. VoRs are typically the version made available through Gold OA routes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Purpose and Vision The University of Gloucestershire (UoG) is committed to maximising the visibility, accessibility, and impact of its research. This Open Access (OA) Policy sets out our institutional principles and operational framework for enabling open dissemination of research outputs, supporting researcher autonomy, ensuring compliance with funder mandates, and aligning with our strategic research [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"schools":[],"campuses":[],"subject_area":[],"ht-kb-category":[5],"ht-kb-tag":[],"class_list":["post-2412","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-governance-and-structure"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/2412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2412"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/2412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20766,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/2412\/revisions\/20766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"schools","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/schools?post=2412"},{"taxonomy":"campuses","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campuses?post=2412"},{"taxonomy":"subject_area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject_area?post=2412"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=2412"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=2412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}