Publishing a scientific article in an international journal included in Scopus is an important stage in a scientist's scientific career. Publications in prestigious scientific journals enhance the academic reputation of a researcher, promote career development and significantly increase the chances of receiving grants. However, many authors face the problem of high cost of publishing an article in reputable journals. Is it possible to publish an article in Scopus for free? Let us consider it in this review.
How to publish a scientific article in Scopus for free?
There are several ways to publish a scientific article in Scopus journals for free. Let's consider them in detail.
1. Scopus indexed journals: free publication
Not all Scopus journals require payment for publication. But it should be understood that it is impossible to publish an article in Scopus absolutely free of charge. In any case, there must be a source of funding – be it an author, reader, sponsor or advertiser. This factor is determined by the business model of a scientific journal.
The main business models of journals are summarised in the table below.
|
Business Model |
Features |
|
Traditional model |
Access to scholarly materials is provided through a subscription paid for by readers or the university. |
|
Open Access |
The cost of publishing an article is covered by the authors, their academic institutions or grantors. |
|
Hybrid access |
Depending on the journal's policy, publication fees may be paid either by the author or by readers. |
|
Sponsorship and advertising |
Payment is made by sponsors or advertisers (third parties). |
In which Scopus journals can I publish for free?
The journals where an author can publish an article for free in Scopus are those with a traditional or hybrid model. To find such journals, visit the official Scopus website and use the search tools to select publications on your topic. Pay attention to the publication terms stated on the publication's website – some journals accept articles for free or charge a minimal fee.
List of journals in Bulgaria indexed by Scopus in which you can publish for free:
- European Science Editing
- bibliography, librarianship, information resources
- papers are accepted in English
- Biomath
- biology, mathematics
- Articles are accepted in English
- Folia Medica
- medicine
- Articles are accepted in English
- Historia naturalis bulgarica
- zoology, geology, botany
- articles are accepted in English
- Silva Balcanica
- forestry, ecology
- articles are accepted in English
- Journal of the Bulgarian Orthopaedics and Trauma Association
- surgery
- Articles are accepted in English
- Studies in Linguistics, Culture, and FLT
- linguistics, literature
- articles are accepted in English.
The full list of journals in Bulgaria that are included in the Scopus database can be found here.
2. DOAJ – journals with the possibility of free publication
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) is a catalogue of open access scientific journals indexed in Scopus. Many of these journals publish articles without a publication fee. This allows researchers to publish their work for free, which can be important for researchers with limited financial resources, especially in developing economies.
To start searching for journals on DOAJ, enter your subject area of interest in the search box and filter for journals that do not require publication fees by selecting the "Without fees" option.
3. Grant support and research funds
Grants are another way to publish a scientific article in Scopus for free. Many research foundations and organisations provide financial support for research and publication of scientific articles.
Where to look for grant support?
- National Science Foundations – US National Science Foundation (NSF), European Research Council (ERC), others.
- International programmes – Horizon Europe, UNESCO, WHO, European Union research grants, others.
- Private national foundations – Patient-Centred Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Swedish Strategic Research Foundation (SSF), others.
What are the disadvantages of publishing articles for free in Scopus-indexed journals?
- Reaching the target audience: free journals often charge readers for access, which limits the dissemination of the article to scientists who cannot afford to pay a subscription.
- Long review times: the reviewer review process for articles in non-fee journals can be lengthy, increasing the waiting time for the article to be released.
- Less citation: limited access to articles can reduce their visibility and citation.
- Limited choice of journals: the number of journals that post articles without publication fees is extremely small. Consequently, there are few subject categories that may be suitable for publication.
- Long waiting times for publication: due to the large number of authors who want to publish their research for free, the waiting list for publication can drag on for months and sometimes even years.
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