Article Processing Charges
Article Processing Charges (APC)
The Journal of Malay Constitutional Studies (JMCS) is committed to transparent, fair, and academically independent publication practices. This policy explains the journal's approach to fees that may be associated with the publication of accepted manuscripts.
1. Article Processing Charges
JMCS may apply an Article Processing Charge (APC) to manuscripts that have been accepted for publication.
The applicable APC amount, payment procedure, and any relevant conditions shall be clearly communicated to authors and published through the journal's official platform before a payment obligation is imposed.
Where no APC amount is displayed or formally communicated by JMCS, authors should not assume that any payment is required.
2. No Submission Fee
JMCS does not charge authors merely for submitting a manuscript for editorial consideration.
Submission of a manuscript and its initial editorial evaluation are not conditional upon payment of an Article Processing Charge.
3. APC and Editorial Decisions
The payment or ability to pay an Article Processing Charge shall not determine whether a manuscript is accepted or rejected.
Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit, relevance to the aims and scope of JMCS, compliance with journal policies, and the outcome of the peer-review process.
Editors and reviewers are expected to conduct the editorial and peer-review process independently of financial considerations.
4. When an APC Becomes Applicable
Where an APC is applicable, the charge will ordinarily become relevant only after a manuscript has successfully completed the required editorial and peer-review process and has been accepted for publication.
Authors will be informed of the applicable payment arrangements through the journal's official communication channels.
5. Transparency of Fees
JMCS is committed to transparency concerning publication charges.
Before an APC is collected, authors should be able to identify:
- the applicable amount of the Article Processing Charge;
- the stage at which payment becomes due;
- the authorized method of payment;
- any applicable waiver or reduction policy; and
- the official contact for questions concerning publication charges.
JMCS will not intentionally impose undisclosed mandatory publication charges after an author has committed to publication without appropriate prior notice.
6. Purpose of Publication Charges
Article Processing Charges, where applied, may contribute to the costs associated with scholarly publishing and the maintenance of the journal's publication infrastructure.
These activities may include:
- operation and maintenance of the journal's online publishing platform;
- editorial and publication administration;
- copyediting and production processes;
- article layout and publication preparation;
- digital preservation and website maintenance;
- metadata management and scholarly dissemination; and
- other reasonable costs associated with maintaining the journal's publishing activities.
7. Waivers and Reductions
JMCS may establish waivers or reductions of Article Processing Charges in appropriate circumstances.
Where a waiver or reduction scheme is available, the applicable eligibility requirements and procedures will be communicated through the journal's official platform.
Requests concerning an APC waiver or reduction should not influence the scholarly assessment of a manuscript.
8. Independence of Peer Review
Peer reviewers are not responsible for determining publication charges and should not base their recommendations on an author's financial circumstances.
The double-blind peer-review process of JMCS is conducted on academic grounds independently of APC administration.
9. Official Payment Information
Authors should make payments only through payment methods or instructions officially communicated by JMCS or its publisher.
Authors are encouraged to contact the JMCS Editorial Office if they receive uncertain, inconsistent, or unofficial requests for payment relating to a manuscript.
10. Changes to Article Processing Charges
JMCS may review and revise its Article Processing Charge as the journal's publishing activities and operational requirements develop.
Any revised APC amount or material change to the charging policy should be published transparently through the journal's official platform.
The applicable charge for a manuscript should be determined according to the policy communicated to the author for the relevant publication process.
11. Open Access and APC
The Article Processing Charge policy is separate from the journal's Open Access Policy.
Articles published by JMCS are made openly accessible to readers in accordance with the journal's open-access and licensing policies. An APC, where applicable, relates to publication arrangements and does not constitute a subscription or access charge imposed on readers.
12. Current APC Information
The specific Article Processing Charge applicable to JMCS publications will be announced on the journal's official website when the fee structure has been formally established.
Until an applicable fee has been formally published or communicated by the journal, authors should refer to the latest information available on the official JMCS publishing platform or contact the JMCS Editorial Office for clarification.