Article Processing Charge
There is no fast-track option for the article publication. However, the accelerated editorial and peer review processes may take at least two months to accept and publish an article. Acceptance of an article is based on editorial considerations, an independent peer review, and ensuring that the highest standards are maintained. As an Open Access Journal, AJSET has a policy for the Article Processing Charge (APC) as follows:
1. Pre-Acceptance Stage (Pre-Publication Stage)
After submitting the manuscript, the editorial process involves a desk review and peer review. After completing the desk review, the pre-acceptance fee includes 40% of the APC as a submission and processing fee.
2. Post-Acceptance Stage (Publication Stage)
The post-acceptance production process includes copy-editing, language editing, reference setting, proofreading, layouts, indexing, archiving, etc. The post-acceptance fee consists of an editing and publication fee of 20,000 PKR after the acceptance.
3. Fee Waiver, Discounts and Total APC
The APC is subject to a discount if the authors (including students) or the manuscript qualifies the following criteria:
3.1. Solo/all foreign authors, i.e., foreigner nationals, 100% discount; so total payable APC@zero
3.2. Co-authored by foreign and Pakistani authors, 30% discount; so total payable APC@14,000
3.3. At least one Pakistani author affiliated with a foreign university, 20% discount; so total payable APC@16,000
3.4. Manuscript is an Asian topic or a comparative Asian study, 10% discount; so total payable APC@18,000
3.5. Author(s) not eligible for any of the above discount; so total payable APC@20,000
4. Fee Return (upon withdrawal and decline)
The APC is accepted only through the banking channels. If the manuscript is declined at any stage of the editorial process, ninety-five percent (95%) of the submission and processing fee is returned to the author(s). However, if the author(s) withdraw the manuscript, the journal reserves the right to charge a partial submission and processing fee on a case-to-case basis.
There is no fee for the production and publication services if the manuscript is rejected at any stage of the editorial process. However, due to the costs incurred, the journal reserves the right to a partial charge/fee if the author withdraws the manuscript (with a valid reason only).
5. Article Processing Charge Explained
The journal is committed to making publishing costs as clear as possible. The article processing charge covers the costs of turning a manuscript into a finished article and hosting, distributing, and promoting an article.
When a manuscript is submitted, it passes through different sections in the journal to ensure the quality checks, peer review, production and promotion of articles are carried out on time and to a high standard:
- An editorial screening team performs the initial technical and ethical checks;
- An editorial team helps the journal's Academic Editors manage the review process.;
- A proofing team coordinates the proofing process;
- An editorial quality assurance team gives a final check to ensure that the manuscript and its review process adhere to the journal's guidelines and policies;
- A marketing and communication team ensures that the article receives the attention it deserves;
- The technology team builds and maintains the systems and develops new systems;
The work these teams do contributes to the requirement of an APC, so the actual amount payable may vary with time according to the publisher's policy.
[Last updated: 18-Feb-2025]
