KUHub Research

Open Access (OA) refers to the free, immediate, and unrestricted online access to scholarly research outputs. These can include peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, theses, datasets, reports, and more. Open Access removes paywalls and licensing barriers, allowing users to read, download, share, and reuse research content freely — with proper attribution.

Open Access is not only about free to read, but also about rights to reuse under clearly defined licensing conditions.

🟢 Green Open Access (Self-Archiving)

• Authors deposit a version of their work in an institutional or subject repository (like KUHub Research).

• Usually involves the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) — the final peer-reviewed version before journal formatting.

• May require an embargo (e.g., 6–12 months) depending on the publisher.

• No cost to the author.

✅ Example: Uploading your post-print to KUHub Research after a 12-month embargo set by Elsevier.

🟡 Gold Open Access

• The final version of the article is published directly by the journal and made openly available on the publisher’s website.

• Often involves an Article Processing Charge (APC) paid by the author or funder.

• Licensed under Creative Commons, usually CC BY.

✅ Example: Publishing in PLOS ONE with a CC BY license.

🟣 Hybrid Open Access

• The journal is subscription-based but offers optional OA for individual articles.

• Authors pay an APC to make their article OA, while the rest of the journal remains behind a paywall.

• Less preferred due to double-dipping concerns.

Note: Many journals in the Springer Nature, Wiley, or Elsevier portfolios operate on a hybrid OA model.

⚪ Diamond/Platinum Open Access

• OA journals with no charges for authors or readers.

• Typically funded by academic institutions, governments, or scholarly societies.

• Fully compliant with OA principles, but less widespread.

✅ Example: Publishing in a university-funded open-access journal.

Koç University Library actively supports Open Access publishing by participating in Read & Publish Agreements with select academic publishers. These agreements cover the Article Processing Charges (APCs) for eligible authors affiliated with Koç University, allowing them to publish Open Access at no additional cost.

📚 What is a Read & Publish Agreement?

A Read & Publish (R&P) Agreement is a transformative arrangement that provides:

• Read access to subscription-based journals

• Free Open Access publishing for corresponding authors from participating institutions

This means Koç University researchers can publish their work Open Access without paying APCs themselves, in eligible journals included in these agreements.

📬 Need Help?

If you're unsure whether your article is eligible for APC coverage, or if you need guidance on how to submit Open Access under these agreements:

📧 Contact: openaccess@ku.edu.tr
🌐 Library LibGuide: Read & Publish Agreements

Many research funders and institutions require that results of publicly funded research be made openly available. KUHub Research helps researchers comply with these requirements.

🧭 Common Funders with OA Mandates

✔️ What licenses are used?

Open Access works are typically shared under a Creative Commons (CC) license. These licenses define how your work may be reused by others.

💡 CC BY is the most commonly used license in Open Access and required by many funders.