Waiver and Discount Policy

Article Processing Charge (APC) Waiver and Discount Policy

The Journal of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (JITCAI) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and ethical publishing process while supporting researchers who may experience genuine financial hardship.

JITCAI operates as a Gold Open Access journal. An Article Processing Charge (APC) of USD $50 is required for all accepted manuscripts. This fee supports editorial management, double-blind peer review, copyediting, production, DOI registration, online hosting, digital preservation, and long-term accessibility.

To promote equitable publishing opportunities while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the journal, JITCAI maintains a limited APC Discount and Waiver Program. Financial assistance is intended for authors with demonstrated financial need and is granted only at the discretion of the Editorial Office.

APC Assistance Levels

JITCAI offers three levels of financial assistance based on the applicant's demonstrated financial need and the availability of journal resources.

20% APC Discount

The 20% APC Discount is the most common form of financial assistance and may be granted to authors who demonstrate limited financial resources but do not meet the criteria for higher levels of support.

Examples include:

  • Independent researchers without institutional funding.

  • Early-career researchers with limited publication support.

  • Authors whose institutions do not provide APC funding.

  • Other cases where moderate financial assistance is appropriate.

50% APC Discount

The 50% APC Discount is reserved for authors who demonstrate significant documented financial hardship.

Examples include:

  • Authors with no institutional or grant funding.

  • Researchers from institutions with limited research support.

  • Authors experiencing substantial financial constraints supported by appropriate documentation.

  • Other cases approved by the Editor-in-Chief based on demonstrated financial need.

100% APC Waiver

A 100% APC Waiver is granted only in exceptional circumstances and is expected to be awarded infrequently.

Examples may include:

  • Authors from countries classified by the World Bank as Low-Income Economies who have no institutional or grant funding.

  • Invited manuscripts specifically approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

  • Exceptional humanitarian or financial circumstances supported by appropriate documentation.

  • Special editorial decisions made in the best interest of the journal and the scholarly community.

A full APC waiver should not be considered a standard publishing option and is granted only under exceptional circumstances.

Eligibility

Authors requesting APC assistance must demonstrate genuine financial need.

The following are generally not eligible for APC discounts or waivers:

  • Authors whose publication costs are supported by universities, research institutions, employers, government agencies, commercial organizations, or research grants.

  • Authors who fail to provide sufficient justification or supporting documentation.

  • Requests submitted after APC payment has been completed.

How to Apply

Authors requesting financial assistance should submit their request after manuscript submission and before the final acceptance decision.

The request should include:

  • A brief explanation of the financial circumstances.

  • Institutional affiliation (if applicable).

  • A funding statement indicating whether institutional or research funding is available.

  • Any supporting documentation demonstrating financial need.

Requests should be emailed to:

Editorial Office
Email: editor@jitcai.org

Subject: APC Waiver Request – Manuscript ID

Evaluation Process

Each request is reviewed confidentially by the Editorial Office.

Applications are evaluated based on:

  • Demonstrated financial need.

  • Availability of journal resources.

  • Supporting documentation.

  • Compliance with this policy.

Submission of a request does not guarantee approval.

The level of financial assistance awarded is determined solely by the Editor-in-Chief.

Approved applicants will receive a unique APC discount code from the Editorial Office after their request has been approved. The code must be applied during the APC payment process and is valid only for the approved manuscript. Discount codes are non-transferable and may not be shared, reused, or applied to any other submission. Unauthorized use of a discount code may result in cancellation of the discount and may affect the publication process.

Editorial Independence

Requesting or receiving an APC discount or waiver does not influence the editorial assessment, peer-review process, or publication decision.

Editors and reviewers evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of their scientific quality, originality, technical merit, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal.

Whenever practical, APC assistance requests are reviewed independently from editorial decisions to preserve the integrity and impartiality of the peer-review process.

Availability of Discounts and Waivers

JITCAI maintains a limited annual allocation for APC discounts and waivers.

Financial assistance is provided based on available journal resources. Once the annual allocation has been exhausted, additional requests may be declined regardless of eligibility.

The journal reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the APC Discount and Waiver Program at any time without prior notice.

Important Information

  • APC discounts and waivers are granted solely at the discretion of JITCAI.

  • Submission of a request does not guarantee financial assistance.

  • Only one form of APC assistance may be applied to a single accepted manuscript.

  • False, misleading, or incomplete information submitted in support of a request may result in denial of the request or withdrawal of the manuscript in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.

  • Previous receipt of an APC discount or waiver does not guarantee approval of future requests.

Contact Information

Editorial Office
Journal of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (JITCAI)

Email: editor@jitcai.org