Research funders open access policies:
Frequently Asked
Questions
- How do I find out what my research funder is requiring me to do?
- When do these requirements come into force?
- What about publications from before this date?
- Isn't copyright a problem?
- Why do research funders have different requirements for deposit?
- Why are different funders asking authors to deposit in different repositories?
How do I find out what my research funder is requiring me to do?
Check the summary of policies.
When do these requirements come into force?
This depends on the funder in question. Check the individual policy of your funder via the summary of policies.
What about publications from before this date?
None of the research funders are requiring authors to deposit earlier papers in open access repositories. However, a number are encouraging authors to do this where possible. Authors who would like to make their papers available in an open access repository can do so by depositing in Enlighten, the University’s institutional repository service. Details of how to deposit are available.
The majority of publishers will permit authors to deposit their own final
version of papers in an open access repository. Most will not permit the
published pdf version to be used for this purpose. Depositing the author final
version of papers will satisfy the requirements of research funders while at the
same time complying with publishers requirements. Further information on this is
available on the Enlighten
Copyright advice and
information page.
Why do research funders have different requirements
for deposit?
Different discipline areas have taken a range of views on open access. Individual funders have been allowed to make their own decision on what they think authors should be required to do.
Why are different funders asking authors to deposit in different repositories?
The decision to allow the UK research councils to adopt a range of policies in this area has meant that each funder has its own requirements. Some have taken the view that it is better to ask grant holders to deposit in a subject based repository such as UK PubMed Central. In other disciplines there may be no suitable existing subject based repository, and so authors are being asked to deposit in any suitable open access repository.
