Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
FollowFollow Focus on Content Focus on Content

Stellenbosch logo

We are loading, please wait

Please make sure Javascript is enabled

  • Stellenbosch University
  • Library AND Information Service
  • English | Afrikaans
    Stellenbosch University Home

Find

Books & other items
Articles
E-books
E-databases
E-journals
Short loans
E-reference works
E-newspapers
E-theses
SU research data
SU research output
Journals SU hosted
Digital collections
E-resources on trial
Western Cape library catalogues

Using the library

Library hours
Borrowing
Borrowing from other libraries
Bookings
Short Loans guidelines for lecturing staff
Print, copy & scan
Undergraduate guide
Postgraduate & researcher guide
Prospective postgraduate guide
Staff guide
Alumni guide
Visitor guide
CHELSA member guide
CHELiN member guide

Research

Carnegie Research Commons
Research impact
Research data management
Bibliographic reference management
Open Access
Digital collections
Digital Humanities
Generic training - SmartResearcher workshops
Special Collections
Library Research Week

Learning

Step-by-step guide
Learning Commons
Digital and Information Skills
Course Reading Lists in SUNLearn
Library training calendar
Generic training - SmartStudent workshops
Generic training - SmartResearcher workshops
Module specific training
Request a training session
Library guides
Training tutorials & videos

Libraries

Stellenbosch University Library
Medicine & Health Sciences
Engineering & Forestry
Music
Theology
USBL
Departmental libraries

Help

Ask a Librarian
Give feedback
Comply with copyright
Off-campus e-access
Training tutorials & videos
SU Library floor plan
Locate & access books
Assignment help
Thesis/dissertation submission
Wireless access
FAQs

About us

Contact us
Give feedback
Strategic plan
Statistical snapshot 2021
Library statistics dashboard
Publications
Conferences & symposia
Quality assurance
  • Admin Sign In
    • English
      • Find
        • Search and find
      • Using the library
        • Services
      • ResearchCurrently selected
        • Services
      • Learning
        • Services and spaces
      • Libraries
        • Resources
      • Help
        • Guides
      • About us
        • About the library
  • Search this site
Search
  • Advanced Search | Databases A-Z list | e-Journals A-Z list
Open access
Navigate Up
This page location is:
  • Home
    • English
      • Research
        • Open access
          • Pages
            • FAQs

Open Access - FAQs
 

  • Home
    • English
      • Research
        • Open access
          • Open Access - FAQs

 

 

