Article Processing Charge (APC) Fee Waiver Request
International Medical Journal of Health (IMJH)
ISSN: 2395-6291 | APC: $100 | Fee Waivers Available
IMJH Commitment to Accessibility
IMJH is committed to ensuring that lack of funds does not prevent authors from publishing valuable research. Our fee waiver program is designed to support researchers from low- and middle-income countries, early-career researchers, and those with genuine financial constraints.
Standard APC: $100 USD | Waivers available based on need and institutional recommendation
$100
Standard Article Processing Charge
Full/Partial
Waiver Options Available
7 Days
Average Waiver Decision Time
Fee Waiver Request Navigation
1 Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants
- Corresponding authors from low- and middle-income countries (World Bank classification)
- Early-career researchers (within 5 years of PhD completion)
- PhD students and doctoral candidates
- Researchers from underfunded institutions with documented financial constraints
- Reviewers who have completed 5+ reviews for IMJH
Important Notes
- Waiver decisions are made independently of editorial decisions and do not influence manuscript acceptance.
- Waivers are granted based on merit, need, and availability of funds.
- Partial waivers (50%) may be granted when full waivers are not available.
- Waivers must be requested BEFORE manuscript acceptance.
- Retroactive waiver requests after invoicing cannot be accepted.
2 University Recommendation Requirement
Mandatory: University Recommendation
All fee waiver requests must include a formal recommendation from the author's university, submitted by an authorized institutional representative (Guide, Registrar, Dean, or Head of Department).
Who Must Submit the Recommendation
The recommendation must be sent by ONE of the following authorized university officials:
- Research Guide / Supervisor – For PhD students and supervised researchers
- Registrar – Official university administrative head
- Dean – Dean of Faculty, School, or College
- Head of Department – Department Chair or Head
- Vice-Chancellor / Director – Senior institutional leadership
Email Requirements
The recommendation MUST be sent from:
- Official University Email Address (e.g., @university.edu, @university.ac.in)
- Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) will NOT be accepted
- Email must clearly identify the sender's official position
📧 Send to:
📋 Subject Line:
"FEE WAIVER RECOMMENDATION: [Author Name] - [Manuscript ID]"
Recommendation Letter Requirements
The recommendation must include:
- Official Letterhead of the university/institution
- Author's full name and affiliation
- Manuscript title (if already submitted)
- Statement of financial need – Brief explanation of why fee waiver is requested
- Performance appraisal – Assessment of the author's research work and academic contributions
- Official stamp/seal of the institution
- Signature of the recommending official
Recommendation Letter Template
[University Letterhead]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
To,
The Editor-in-Chief
International Medical Journal of Health (IMJH)
Subject: Fee Waiver Recommendation for Dr./Mr./Ms. [Author Name]
Dear Editor,
I am writing to recommend [Author Name], a [position, e.g., PhD scholar / faculty member] in the [Department] at [University Name], for a fee waiver for their manuscript submission to IMJH.
About the Author: [Brief description of author's research work, academic performance, publications, and contributions].
Financial Need: [Brief explanation of financial constraints, lack of funding, institutional support limitations].
I strongly recommend [Author Name] for a fee waiver and confirm that the information provided is accurate. I understand that the author will be required to complete journal promotion tasks as part of the waiver agreement.
Sincerely,
[Name of Recommending Official]
[Position: Registrar/Dean/HOD/Guide]
[University Name]
[Official Email]
[University Seal/Stamp]
3 Journal Promotion Task
Mandatory: Journal Promotion Commitment
All authors receiving a fee waiver agree to complete a journal promotion task assigned by the IMJH editorial board. This is a condition of the waiver and must be fulfilled within the specified timeframe.
Promotion Task Options
Upon waiver approval, the editorial board team will assign ONE of the following promotion tasks based on the author's expertise and reach:
Social Media Promotion
Share the published article on professional social media (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, ResearchGate) with tagging @IMJHealth. Provide screenshots as proof.
Institutional Repository Posting
Deposit the final published PDF in your university's institutional repository and provide the repository link.
Departmental Seminar
Present your research at a departmental seminar and acknowledge IMJH as the publishing journal. Submit seminar details and photos.
Blog Post or Newsletter Article
Write a brief summary of your research for a departmental blog, newsletter, or website, including a link to the published article.
Email Announcement
Send an email announcement about your publication to colleagues, collaborators, or departmental mailing lists (with permission).
Promotion Task Process
Upon Waiver Approval
Editorial board team will email the assigned promotion task within 3 business days.
Completion Timeline
Task must be completed within 30 days of article publication.
Proof of Completion
Submit screenshots, links, or documentation to info@imjhealth.org.
Non-Compliance
Failure to complete the promotion task may affect eligibility for future waivers.
