What are the chief requirements of the policy?
- "Any peer-reviewed journal publications arising from Agency-supported research are freely accessible within 12 months of publication."
- Applies to NSERC and SSHRC grants awarded May 1, 2015 and onward.
- Applies to CIHR grants awarded January 1, 2008 and later.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure the policy is followed.
See: "Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications".
How can I make my publications open access?
There are three routes to meet the policy's requirements:
- Deposit a version of your article in an open access repository.
- This may be either one specialized for your discipline or one run by your institution.
- Researchers should ensure their author agreements permit this option
- The version you deposit, must be "the final full-text peer-reviewed manuscript (the post-print) or the published version where allowable. The final full-text peer-reviewed manuscript must include all tables, figures, images and appendices."
- Publish in an open access journal.
- For journals that use Article Processing Charges (APCs) , APCs are allowable grant expenses. See McGill Library's list of APC discounts.
- Publish in a subscription journal and pay an OA fee
Does posting to my website or ResearchGate count as open access?
No it does not.
The Tri-Agency FAQ states: "Although making articles available on a personal website is permissible, the Agencies require that a copy also be made available through an online repository or journal within 12 months to reach a broad audience more effectively and to ensure long-term accessibility."
See also: How to make your research open access.
