APC Policy

At Conscientia Beam, Article Processing Charges (APCs) are implemented to sustain essential activities within the scholarly publishing process.  These charges cover various aspects of the publishing process, including manuscript submission management, peer review coordination, editorial services, typesetting, digital production, online hosting, long-term digital archiving, platform maintenance, and administrative operations.

As part of our commitment to equitable knowledge dissemination, Conscientia Beam has established a structured APC Discount and Waiver Policy. This policy is intended to provide financial support to eligible authors who may encounter financial barriers that hinder their ability to cover publishing costs.

1. Objective of the Discount Policy

The primary objective of this policy is to foster inclusive participation in academic publishing by offering financial relief to authors with limited resources. Conscientia Beam particularly aims to support:

  • Early-career researchers who may not yet have access to sufficient research funding.
  • Authors affiliated with institutions in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as classified by the United Nations.

Through this initiative, we seek to increase the global visibility of important research that may otherwise remain inaccessible due to financial constraints.

2. General Eligibility and Application Process

Authors interested in applying for a discount or waiver must follow the application process outlined below. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all discount and waiver requests must be made only after the manuscript has been formally accepted for publication.

Application Procedure:

  1. Authors should contact the Conscientia Beam editorial office via email at waiver@conscientiabeam.com to request a Discount Application Form.
  2. The completed form must be submitted along with all required supporting documentation.
  3. Upon receipt, the editorial team will evaluate the application, verify the documents, and communicate the final decision regarding eligibility and the level of discount granted.

Important Guidelines:

  • APC discounts and waivers cannot be applied retroactively once the APC has been paid.
  • Discounts from multiple categories cannot be combined, unless expressly permitted.
  • All documentation submitted as part of the application will be subject to strict verification.
  • All decisions made by the editorial office are final and not subject to appeal.

3. Categories of Discounts and Waivers

Policy 1: Full APC Waiver for Top 2% Most Cited Scientists (2024/2025)

In 2024/2025, Conscientia Beam offers a 100% APC waiver to corresponding authors who are listed among the Top 2% Most Cited Scientists. This status must be confirmed through credible citation databases such as the Stanford/Elsevier global ranking or an equivalent source.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • The corresponding author must be listed in the Top 2% at the time of manuscript submission.
  • Valid documentation must be provided to verify this status. This may include a citation certificate or official ranking reference.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Authors can access the current list of highly cited researchers at https://topresearcherslist.com.
  • A copy of the author’s citation certificate must be included with the discount application.
  • Once verified by the editorial office, the full waiver will be applied.

This policy reflects our ongoing dedication to advancing the visibility and accessibility of high-impact research by distinguished global scholars.

Policy 2: 50% APC Discount for Authors from Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Authors whose primary institutional affiliation is based in a country recognized by the United Nations as a Least Developed Country are eligible for a 50% discount on APCs.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • All listed authors must be affiliated with institutions located in an LDC at the time of manuscript acceptance.
  • Acceptable documentation includes:
    • Institutional email addresses,
    • Official letters of institutional affiliation,
    • Valid institutional identity cards.

List of Eligible Countries:

The list of eligible LDCs includes : Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Policy 3: 50% APC Discount for Student Authors

Conscientia Beam is pleased to offer a 50% APC discount to student authors who are facing financial challenges and wish to publish their research.

Eligibility Conditions:

  • The corresponding author must be an active, currently enrolled student at the time of manuscript submission.
  • The majority of the authors listed on the manuscript must also be students.

Required Documentation:

  • A valid student identification card or an official enrolment certificate.
  • A brief personal statement describing the financial need for the discount.

This policy aims to empower student researchers by removing financial barriers and encouraging early contributions to scholarly discourse.

4. Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to all APC discount and waiver requests:

  • Discounts are not cumulative, unless explicitly stated otherwise by the editorial office.
  • No discounts will be applied retroactively after APC payment has been completed.
  • All submitted documents are subject to verification and approval by the editorial team.
  • Each author may benefit from a discount or waiver only once every two years. This applies regardless of the discount type or manuscript.
  • The final decision on all applications lies solely with Conscientia Beam and is not subject to reconsideration.

Contact Information

For additional details, inquiries, or to submit a discount application, authors may contact the editorial team at:

Email: waiver@conscientiabeam.com

We remain committed to making scholarly publishing more accessible and inclusive for authors worldwide. If you have any questions about eligibility or application procedures, do not hesitate to reach out.



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