Charges Policy

Article Processing Charges (APC)

The International Journal of Social Sciences and Development Review (IJSSDR) does not charge any submission fee, reflecting its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity for researchers and scholars around the world. However, to maintain the journal’s quality standards and ensure sustainable publishing operations, a one-time Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied only after a manuscript has been formally accepted for publication.

What Does the APC Cover?

The APC contributes to the following services:

  • Coordination and administration of the double-blind peer review process

  • Professional formatting, layout design, and typesetting of accepted manuscripts

  • Long-term digital archiving and DOI registration through CrossRef

  • Journal website hosting and technical platform maintenance

  • Enhancing global visibility and indexing across academic databases

  • Editorial management and technical support services

APC Structure (Based on Author’s Affiliation)

Author Affiliation APC (USD)
Authors from Top 100 Universities (QS World Ranking) No APC
Authors from Top 500 Universities $150
Authors from High-Income Countries $200
Authors from Middle-Income Countries (Upper/Lower)* $150
Authors from Low-Income Countries $150

*Country classifications follow the World Bank List of Economies.

APC for Authors in Pakistan

As Pakistan is categorized among lower-income economies, authors affiliated with Pakistani institutions are required to pay:

PKR 30,000 (payable only after manuscript acceptance).

Waiver Policy

Authors who hold Premium Membership status may apply for APC waivers.
Waivers are granted at the discretion of the editorial board and must be requested either before submission or immediately after acceptance.

For waiver inquiries, authors may contact the editorial office.

Important Notice on Withdrawal Policy

Authors are strongly discouraged from submitting manuscripts without genuine intention to publish. Submissions intended only for feedback or misuse of the peer review process may result in disqualification from future submissions.

Authors are advised to ensure that adequate funding is available prior to submission, particularly when institutional or grant support is required to cover the APC.