This page reflects the most common questions asked about the RCUK OA requirements and Block Grant.
If you have other questions not answered below, please send them to openaccess@sruc.ac.uk - it doesn't matter how small or trivial it may seem, there's probably someone else wondering the same thing too!
(1) What is the RCUK OA Black Grant?
It is a grant from RCUK to pay for open access publication charges incurred by RCUK-funded researchers who are required to make their research available in an Open Access format.
(2) I am an RC-UK supported student; can I apply for funds from the SRUC RCUK Black Grant?
If you are affiliated with another institution which holds an RCUK Block Grant, you are advised to apply for funds there initially. If you are listed on a paper with your lead supervisor who is SRUC affiliated, you are able to apply for funds however if an SRUC member is the secondary supervisor, please apply to your affiliated institution (validating university).
(3) How long are RCUK embargoes for Green Open Access?
For BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC or STFC funded work, RCUK will accept a 6 month embargo.
For ESRC or AHRC funded work, RCUK will accept a 12 month embargo.
(4) If my paper is rejected, can I still have funds to apply elsewhere?
If your article is not accepted for publication, please contact the OA team on openaccess@sruc.ac.uk so that we can keep our records up-to-date. If you choose to resubmit to another journal you should let us know the new details as soon as possible so we can ensure funds are available to you as it operates on first-come, first-served basis.
(5) How can I access the funds?
To apply for funds, email openaccess@sruc.ac.uk with a completed application form, detailing the following information:
The OA team will check your funder’s open access requirements along with the policies of your chosen journal. It may be that you can satisfy your funder’s requirements by self-archiving a copy of the accepted manuscript of your paper in the 'SRUC Repository' (link below). If this is the case, you will be declined funds and asked to self-archive instead. The OA team can assist with this if required. Alternatively, your application will be processed to receive funds for Gold OA from the Block Grant.
(6) When should I apply to the fund?
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We welcome applications for manuscripts which are finished and ready to be submitted to a publisher.
(7) I have already submitted my manuscript and have received an invoice from the publisher - what should I do?
Please contact openaccess@sruc.ac.ukto check whether there are funds available and then send the invoice along with a completed application form to the OA team who will pay this for you. Because the fund is finite and operated on a first-come first served basis, please submit an application before sending your next paper to the publisher, as this way we can guarantee that funds will be available when the invoice arrives.
(8) Can I include page or colour charges?
Yes, the main purpose of the grant is to pay for APCs and other costs resulting from the publication of Research Council‐funded research such as page or colour charges. Details of any such charges should be included with your application.
(9) What is a Creative Commons license and which are acceptable under the RCUK OA Policy?
Creative Commons is a not for profit organisation that offers authors an alternative to the traditional “All Rights Reserved” full copyright. There is a choice of several licences that you can apply to your work depending on whether you want to give people the right to share, use, and build upon this work that you have created, and to what extent. Full information about these licences can be found on the 'Creative Commons' website (link below).
The RCUK OA policy requires that a paper to be made freely available under the 'Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)' licence if block grant funds have been used to pay for the publication.
If you are complying with the policy via the Green open access route, a 'CC BY' licence is preferable but often not permitted by publishers. In this case, the requirement can be met by the use of the 'Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial (CC BY NC)' licence.
