OA Agreements & APC Discounts

  • It is always preferable that you submit your manuscript using your @utoronto / @mail.utoronto email address or by selecting the University of Toronto as your primary affiliation. Not doing so may preclude you from the deal or delay the publication process.
  • Once an invoice is paid, most publishers are unable to offer refunds. Please ensure applicable discounts have been applied before paying.
  • A corresponding author is generally understood to be the individual who takes primary responsibility for communication with the journal during the submission, peer review and publication process.

The University of Toronto Libraries offers open access publishing agreements and discounts with a range of scholarly publishers, reducing the financial obligations on researchers who publish their work openly. These discounts are negotiated into institutional licenses with the publisher or through paid memberships. For more information on UTL's ongoing work in support of initiatives that work towards immediate and barrier-free access to research, contact the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office.

Browse publisher agreements

Scroll down for the full list of agreements by publisher. Select a publisher to view eligibility, coverage, discount details, and instructions.

APC Discount Type Fully Funded
Discount: 100%
License ends: June 30th, 2028
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: $250.00
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to ACS hybrid journals.  Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto 

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 15%
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to journals published by BMC and SpringerOpen. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  The article types that are covered under this agreement are: original papers, review papers, and brief communications.

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: March 30, 2026 (renewal pending)
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 15%
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies to Open Access BMJ publications. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 20%
What journals are eligible?

Gold and Hybrid journal titles. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

Cambridge University Hybrid or Gold OA journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto   

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
Discount: 100%
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to the following journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCanadian Journal of PhysicsCanadian Journal of Physiology and PharmacologyGenomeTransactions of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 25%
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies to all CSP Hybrid Journals EXCEPT Arctic Science, Drone Systems and Applications, and FACETS. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  DevelopmentJournal of Cell ScienceJournal of Experimental BiologyDisease Models & MechanismsBiology Open

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 15%
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies to select Elsevier gold journals. Confirm that the journal you would like to publish in is eligible for this discount by referring to https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  EXCLUDED Titles: Cell Press, Lancet, and other society owned journals

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

This deal applies to select Elsevier hybrid journals. Confirm that the journal you would like to publish in is eligible for this discount by referring to https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  EXCLUDED Titles: Cell Press, Lancet, and other society owned journals

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

Confirm that the journal you would like to publish in is eligible for this discount by referring to https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
Discount: 100%
License ends: December 31, 2026
What journals are eligible?

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD). Confirm that the journal you would like to publish in is eligible for this discount by referring to https://search.scifree.se/utoronto  

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2025
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies to all Karger journals, including Karger's Open Access and hybrid journals (subscription journals with an Open Access option). Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2025
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 10%
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies to all MDPI journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 10%
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    PLOS BiologyPLOS ClimatePLOS Complex SystemsPLOS Computational BiologyPLOS Digital HealthPLOS GeneticsPLOS Global Public HealthPLOS MedicinePLOS Mental HealthPLOS Neglected Tropical DiseasesPLOS ONEPLOS PathogensPLOS Sustainability and TransformationPLOS Water

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: $500
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto. Please visit Publication Fees and Charges - PNAS for further information.PNAS Nexus is covered under UTL's Oxford University Press gold journals discount at 10% off the APC. 

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
Discount: 15%
What journals are eligible?

Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto or refer to the RSC journals list. 

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2027
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to Sage Choice journals, including the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) and Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    There are a few select journals for which Sage does not offer an open access option that are excluded at this time.

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 40%
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to participating Pure Gold Open Access Journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 15%
What journals are eligible?

This discount only applies to journals published by SpringerOpen. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: March 30, 2026 (renewal pending)
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 25%
What journals are eligible?

This discount applies only to Open Select Journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Discount
Discount: 10%
What journals are eligible?

Wiley Gold journals. Search for eligible Wiley Gold journals here: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto Articles accepted for publication in Wiley’s Gold journals are eligible for the 10% APC discount under this agreement.UTL has a separate Wiley Hybrid agreement which includes a full APC discount - consult its entry for details.Journals that convert from Wiley Hybrid to Wiley Gold open access during the term of this agreement remain eligible for the full APC waiver from the Wiley Hybrid agreement up until at minimum December 31, 2026.Eligible article types: case study, commentary, data article, education, lecture, method and protocol, perspective, practice and policy, rapid publication, research article, review article, short communication, and technical note. 

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026
APC Discount Type Fully Funded
What journals are eligible?

ONLY Wiley Hybrid Journals. Search for eligible journal titles: https://search.scifree.se/utoronto    Articles accepted for publication in Wiley’s gold journals are not eligible under this agreement. Authors will continue to be charged APCs for accepted articles in these journals.Journals that convert from hybrid to gold open access during the term of this agreement remain eligible for the full APC waiver up until at minimum December 31, 2026.Eligible article types: case study, commentary, data article, education, lecture, method and protocol, perspective, practice and policy, rapid publication, research article, review article, short communication, and technical note.

Who is covered?

Corresponding authors affiliated with U of T, including students, and teaching/research staff employed by the University.

License ends: December 31, 2026