The goal of the FRQ Open Access Policy is to "promote open access to the outcomes of FRQ-funded research and to ensure their quick dissemination and free access (for the reader) to the scientific community, potential users, policy-makers and the general public."

FRQ's open access requirements depend on when the grant was awarded.

Grants awarded from April 2019 to June 2022

  • The 2019 FRQ Open Access Policy applies.
  • Peer-reviewed publications must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication.
  • Does not apply to theses.

Researchers can meet the requirement by depositing an appropriate version of the article in an open access repository or publishing in a journal that provides open access.

Grants awarded after July 2022

  • The 2022 revised FRQ Open Access Policy applies.
  • Peer-reviewed publications and theses must be freely accessible immediately.
  • At least one version of the publication must be made available under a Creative Commons CC BY, CC BY-ND, or an equivalent licence. The open version may be the publisher's version or the final peer-reviewed manuscript.
  • Master's theses and doctoral dissertations supported by an FRQ award must be made openly accessible without an embargo in an institutional or disciplinary repository.

The 2022 FRQ policy does not require master's theses or doctoral dissertations themselves to be released under an open licence. However, peer-reviewed publications contained within a thesis remain subject to the applicable open licence requirements.

At McGill, theses are deposited in eScholarship@McGill through the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. FRQ allows an award holder to request an exception to the no-embargo requirement. Students wishing to request an exception should contact the FRQ directly and also contact McGill's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, explaining the reasons for the requested embargo.

Article processing charges (APCs)

APCs are eligible FRQ grant expenses for fully open access journals and transformative journals. However, for grants awarded after July 2022, APCs for hybrid journals are not an eligible grant expense.

Before paying an APC, check that the journal meets the FRQ requirements and whether McGill has an agreement that provides a discount or waiver.

Exceptions to the policy

The 2022 policy notes some exceptions for "prix, aux subventions de mobilité et aux bourses de carrière (ces bourses sont octroyées par les FRQS)".  Check the rules of each program to confirm (FRQ FAQ 2.10.)

More information

Full policy (2019, 2022)

FAQ (available in French)