Open access agreements: Partnering to advance open access to knowledge
A guide to Elsevier’s open access agreements
As part of our commitment to open access (OA) publishing, we work closely with academic organizations to ensure their research can be widely shared, easily discovered, and built upon in an inclusive and sustainable way. To date, we have reached open access agreements with more than 3,000 institutions worldwide, fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Explore all our agreements by global region, including each agreement’s scope and eligibility requirements.
What is an open access agreement?
When an author publishes an open access article in a hybrid journal or fully OA journal, they typically pay an Article Publishing Charge (APC) to cover the publishing costs. Many academic consortia or institutions partially or fully cover these APCs for their authors. Increasingly, they are also establishing agreements with publishers like Elsevier to streamline the payment process and help authors maximize the visibility and impact of their work.
These agreements can take many forms and there are many terms used to describe them, including open access, read and publish, publish and read, and transformative. The open access agreements we develop together with institutions and consortia are typically read and publish agreements in which APCs are fully covered. Some open access agreements offer a discount to the authors. Through these partnerships, we aim to reduce barriers to sharing research and support authors in amplifying the reach of their findings.
How can I check if I am eligible for an OA publishing agreement?
To learn if your institution has an open access agreement in place with Elsevier, visit our full list of agreements by global region.
Eligibility criteria can vary per agreement, so it’s always important to check the relevant agreement page. Common criteria include:
You must be the submitting corresponding author
Your institution must participate in the agreement and have available funds
Your article must have been either submitted or accepted within the agreement period
The journal in which you are publishing must be included in the agreement
You must select an "article type" that is covered by the agreement
My institution has a read and publish agreement with Elsevier and I am eligible. How can I get started?
This video guides you through the OA publishing process of a read and publish agreement:
Information for consortia and institutional administrators
Librarians and open access administrators play a pivotal role in supporting researchers and advancing institutional goals around open science and research visibility.
Watch our short video to learn how to manage your agreement opens in new tab/window on the Elsevier Open Access Platform (EOAP). It makes it easier to review submissions, check eligibility, and help authors benefit from the agreement.
Useful resources
Learn the fundamentals of open access, how the costs work, and how licenses protect research authors while expanding the reach and reuse of their work.
Open access – the essentials
Researcher Academy, Elsevier’s free online training platform, has a series of webinars explaining some of the key aspects of OA opens in new tab/window. For example:
Fundamentals of open access Learn about the origins and benefits of open access publishing, along with an overview of the different OA models available. | Cost of publishing open access Understand what Article Publishing Charges (APCs) are, why they exist, and how to explore funding options to support OA publishing. | Open access: End user licenses Explore the different OA licenses available to authors and why choosing the right license matters for visibility, reuse, and rights retention. |
Discover the benefits of publishing open access with Elsevier
Our webpage, Open access information for journal authors, runs through some of the ways that OA can benefit researchers and their work — from increasing global visibility and reach to boosting engagement, collaboration, and citation potential.
Find out more about open access agreements
Explore our Open to open resource hub, which highlights the vital role librarians play in guiding their institutions through the transition to open access. This page provides practical insights, expert commentary, and resources to support librarians in leading change, engaging researchers, and navigating the evolving OA landscape.
Building on these insights, our recent case study series features three library leaders whose organizations have signed and delivered a combined 35+ open access agreements, offering valuable firsthand perspectives on implementing deals that meet institutional needs and advance open access.
Are you looking for more information?
Our support center has a full range of FAQs and more about open access opens in new tab/window.