Green, or free, open access is the route you can use to make outputs published in traditional subscription journals open access without paying an article processing charge. This is the default route for open access for Aston University and upcoming REF exercises. Almost all journals allow authors to make their outputs available through green open access, and an increasing number of publishers are also allowing chapters and books to be made open access through this route as well. Please get in touch with us if you would like further information!
Authors make their outputs open access via the green route by depositing their accepted manuscript (after peer review, but prior to the journal copy-editing and formatting) into a repository. At Aston, the Open Research Team then check over the metadata and manuscript and add any missing information as well as any copyright statement required by the published. The OR Team also add the appropriate embargo period (if required by the journal). Once the embargo has ended, the manuscript is freely available in perpetuity to the public through Aston's repository, Aston Publications Explorer.
As soon as your article has been accepted for publication, please log in to Pure and create a record for your publication (see these simple instructions). Alternatively, you can email openaccess@aston.ac.uk with your publication details so that we can do this for you.
Green OA publishing
Aston's OA Policy and Code of Practice (inc. Guidance), is that all journal and conference publications should meet Green status (if not Gold), in line with funder mandates for specific levels of discoverability and accessibility. This applies to all Aston authors - whether the corresponding author or as a co-author.
To be Green OA compliant you need to:
To get started, login via the Pure image below!
Follow the instructions below on how to deposit your manuscript. If your publication record has already been validated by Library Services it will be 'locked' for editing purposes. Please contact openaccess@aston.ac.uk for advice if you need to edit your publication record and/or have the full-text article added.
Diamond open access is a model of open access where a journal is completely open access, yet does not levy an article processing charge (APC). More than 70% of open access journals fall into this category. Diamond open access journals exist across the academic spectrum and reputable journals provide the same level of peer review and editorial oversight as traditional subscription or gold open access journals.
DOAJ.org has a filter that can be used to find open access journals that do not charge article processing fees. These journals have all been checked and vetted according to DOAJ's strict guidelines.
The Open Library of Humanities also publishes a number of diamond open access journals across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.
Copyright Law will protect your rights in your own creative work and give credit for your research and innovations via attribution, see the Copyright and Intellectual Property LibGuide for detailed information.