APC Fee Waivers
Transparent & fair Article Processing Charges (APCs) for authors. Support for students, early-career researchers & unfunded teams. All fees in Rwandan Francs (RWF).
1. Submission Options & Core Publication Fees
Base article processing fees by route and article type.
Standard Publication
Balanced speed & affordability.
80,000 RWF
Full peer review, DOI assignment, and online hosting of the final version of record. Ideal for most academic and professional authors.
Fast-Track Review
Priority handling for time-sensitive research.
130,000 RWF
Accelerated editorial workflow, first decision targeted within 10–15 days, dedicated handling editor, DOI, and online hosting.
Premium Highlight
Maximum visibility + fast-track review.
190,000 RWF
Includes fast-track review plus homepage feature, newsletter inclusion, and social media promotion across IRU Business Group channels.
Article Type Overview
Indicative fees by article type under the Standard Publication route.
| Article Type | Description | Standard Publication | Fast-Track Review | Premium Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Research Article | Full-length empirical or theoretical work. | 80,000 RWF | 130,000 RWF | 190,000 RWF |
| Review Article | Comprehensive synthesis of existing literature. | 90,000 RWF | 140,000 RWF | 200,000 RWF |
| Case Study / Practice Note | Applied insights from field, organisation, or project. | 60,000 RWF | 105,000 RWF | 155,000 RWF |
| Short Communication / Brief | Short report on ongoing work or key findings. | 45,000 RWF | 90,000 RWF | 135,000 RWF |
| Student Paper / Thesis Summary | Condensed version of thesis or student project. | 35,000 RWF | 70,000 RWF | 115,000 RWF |
| Industry / Sponsored Column | Clearly labelled sponsored insights from practice. | From 120,000 RWF | On request | On request |
2. Optional Add-On Services
Enhance quality, clarity, and impact using IRU's editorial & AI tools.
Editorial & Language Services
Improve language, structure, and compliance with IRU Journal style.
| Service | Scope | Fee (per article) |
|---|---|---|
| Language Polishing | Grammar, clarity, and flow improvement. | 30,000 RWF |
| Advanced Scientific Editing | Structure, argument, and feedback on content. | 60,000 RWF |
| Formatting to IRU Journal Style | References, headings, tables, figures. | 15,000 RWF |
| Pre-submission Technical Check | Compliance with checklist & ethics requirements. | 20,000 RWF |
Design & Research Communication
Visuals and materials to communicate your findings effectively.
| Service | Deliverable | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Graphical Abstract | Single-page visual summary. | 40,000 RWF |
| Infographic | Shareable infographic for web & print. | 50,000 RWF |
| Slide Deck | 5–10 slides summarising the article. | 45,000 RWF |
| Social Media Kit | Images & captions for X, IG, LinkedIn. | 30,000 RWF |
AI-Powered Impact Services
Powered by IRU Core AI and integrated IRU ecosystem services.
| Service | Deliverable | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| AI Lay Summary | 1–2 page non-technical summary. | 25,000 RWF |
| AI Translation Pack | Abstract in Kinyarwanda, English, French. | 35,000 RWF |
| AI Audio / Podcast Summary | 3–5 minute spoken overview. | 40,000 RWF |
| AI Video Summary | Explainer video with key visuals. | 120,000 RWF |
Data, Hosting & Visibility
Data management and visibility boosters linked to IRU Vault & IRU News.
| Service | Scope | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Dataset Hosting + DOI | Secure storage and citable identifier. | 50,000 RWF |
| Supplementary Materials Hosting | Appendices, tools, extended figures. | 20,000 RWF |
| Confidential Data Vault | Access-controlled sensitive data space. | 80,000 RWF |
| Visibility Boost Pack | Homepage + newsletter + social promo. | 130,000 RWF |
3. Fee Waivers & Discounts
Ensuring that ability to pay does not become a barrier to publication.
100% APC waiver
In specific circumstances, IRU Journal may waive the APC completely for accepted articles.
- Corresponding authors without institutional or project funding.
- Strong public interest or policy relevance from under-resourced settings.
- Special calls or sponsored issues where costs are covered by partners.
25–75% APC discount
Partial waivers reduce the APC while still contributing to the costs of publishing.
- Early-career authors with limited funding support.
- Multi-author teams where only some authors are funded.
- Collaborations across higher- and lower-resourced institutions.
Agreements & sponsorships
IRU Journal may establish agreements with universities, research centres, funders or organisations.
- Centralised APC coverage for affiliated authors.
- Discounts for multi-article or thematic collections.
- Co-branded supplements or sponsored issues.
APC & waiver estimator
Quick, non-binding estimate of total APCs for your accepted articles.
Use this simple tool to estimate the APC payable for a set of accepted articles. The final amount will be confirmed in your acceptance letter and may differ slightly after applying the detailed waiver policy.
Estimated total APC (before tax, if applicable):
This is an informal estimate for planning purposes. Confirmed APCs and any applicable waivers will be communicated in your official acceptance and invoice documentation from IRU Journal.
4. How APC Decisions & Waivers Are Made
Process, principles and how to request support.
Authors who anticipate difficulty in paying the APC should inform the editorial office as early as possible, ideally at the time of submission or during review.
- Briefly describe your funding situation and the reason for the request.
- Indicate whether any of the co-authors or institutions can contribute.
- Requests are evaluated confidentially and do not influence editorial decisions.
Important: All fees are indicative and exclusive of VAT. IRU Journal may offer partial or full waivers for:
- Students from low-income backgrounds.
- Authors from low- and middle-income countries.
- Articles funded by non-profit or public interest projects.
For custom institutional agreements or sponsored special issues, please contact the IRU Journal team for a tailored quotation.
Important: APCs and waiver policies may evolve as IRU Journal grows and as new partnerships are formed. The version displayed on the journal website at the time of acceptance will apply. Authors are encouraged to keep a copy of the APC information and any waiver decisions communicated by the editorial office.
