At SSJ Journals, we are committed to promoting inclusive access to academic publishing and ensuring that financial limitations do not hinder the dissemination of valuable research. Our APC Waiver Policy is designed to support researchers from low-income regions, early-career scholars, and students who require financial assistance to publish in our open-access journals.

Commitment to Open Access and Equity

As part of our mission to advance global research dissemination, SSJ Journals publishes all articles under a fully open-access model. This ensures that scholarly content is freely accessible to readers worldwide, without subscription barriers. To sustain this model, we charge Article Processing Charges (APC) for accepted papers. However, we understand that not all authors are able to bear these costs, especially those from economically disadvantaged regions or institutions with limited funding.

Who Can Apply for an APC Waiver?

SSJ Journals offers partial or full APC waivers to authors who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Authors from Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries, as classified by the World Bank.

• Graduate students or early-career researchers without institutional or grant support.

• Authors facing economic hardship or those affiliated with non-profit organizations.

• Authors whose research is of high impact or societal relevance, but lack funding sources.

All waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by our editorial and administrative team.

How to Request a Waiver?

To apply for an APC waiver, authors must:

1. Submit their manuscript through our online submission system.

2. Send a formal waiver request to our editorial office at editor@ssjpublications.com ideally at the time of submission or within 48 hours.

3. Include in the request:

• Manuscript title and submission ID (if available)

• Name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s)

• Reason for requesting the waiver

• Supporting documents (if any), such as student ID, funding denial letter, or affiliation proof.

Please note that waiver approval does not influence the editorial decision or peer-review outcome. All manuscripts are evaluated solely on scientific merit, originality, and relevance.

Decision Timeline

Waiver decisions are generally communicated within 5 to 7 working days. Applicants will be notified via email with the outcome of their request. The waiver granted may be full, partial, or declined, depending on the eligibility and availability of our financial resources.

Transparency and Ethics

SSJ Journals maintains a transparent waiver policy to uphold fairness and ethical publishing practices. We strive to accommodate genuine needs while ensuring the sustainability of our open-access model. Misuse of waiver requests or submission of false information may lead to immediate rejection of the manuscript or future bans from submission.