Submit Proof To:
Subject:
"PROMOTION TASK COMPLETION: [Author Name] - [Manuscript ID]"
Agreement Acknowledgment:
By submitting a fee waiver request, authors acknowledge and agree to complete the assigned journal promotion task as a condition of the waiver. This helps us maintain affordable publication fees and expand our scholarly community.
4 Required Documentation
| Document | Requirements | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| University Recommendation Letter |
|
University Official From official email |
| Author's CV / Resume |
|
Author |
| Proof of Student Status (if applicable) |
|
Author |
| Financial Need Statement |
|
Author |
| Manuscript ID (if submitted) |
|
Author |
5 How to Apply
Step-by-Step Application Process
Prepare Manuscript (Optional)
You may request a waiver before or after manuscript submission. If requesting before submission, include manuscript title and abstract.
Contact Your University Official
Request a recommendation letter from your Guide, Registrar, Dean, or Head of Department. Provide them with the template and explain your need.
University Official Sends Recommendation
The university official emails the signed recommendation letter from their official university email address to IMJH.
CRITICAL: Must be from university email
Author Submits Waiver Request
Email your CV, financial statement, and any additional documents to the Fee Waiver Office.
Wait for Decision
Fee waiver decisions are typically provided within 7 days. You will be notified by email.
Submission Instructions
📧 University Official Email To:
MUST be from official university email
📋 Subject Line:
"FEE WAIVER REQUEST: [Author Name]"
(University email should use: "FEE WAIVER RECOMMENDATION: [Author Name]")
⏱️ Processing Time:
7 business days average
6 Review & Decision Process
Evaluation Criteria
Institutional Recommendation
Strength of recommendation from Guide/Registrar/Dean/HOD, including performance appraisal.
Research Performance
Author's publication record, academic achievements, and research contributions.
Financial Need
Documented lack of funding, country of origin (LMIC priority), and career stage.
Agreement to Promotion Task
Acknowledgment and willingness to complete assigned journal promotion activity.
Decision Outcomes
✅ Full Waiver Approved
100% APC waived
⚠️ Partial Waiver Approved
50% APC waived
❌ Waiver Denied
Standard APC applies
7 Timeline & Notifications
Expected Timeline
Day 0: Submission
Author and university official submit documentation.
Days 1-2: Acknowledgment
Fee Waiver Office confirms receipt of application.
Days 3-7: Review Period
Fee Waiver Committee evaluates application.
Day 7: Decision Notification
Author receives email with waiver decision and next steps.
Notification Details
If Approved:
Email includes confirmation, promotion task details, and timeline for completion.
If Denied:
Email includes reason for denial and information about standard APC payment.
8 Frequently Asked Questions
9 Contact Fee Waiver Office
Fee Waiver Office
📧 University Official Submissions:
MUST be from official university email
📋 Subject Line Formats:
Author Request: "FEE WAIVER REQUEST: [Author Name]"
University Recommendation: "FEE WAIVER RECOMMENDATION: [Author Name]"
Promotion Task Proof: "PROMOTION TASK COMPLETION: [Author Name] - [Manuscript ID]"
Office Hours & Response Times
⏰ Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM IST
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
⏱️ Response Times:
Application acknowledgment: Within 48 hours
Waiver decision: Within 7 business days
Promotion task confirmation: Within 5 business days
Phone Support:
+91-7665235235 (by appointment only)
10 Downloadable Forms
Pre-Submission Checklist
- ✓ University official (Guide/Registrar/Dean/HOD) has agreed to recommend
- ✓ Recommendation letter prepared on official letterhead
- ✓ Letter includes performance appraisal of author
- ✓ Official has university email address ready to send
- ✓ Author CV/resume prepared
- ✓ Financial need statement written
- ✓ Manuscript ID available (if submitted)
- ✓ Promotion task commitment understood and accepted
Important Acknowledgment
By submitting a fee waiver request, I acknowledge and agree that:
- The decision to grant a waiver is at the sole discretion of IMJH and is independent of editorial decisions.
- If approved, I will complete the assigned journal promotion task within 30 days of publication.
- Failure to complete the promotion task may affect my eligibility for future waivers.
- All information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Critical Requirements
University Recommendation
From Guide/Registrar/Dean/HOD
Official Email Required
Must be from university email
Official Letterhead
With institutional seal/stamp
Performance Appraisal
In recommendation letter
Promotion Task Commitment
Mandatory for all waivers
For University Officials
Please email recommendation from your official university email to:
Subject Line:
"FEE WAIVER RECOMMENDATION: [Author Name]"
Promotion Task Reminder
All waiver recipients must complete an assigned promotion task within 30 days of publication.
Example tasks:
- Social media promotion
- Institutional repository posting
- Departmental seminar
- Blog post or newsletter
Processing Time
7 business days average