Refund Policy
1. Refunds for Article Processing Charges (APCs)
- Submission withdrawal before peer review: Authors who withdraw their manuscripts before peer review commences will receive a full refund of their APC.
- Withdrawal after peer review begins: Once peer review has commenced, no refunds will be issued for APC payments. This is due to the resources and time invested in the review process by editors and reviewers.
- Manuscript rejection: Authors whose manuscripts are rejected after peer review will not receive a refund of their APC. The peer review process is rigorous, and the decision to reject a manuscript is based on the quality and originality of the research, as well as its relevance to the journal's scope.
- Manuscript withdrawal after acceptance: Authors who withdraw their accepted manuscripts after the publication process has begun will not receive a refund of their APC. This is because significant work is done on accepted manuscripts to prepare them for publication, including copyediting, formatting, and online publication.
2. Exceptions to the Refund Policy
- Technical errors: In the event of a technical error that prevents authors from submitting their manuscripts or paying their APCs, a full refund may be issued at the discretion of the journal editors.
- Double payments: If an author accidentally makes a duplicate APC payment, the duplicate payment will be refunded in full.
3. Refunds on Subscriptions
- Subscription cancellations before the start of the subscription period: Subscribers who cancel their subscriptions before the subscription period begins will receive a full refund.
- Subscription cancellations after the start of the subscription period: Subscribers who cancel their subscriptions after the subscription period begins will not receive a refund for any issues that have already been published. However, they may be able to receive a prorated refund for any remaining issues in the subscription period.
4. How to Request a Refund
To request a refund, please contact the journal editors or editorial staff in writing, stating the reason for your request and providing your payment details. The editors will review your request and respond within a reasonable timeframe.