Open access - FAQsOpen access - FAQs<strong>​​What is open access?</strong><div><span><span>Open access(OA) can be defined as free, immediate, online access to the results of scholarly research, and the right to use and re-use these results.</span></span><br></div><br><strong>What is "gold" open access?</strong><br>Publishers make research articles immediately and freely available in peer-reviewed journals. Article Processing Charges (APC) to cover publication costs may apply.<br><br><strong>What is "green" open access?</strong><br>Authors agree for their published article to be made freely available in an institutional repository. Embargoes may apply depending on the publishers' policies.<br><br><strong>What are the benefits of open access?</strong><br>Accelerated discovery, increased visibility of research output, public interest and enrichment and overall improved education are just some of the benefits of OA.<br><h3><br></h3><h3>Definitions</h3><strong>Pre-print</strong><br>Any version of a scholarly article prior to peer review and publication, usually the version submitted by an author to a journal. Pre-prints are usually not accepted in institutional repositories as they are not peer-reviewed.<br><br><strong>Post-print</strong><br>The final version of the accepted manuscript of a scholarly article with the incorporation of revisions and may or may not include formatting, layout and pagination changes after copy-editing.<br><br><strong>Published journal article or Publisher's version</strong><br>The version of the article that appears in the journal and includes all publisher activities such as copy-editing, formatting and pagination.<br><br><strong>Article processing charge (APC)</strong><br>A publisher's fee for covering the publishing costs associated with e.g. editorial and peer-review processes.<br><br><strong>Institutional repository (IR)</strong><br>A digital archive for the preservation and dissemination of research output of an institution, e.g. theses, dissertations, research articles and conference proceedings. <a href="http://scholar.sun.ac.za/" target="_blank">SUNScholar</a> is the institutional repository of Stellenbosch University.<br><br><h3>Stellenbosch University Self-Archiving Policy</h3><strong>What does the policy require?</strong><br>The policy requires that full-text copies of published journal articles or conference proceedings of authors with a formal affiliation with SU are hosted in SUNScholar (institutional repository).<br><br><strong>What should I submit to the institutional repository?</strong><br><ul><li>Full-text (PDF format) of published journal article (publisher's version) in compliance with the policy of the publisher.</li><li>Full-text (PDF format) of post-print (final peer-reviewed manuscript with the incorporation of revisions) in compliance with the policy of the publisher.</li><li>Full-text (PDF format) of peer-reviewed conference paper in compliance with the policy of the publisher.<br><br></li></ul><strong>How do I submit?</strong><br><ul><li>Contact your <a href="/en-za/AboutUs/ContactUs/Pages/fbs.aspx">Faculty Librarian</a> who can submit on your behalf, or,</li><li>Submit your research output yourself by sending an e-mail to <a href="mailto:%20scholar@sun.ac.za">scholar@sun.ac.za</a> requesting to register as a submitter or following the steps set out on our <a href="http://wiki.lib.sun.ac.za/index.php/SUNScholar" target="_blank">help page</a>.</li><li>One individual may also submit on behalf of a department after they have been registered and have all the necessary information to complete the citation.</li></ul><br><strong>Where can I get assistance regarding submission of my articles?</strong><br>Enquiries may be directed to your <a href="/en-za/AboutUs/ContactUs/Pages/fbs.aspx">Faculty Librarian</a> or the <a href="/en-za/Research/oa/Pages/Contact.aspx">Digitisation and Digital Services Division.</a><br><br><strong>Where can I look up a publisher or journal policy?</strong><br><ul><li>Go directly to the journal or publisher website, or,</li><li>Consult the <a href="http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/" target="_blank">SHERPA RoMEO</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://rchive.it/">rchivit</a> databases of publisher policies on archiving research papers in institutional repositories, or,</li><li>A list of journals, in which SU researchers regularly publish in, with their respective policies regarding self-archiving can be consulted <a href="/SiteCollectionDocuments/services/journalpolicies2015.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br></li></ul><strong>May I still place my previously published papers onto the repository?</strong><br>Yes, you may, provided that you still have the post-print or other applicable version of the research output in question.<br><br><strong>In which format should I submit my paper?</strong><br>Only PDF formats will be hosted on an IR, as the format allows for long term preservation.<br><br><strong>What about my copyright? </strong><br>Authors are urged to retain copyright of their material of which SU is the copyright owner and encouraged to sign a "licence to publish" which will allow authors to deposit a copy of their article in SUNScholar This is usually done by adding an "author addendum" to the publisher's copyright transfer agreement. An example can be found <a target="_blank" href="http://wiki.lib.sun.ac.za/images/3/36/Licence_to_publish.pdf">here</a>.<br><br><strong>What about embargo?</strong><br>Some publishers and journals require an embargo period before archived copies of articles may be opened up on and IR and provide clear instructions on the issue. Embargoes will automatically be lifted on the IR on the applicable date.<br><br><strong>Can I negotiate beforehand that my published article will be appearing on an IR?</strong><br>You can inform the journal or publisher that you will be hosting a copy on your institution's repository. Please also refer to the question on copyright above.<br><br><strong>How will a copy hosted on SUNScholar affect my research impact? </strong><br>If anything, it will increase your visibility on the internet and the research paper on SUNScholar will indicate the correct citation and URL link to the original publisher's website.<br><br><strong>How does one cite from the IR?</strong><br>You do not cite the IR itself, but the research paper as if it was on the original journal or publisher's website, as will be indicated on the item in <a href="/en-za/Research/oa/Pages/SUNScholar.aspx">SUNScholar</a><br>

    • Find
    • Using the Library
    • Research
    • Learning
    • Libraries
    • Help
    • About Us
Contact Details

Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service, Helpline Numbers: +27 21 808 4883, Corp Office / Postal Address: Private Bag X5036 Stellenbosch, 7599

Stellenbosch logo

Staff Portal
© 2025, Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service, All rights reserved
  • Carnegie Research Commons
  • Research impact
  • Research data management
  • Bibliographic reference management
  • Open access
    • What is open access?
    • Stellenbosch University open access initiatives
    • Self archiving
    • Open access publishing support
    • SUNScholar
    • SUNJournals
    • SUNConferences
    • Useful links & news on open access
    • FAQsCurrently selected
    • BeOpenAccessSmart webinars
  • Digital Collections
  • Digital Humanities
  • Generic training - SmartResearcher workshops
  • Special Collections
  • Library Research Week
  • Services