Pending approval. Provisional guidance pending approval — not an official University policy until approved.
What is open access?
Open Access (OA) means making research outputs freely available online to read and download, with clear reuse rights, so that knowledge travels further and is more likely to be cited.
Open access routes
| Route | How it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | The article is published openly by the publisher. | Article processing charges (APCs) may apply; many journals charge authors nothing (Diamond / Platinum). |
| Green | The author deposits a version in an open repository. | The publisher’s policy sets the permitted version and any embargo. |
| Hybrid | An open article inside a subscription journal, for a fee. | Check fees and licence terms before paying. |
Self-archiving policies
Self-archiving is lawful when it respects your publishing agreement and the publisher’s policy. The University’s policy on mandatory or voluntary deposit will be published here once officially approved.
Creative Commons licences
- CC BY: reuse with attribution.
- CC BY-SA: as above, with derivatives under the same licence.
- CC BY-NC: non-commercial use only.
- CC BY-ND: no modified versions.
- CC0: maximum waiver of rights where permitted.
Principles of open science
- Open publications.
- Research data that are findable and shareable under the FAIR principles, respecting privacy.
- Transparent software, tools and methods.
- Research assessment based on responsible metrics.
- Societal engagement in research.
Publisher policies
Publishers differ on which version may be deposited, embargo length and licence. Check the publisher’s official site or a policy aggregator such as Open Policy Finder (formerly Sherpa Romeo), then confirm with the publisher itself.
Article deposit guidelines
See the repository deposit guide for the checking and deposit steps.