Waiver Policy

ACEE offers waivers or discounts of up to 50% of the Article Processing Charges (APCs) to authors who demonstrate genuine need or originate from underdeveloped or low-income regions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Authors based in low-income or lower-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank.
• Manuscripts demonstrating high-quality data interpretation, robust analytical methods, and unique research objectives.
• Works that reflect strong ethical design and scholarly contribution.

Request Process

• Requests must be submitted at the time of manuscript submission via the online portal.
• The author must provide a brief justification explaining eligibility or genuine financial need.
• Decisions are communicated before the APC invoice is issued.

Scope of the Waiver

Approved waivers reduce the APC amount due at the published rate (e.g., USD 2,949). Authors remain responsible for the adjusted APC upon acceptance. There are no waivers for rejected submissions or charges unrelated to APCs.

Appeals & Exceptions

If waiver requests are denied, authors may submit an appeal by providing further justification. Appeals are to be reviewed impartially by senior editorial staff and communicated promptly.

Equity & Integrity

ACEE strives to uphold equity in publishing access. All waiver and discount decisions respect the journal’s commitment to fairness and transparency in open access publishing.