Frequently Asked Questions about Article Processing Charge
We answer the key questions: why the fee is charged, who can get a discount, how to pay, and what happens if you miss the deadline.
"Why has publication in Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM become paid?"
In the past year, due to the journal's indexation in Scopus and Pubmed and increased citation metrics, the number of manuscripts submitted to the editorial team has increased. Consequently, the costs of preparing manuscripts for publication have also increased. In order to maintain the high quality of published articles and the speed of manuscript review, the editorial team has found it necessary to introduce a publication fee.
"What do authors pay for?"
The publication fee covers editorial and publishing costs: scientific editing, translation, proofreading by a native speaker, lay-out, indexing in databases and libraries, and other manuscript preparation services. This allows the article to be published open access under the Creative Commons license.
"Can I be published in the journal for free?"
The following article types are published free of charge: Opinion, Commentary, Discussion, Information, Brief Report, Erratum, Letter to the Editor, Special Article.
"Can I receive a discount for publication?"
The editorial team does not view publication fees as a barrier to disseminating important scientific results. If the author team has insufficient or no funds for publication, they may apply for a discount. The application must be submitted together with the article before the manuscript is sent for peer review. Discount applications submitted after the beginning of peer review process will not be considered.
"Are there any reviewer bonuses?"
Yes, the journal's reviewers receive bonuses for timely and high-quality reviews. The number of points is calculated individually by the editorial office based on how thorough the review is and the adherence to deadlines.
Reviewers can use accumulated points to partially pay the publication fee for their own articles (but not more than 50% of the publication cost). A reviewer may transfer their points to a colleague. Cashing out points is not available. Unused points expire two years after the date of issue.
"Can I get a refund?"
Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM will refund the amount paid for article publication if the article is not published under open access terms on the journal's website due to an error made by the publisher or the editorial team. A refund is only provided if the error is not corrected within 30 days of the author's notification.
The publication fee will not be refunded if the article is retracted due to an author error or a violation of scientific ethics.
"Can I pay for the publication with my own card?"
Yes. You may pay as an individual using your own card, without a contract.
"Can my affiliated institution or supporting organization pay for publication on my behalf?"
Yes. Authors may request that an invoice be sent to their institution or grant funder if that organization has agreed to cover the publication costs.
"How do I obtain supporting documents for the accounting department of my affiliated institution?"
The editorial team provides the author with supporting documents (contract, payment receipt).
"Can the publication fee (or its absence) affect manuscript selection or the editorial board’s decision?"
The editorial office receives payment information only after an approval for publication has been made. The author's financial status has no influence on manuscript selection, peer review, or the editorial board's decision.
"Can I pay for publication partially (e.g., 50% after the acceptance, 50% after the issue is published)?"
Yes, this is possible. Payment terms are discussed individually with each author after the editorial team has approved the manuscript for publication.
"How will I know when it is time to pay for publication?"
When the editorial board makes a decision to publish the article, the editorial manager will contact the corresponding author and inform them of this. All payment links and contracts are sent only by the editorial manager from the journal's official email address.
"How much time do I have to pay?"
We recommend making payment within 30 days of receiving the invoice. Delay in providing payment information or making payment may result in a publication delay.
"What happens if I fail to pay for publication on time?"
If payment is not received within 60 days, the editorial team will reject the manuscript. If the editorial team finds that the manuscript has been published in another journal, the author will be placed on a blacklist, and the situation will be reported to the author's supervisor. Subsequent manuscripts from this author will only be considered subject to 100% prepayment at the submission stage.
Failure to pay within the specified period may result in restrictions on the author's ability to publish in Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM and may lead to legal proceedings.
"Are there any other mandatory fees? Do I need to pay extra for publishing a long article?"
No. The publication fee is the same for articles of any length. There are no additional fees — all publication costs are included in the APC.
"How often does the editorial team review publication prices?"
Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM reviews the APC annually. Prices are updated based on journal production costs, research promotion, and investments in improving services for the scientific community. The price is fixed as of the date the article is accepted for publication.
"Can I withdraw my manuscript?"
Yes, the author may withdraw a manuscript at any stage before it is accepted for publication. However, if peer review and scientific editing have already begun, withdrawal without a valid reason is considered a violation of publication ethics.
International standards (COPE) recognize the following grounds for manuscript withdrawal during the review stage:
- Discovering significant errors in data, methodology, or interpretation of results that call into question the validity of the work and its suitability for publication.
- Conflict of interest that cannot be resolved otherwise.
Simply "deciding to publish elsewhere" or "changing your mind about publishing" after the editorial office has already begun peer review is not a valid reason.
Withdrawal of a manuscript after the beginning of peer review process without a valid reason is considered a violation of publication ethics. The editorial office will report the incident to the supervisor of the corresponding author and add the authors to a list of unethical authors. At the editorial board's discretion, a temporary or permanent ban on publishing in this journal may be imposed. Subsequent manuscripts from this author will only be considered subject to 100% prepayment at the submission stage.
"Will you raise the price after the manuscript has passed peer review (before it is accepted)?"
The article publication fee is fixed as of the date the manuscript is submitted to the journal.
"If I submit an article in English, can I get a discount on publication?"
No, the publication cost does not depend on the language of the article. We publish all articles in both Russian and English, with each version undergoing literary editing and proofreading by a native speaker.
"I have questions about payment that are not covered here. Where and how can I ask them?"
Please send your questions to the editorial office by email: editor@consortium-psy.com. We will be happy to help.