UK research funding · Author checklist
UKRI open access: check your journal, licence and funding route
Choose a journal with a clear plan for your article’s open access route. Check the licence, repository arrangements and funding eligibility before submission or agreeing to publication charges.
Sources checked: · Research articles; books have separate requirements
Which articles does the UKRI policy cover?
The current article policy covers in-scope research articles acknowledging UKRI funding that were first submitted on or after April 1, 2022. UK affiliation alone is not the test. Check the output type and funding acknowledgement against UKRI’s policy scope.
Two routes to check
- Journal route: the published Version of Record is immediately open access with CC BY or another licence UKRI permits.
- Repository route: the accepted manuscript, or permitted published version, is openly available in a suitable institutional or subject repository at final publication, without an embargo, under the required licence.
For the repository route, UKRI specifies a licence statement for the manuscript and accompanying submission letter or note. Use the official wording. In-scope articles also need a data access statement. Biomedical articles acknowledging MRC or BBSRC funding have an additional Europe PMC deposit requirement. UKRI’s research-article requirements and licence wording.
Does a compliant route mean UKRI will pay the APC?
No automatic payment follows from finding a publication route. UKRI directs authors to check funding with their organisation before submission and recommends the Journal Checker Tool to identify publishing options. Treat an article-processing charge as a separate decision requiring a confirmed source of funds. UKRI’s author guidance.
For hybrid-journal costs under an approved transitional agreement, the organisation must participate in that agreement to use its UKRI block grant. Check local arrangements and current eligibility with your library; an agreement listed elsewhere is insufficient. UKRI funding FAQs.
Keep the library’s response with the fee quotation. Record whether the answer applies to your journal, article type, corresponding-author affiliation and expected publication timing. Recheck if any of those details change.
Before-submission worksheet
Use this discussion sheet with your coauthors and library. It is an editorial aid, not an official approval form.
| Decision | Evidence to save |
|---|---|
| Policy scope | Funder, award, output type and first submission date. |
| Chosen route | Journal or repository route, manuscript version and release plan. |
| Licence | Selected licence, applicable submission statement and any approved exception. |
| Budget | Library confirmation, agreement eligibility and itemised fee quotation. |
| Follow-up | Named depositor, repository record and a check that readers can open the required version. |
Example: an attractive journal offers paid open access
Hypothetical case: the publisher offers a paid option, but a coauthor assumes the university’s agreement covers it. Before accepting the charge, send the exact journal title, ISSN, article type and author details to the library. Ask for the available route and written funding confirmation. If that option is unavailable, discuss a permitted alternative before committing.
The open access decision also leaves academic questions to answer: do recent articles match your field, can you verify the editors, and are the review and withdrawal terms clear? Use our pre-submission checks, author-rights guide and fee checklist.
Is an open access checker a journal-quality rating?
Use each tool for its stated purpose. An answer about a funder’s publication route does not evaluate the review reports your paper will receive. Keep your evidence about journal identity and editorial practice alongside the route decision.
For international collaborations, also consult our NIH guide or Canada Tri-Agency guide, then resolve overlapping requirements with your research office.