Our Commitment to Inclusivity
IJDIR recognises that the open-access model, while beneficial for readers worldwide, places the financial burden on authors. We are committed to ensuring that no high-quality research is excluded from publication solely due to the author's inability to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Waiver and discount decisions are made entirely independently of the editorial review process — acceptance or rejection of a manuscript is never influenced by an author's financial situation or waiver request.
Full APC Waivers
Full waivers (100% APC waiver) are automatically granted to:
- Authors whose corresponding institution is based in a low-income country as classified by the World Bank (current list available at worldbank.org)
- Articles that are invited or commissioned by the Editor-in-Chief
- Articles authored by Editorial Board members of IJDIR (up to one article per year per member)
🌍 Low-Income Country Waiver
Authors from low-income countries are encouraged to request a waiver at the time of submission. No supporting documentation beyond institutional affiliation is required for this category.
Partial Discounts
| Category | Discount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Middle Income Country | 50% | World Bank LMI classification |
| Students / Early Career Researchers | 25–50% | Evidence of student/postdoctoral status required |
| Financial Hardship | Up to 75% | Statement of hardship + institutional letter |
| Group Submission | 10% | 3+ articles submitted from same institution in one calendar year |
How to Apply for a Waiver or Discount
Waiver and discount requests should be made at the time of manuscript submission by:
- Including a clearly labelled section titled "Waiver Request" in the covering letter
- Stating the category of waiver/discount being requested
- Providing any required supporting evidence (e.g., student ID, institutional letter for hardship cases)
Alternatively, waiver requests may be submitted after acceptance by emailing the editorial office at [email protected].
Review Process
All waiver requests are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief. Decisions are communicated within 5 working days of the request. The editorial decision on the manuscript is made completely independently of the waiver review and will not be affected by whether a waiver is requested or granted.
⚠️ No Guarantee
Submission of a waiver request does not guarantee approval. IJDIR has a limited number of waivers available per year. Early application is encouraged. Authors who do not qualify for an automatic waiver but face genuine hardship are encouraged to contact the editorial office to discuss their situation.
Last reviewed and updated: January 2025. This policy is subject to periodic review by the Editorial Board of IJDIR.