Article Processing Fee (APC)

The Review of Applied Science and Technology (RAST) is a fully open-access journal dedicated to disseminating peer-reviewed, applied scientific research across all major areas of technology and engineering. To ensure free and immediate access to all published articles for readers around the world, the journal operates on a transparent Article Processing Charge (APC) model.

This APC model enables RAST to cover the costs associated with editorial review, digital publication, long-term archiving, and global indexing—without relying on subscription paywalls or institutional restrictions.

 

1.  Why We Charge an APC

Unlike subscription-based journals that limit access behind paywalls, RAST believes in unrestricted access to scientific knowledge. The APC is used to support:

  • Editorial management and peer-review administration
  • Plagiarism screening and ethical compliance
  • Copyediting, typesetting, and layout formatting
  • DOI assignment and CrossRef indexing
  • Long-term digital preservation and archiving
  • Platform maintenance, hosting, and global accessibility

Our APC model is designed to maintain high publication standards while allowing authors to retain copyright and readers to access content free of charge.

 

2. APC Structure

RAST offers a cost-effective and time-conscious publication pathway with two options:

✅ Standard Processing

  • Timeline: Up to 30 calendar days from acceptance to publication
  • Fee: $200 USD
  • Includes comprehensive peer review, editorial coordination, production services, and indexing.

Express Processing

  • Timeline: 7 calendar days from acceptance to online-first publication
  • Fee: $300 USD
  • Designed for authors with time-sensitive research outputs, funding deadlines, or graduation requirements.

Note: APCs are only billed after the manuscript is formally accepted for publication. Submission is free, and no payment is required if the manuscript is rejected.

 

3.  Waivers and Discounts

RAST is committed to equitable publishing opportunities for all authors, regardless of financial background or institutional affiliation. As such, we offer partial or full APC waivers under the following conditions:

  • Corresponding author is affiliated with a Low-Income or Lower-Middle-Income Country (as per World Bank classification)
  • Graduate students or early-career researchers without active grants
  • Researchers working in nonprofit or humanitarian sectors
  • First-time authors or contributors to special issues with high-impact themes
  • Papers with significant societal or technological relevance but limited funding support

Authors requesting a waiver should submit a brief justification at the time of manuscript submission to:
editorial@rast-journal.org

All waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are treated with full confidentiality.

 

4.  Invoicing and Payment Process

Upon acceptance, the corresponding author will receive a formal invoice with clear instructions. Payment must be completed before the article proceeds to final production and online publication.

Accepted Payment Methods:

  • Zelle (for U.S.-based authors):
    • Email: info@americanscholarly.us
    • Recipient: American Scholarly Publishing Group
  • Credit or Debit Card (via Stripe online link)

Authors have 14 days from invoice issuance to make payment or request an extension.

5. Refund and Cancellation Policy

APCs are used to offset administrative and production costs; however, refunds may be granted under the following circumstances:

  • Duplicate payments or billing errors
  • Author withdrawal before production begins
  • Delays exceeding guaranteed timelines for express processing (unless caused by author response delay)
  • Institutional cancellations supported by grant compliance documentation

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to billing@rast-journal.org and will be processed within 10 business days.

6.  Transparency in APC Usage

To promote transparency and trust, RAST allocates APC revenue as follows:

  • 40% – Editorial processing and peer-review management
  • 25% – Professional production (copyediting, typesetting, metadata formatting)
  • 20% – Indexing, archiving, and DOI maintenance
  • 10% – Journal development and author support services
  • 5% – Administrative and digital platform operations

Our editorial decisions are completely independent of any financial transactions. Reviewers are never informed of payment status or waiver decisions.

7.  Funding and Institutional Support

RAST encourages authors to explore available funding options for covering APCs, such as:

  • Research project budgets or institutional publishing funds
  • Government or international grants (e.g., EU Horizon, NIH, IDRC)
  • Departmental support from university faculties
  • Nonprofit research sponsorship programs

The journal provides receipts, invoices, and formal acknowledgment letters to assist in reimbursement or grant reporting.

8.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is there a fee for submission or peer review?
No. Submission and peer review are free. APCs apply only after formal acceptance.

Q2: Can I request a waiver after acceptance?
Waiver requests should be made during submission. Post-acceptance waivers are rarely granted.

Q3: Is the APC negotiable?
Discounts may be available for special issues, invited papers, or long-term institutional partnerships.

Q4: Do I retain the rights to my article?
Yes. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors retain copyright.

Q5: Can I pay in my local currency?
Yes, on request. We will provide a currency-converted invoice based on current exchange rates.