Article Processing Charges

Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal

Article Processing Charges (APC)

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) is committed to maintaining an accessible, transparent, and ethically responsible approach to scholarly publishing.

Article Processing Charges (APCs), where applicable, contribute toward the operational and publishing costs associated with the editorial handling, peer review administration, manuscript preparation, digital publication, online hosting, preservation, and long-term maintenance of published scholarly content.

1. Current APC Status

GIRPC is currently operating under an introductory publishing model.

For the initial stage of the Journal's development, APCs may be waived or offered at a reduced introductory rate, subject to the Journal's current publishing arrangements.

Any applicable charge will be communicated to the corresponding author before publication and will not be introduced unexpectedly after acceptance.

The Journal will clearly state the applicable APC, if any, on this page and in relevant author communications.

2. Editorial Decisions Are Independent of APCs

Payment of an APC does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly, ethical, methodological, and editorial suitability of the submitted manuscript in accordance with the Journal's editorial and peer-review policies.

Authors will not be required to pay an APC in order to have their manuscript considered for peer review.

Similarly, a manuscript will not be accepted because an author has agreed to or paid an applicable publication charge.

3. What an APC Covers

Where an APC is applicable, it contributes toward the costs associated with the publication process, which may include:

editorial administration;
peer-review coordination;
manuscript processing;
copyediting and proofreading where provided;
typesetting and article formatting;
preparation of the final published version;
DOI and publication metadata services where applicable;
online publication and hosting;
digital preservation and archiving;
maintenance of the Journal's publishing infrastructure; and
administrative and operational costs associated with maintaining the scholarly publication.

The exact services included may vary according to the Journal's publishing arrangements.

4. What an APC Does Not Mean

An APC is not a payment for acceptance.

Payment does not influence:

the selection of peer reviewers;
the outcome of peer review;
editorial decisions;
the academic quality assessment of a manuscript; or
the Journal's ethical requirements.

All manuscripts are subject to the same editorial and ethical standards regardless of whether an APC is applicable.

5. Waivers and Reductions

GIRPC recognizes that publication charges may create financial difficulties for some authors.

Where APCs are applicable, the Journal may consider requests for:

full fee waivers;
partial fee reductions; or
other appropriate forms of financial assistance.

Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should be made to the Editorial Office before publication. The availability and eligibility criteria for waivers or reductions may be revised as the Journal develops.

6. No Hidden Charges

GIRPC is committed to transparency in its publishing charges. Authors will not be required to pay undisclosed fees for routine publication services. Any applicable publication charge will be communicated clearly before the article proceeds to publication. Authors are encouraged to contact the Editorial Office if they are uncertain about any fee associated with their manuscript.

7. Refunds

Where an APC has been paid, refund requests will be considered according to the circumstances and the Journal's applicable administrative arrangements. If a manuscript is rejected during peer review, no APC will be payable unless a separate service or charge has been expressly agreed in advance.

Where an article has already been published, refunds will not ordinarily be issued solely because an author subsequently disagrees with the publication decision. Exceptions may be considered in cases involving administrative error, duplicate payment, or other circumstances determined appropriate by GIRPC.

8. Changes to APCs

GIRPC reserves the right to revise its APC structure as the Journal develops and its publishing costs change.

Any revised charges will be publicly communicated on the Journal's official website. Changes will not ordinarily be applied retroactively to manuscripts for which an APC arrangement has already been formally confirmed.

9. Author Responsibility

Before submitting a manuscript, authors are encouraged to review the current APC information and ensure that they understand any applicable publication charges. The corresponding author is responsible for communicating relevant fee information to all co-authors.

Financial circumstances should not affect the scholarly evaluation of a manuscript.

10. Transparency Statement

GIRPC believes that transparent publication charges are an essential component of responsible scholarly publishing. The Journal therefore distinguishes clearly between editorial assessment and publication-related costs. The ability or willingness of an author to pay an APC shall never be treated as evidence of the scholarly merit of a manuscript and shall not determine the outcome of editorial or peer-review processes.

Current APC Information

Article Processing Charge: [To be announced / PKR ______]

Waiver Availability: [Yes / No / Subject to eligibility]

Currency: Pakistani Rupees (PKR)

Payment Stage: After formal acceptance and before publication

Refund Policy: As described above

Last Updated: August 2025

Questions Regarding APCs

For questions concerning Article Processing Charges, waivers, reductions, or payment arrangements, authors may contact the GIRPC Editorial Office through the official contact information provided on the Journal website.

GIRPC is committed to ensuring that publication charges remain transparent, proportionate, and separate from editorial decision-making.