Fee Payment and Waiver Policy

Al-Fateh Journal for Educational and Psychological Research adopts a full open-access policy. All articles published by the journal are made freely available to readers and institutions immediately upon publication through the journal’s website.

To cover certain technical and editorial costs associated with preparing accepted manuscripts for publication, including formatting, production, electronic access, archiving, and website management, the journal charges publication fees only after a final acceptance decision has been issued.

The journal does not charge any manuscript submission fee or separate fee for initial screening or peer review. Publication fees and requests for waivers or reductions do not influence editorial screening, peer review, acceptance, or rejection decisions. All scientific and editorial decisions are based exclusively on the manuscript’s originality, methodological soundness, reviewers’ reports, and compliance with the journal’s author guidelines and publication ethics policies.

First: Publication Fees

Publication fees are charged as follows:

  1. Manuscripts submitted from within Iraq:
    IQD 150,000 for an accepted manuscript not exceeding 20 pages when prepared according to the journal’s approved template.
  2. Additional pages:
    IQD 5,000 for each page beyond page 20, in accordance with the journal’s published manuscript-preparation requirements.
  3. Manuscripts submitted from outside Iraq:
    The journal does not charge publication fees for research from outside Iraq at this time.

The journal does not charge submission fees, separate peer-review fees, or fees for color figures or images unless a change is officially announced on the journal’s website before the author is requested to make payment.

Second: Timing of Payment

Publication fees are payable only after the manuscript has received final acceptance and all required scientific revisions have been completed.

Authors are not required to pay any amount during manuscript submission, initial editorial screening, or peer review.

A request for revision or conditional acceptance does not constitute final acceptance. Publication fees become payable only after the scientific and editorial procedures have been completed and an official final acceptance notice has been issued.

Third: Payment Method

Publication fees must be paid through the official method specified by the journal, the College of Basic Education, or the University of Diyala. Authors shall receive official proof of payment in accordance with the approved administrative procedures.

All correspondence concerning publication fees shall be conducted through the journal’s online system or official email address:

jfath@uodiyala.edu.iq

The journal does not use personal accounts, social media platforms, or private telephone numbers to receive or confirm publication payments unless a specific payment method has been officially announced through the journal’s website or University instructions.

Authors are responsible for verifying that any payment request has been issued by an official body affiliated with the journal or the University before transferring any amount.

Fourth: Proof of Payment

Authors must retain the official payment receipt or other approved proof of payment and provide a copy to the journal when requested.

Informal messages, screenshots of private conversations, or transfers to unauthorized accounts are not accepted as valid proof of payment.

The journal verifies receipt of the applicable fees before completing technical production and assigning the article to the publication schedule.

Fifth: Refund Policy

Publication fees are charged only after final acceptance of the manuscript. Once payment has been completed and technical editing, production, or publication preparation has begun, the fees are non-refundable, except in cases approved by the journal or the University in accordance with the applicable administrative regulations.

Withdrawal of a manuscript at the author’s request after publication procedures have begun does not automatically entitle the author to a refund. Each case shall be considered according to its stage and the work already completed.

Sixth: Requests for Waivers or Reductions

Authors experiencing documented financial difficulties may apply for a full or partial waiver of publication fees after final acceptance and before making payment.

The request must include:

  • The manuscript title and identification number in the journal’s system.
  • The name and institutional affiliation of the corresponding author.
  • The type of waiver or reduction requested.
  • An explanation of the financial, humanitarian, or institutional circumstances.
  • Any available supporting documentation.

Requests are considered independently by the Editorial Board or the authorized body within the journal or the University. The assessment may take into account the author’s financial circumstances, the resources of the author’s institution, the author’s country of residence, special humanitarian circumstances, or current international classifications of low- and middle-income countries.

Each request is considered individually. Submission of a waiver or reduction request does not guarantee approval.

Seventh: Editorial Independence

Peer review and editorial decision-making are fully separated from financial procedures.

Reviewers are not informed of waiver or reduction requests, and an author’s ability to pay does not influence the assessment, acceptance, or rejection of a manuscript.

Payment of publication fees does not provide priority in peer review, acceptance, or publication scheduling.

No author may offer money, gifts, or personal benefits to any editor, staff member, or person associated with the journal in exchange for expedited processing or influence over an editorial decision.

Eighth: Financial Integrity

The journal is committed to the following principles:

  1. No fees are charged at the time of manuscript submission.
  2. Publication fees are not charged before a final acceptance decision has been issued.
  3. Acceptance or rejection decisions are not linked to payment or to a request for a waiver.
  4. No nonscientific priority in peer review or publication is granted in exchange for money, gifts, or personal benefits.
  5. Payments are accepted only through the official channels approved by the journal or the University.
  6. Official proof of payment is issued in accordance with the approved administrative procedures.
  7. Authors’ financial and personal information is treated confidentially and is not used for purposes unrelated to publication management.
  8. Publication fees, waivers, and any changes to them are announced clearly and transparently on the journal’s official website.

Ninth: Country Classification for Waiver Purposes

When a waiver or reduction request is related to the corresponding author’s country of residence, the journal applies the current international classifications of low- and middle-income countries in effect at the time of the request.

The journal does not publish a fixed list of eligible countries on this page because international classifications may be updated periodically.

Each request is assessed according to the classification in effect and the documented circumstances at the time of submission.

Tenth: Updates to Publication Fees

The journal or the University may revise publication fees, payment methods, or waiver conditions in accordance with official regulations.

Any amendment shall be announced on the journal’s website. The fees applicable to a manuscript shall be those published on the date when the final acceptance decision is issued.