Open access at Sheffield
Information about University strategy, policy and governance in the area of open access
For information about making your own publications open access, see:
How do I make my journal articles open access?
How do I make my books and chapters open access?
University of Sheffield Statement on Open Research
The University recognises that Open Research is a vital part of our commitment to enabling and promoting research excellence across our community. The statement on Open Research outlines expectations that we strive to make research outputs freely available at the point of publication if not before, including via the use of preprint platforms.
A commitment to creating an open research culture within the University of Sheffield is contained in the University vision and strategic plan.
Read the University Statement on Open Research.
Research Publications and Copyright Policy
The University's Research Publications and Copyright Policy (RPCP) applies to all scholarly articles and conference proceedings published by University of Sheffield researchers and PGRs. The policy enables authors to control copyright to their own publications, apply a CC BY licence to them and make them available via White Rose Research Online (WRRO) without embargo.
Read more about the Research Publications and Copyright Policy.
Although the RPCP does not currently apply to monographs, scholarly editions, textbooks, book chapters, collections of essays, datasets, software, or other outputs that are not scholarly articles, the University strongly encourages researchers to make such works as openly available as possible, bearing in mind confidentiality and obligations to third parties such as commercial research partners.
Please note, University of Sheffield researchers may also need to comply with the REF open access policy, and policies set by external funders such as UKRI, the Wellcome Trust, NIHR and the EU. For more information see REF and research funder open access policies.
Funding scholarly publishing at the University of Sheffield
Open access publishing is funded using a variety of models. Publishers can charge individual Article or Book Processing charges or negotiate ‘‘read and publish’ deals in which open access publishing is included in the price of institutional subscriptions to paywalled material. Diamond open access publishing (both free to read and to publish) can be funded through library memberships or institutional, grant or charitable funding. Institutions and funders also invest in infrastructure such as repositories which allow earlier versions of research publications to be shared.
The N8 Research Partnership, of which Sheffield is a member, has recently released a statement advising that the current dominant models of scholarly publishing, largely driven by commercial publishers, are ‘financially unsustainable’ for institutions.
The University of Sheffield Library is committed through its Comprehensive Content Strategy to the transformation of academic publishing to allow for “ethical, sustainable, open access for all.” as we recognise the severe limitations of current models.
Jisc is currently negotiating with academic publishers about the next generation of ‘big deals’. The University of Sheffield will support deals which contain costs, make larger proportions of research open access and demonstrate cost transparency. Read more about the negotiations [page under construction].
We also contribute towards diamond publishing initiatives and infrastructure.
Changing publishing cultures
The University of Sheffield aims to develop its open research cultures by creating opportunities to discuss challenges and opportunities in scholarly publishing, and to support open publication practices.
- If you hold, or are interested in holding an editorial or publishing role, you can join our new Editors and Publishers Network to access support and networking opportunities.
- Sign up to OpenFest 2025, our flagship celebration of open research, co-delivered with Sheffield Hallam University. This year’s theme is Open Research and Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
- Access the recordings from our lunchtime webinar series, Open Research Conversations:
- Listen to Professor Stephen Pinfield delivering the 2024 University of Sheffield Annual Open Research Lecture on Achieving Global Open Access: The Need for Scientific, Epistemic and Participatory Openness.
- Read more about Sheffield authors' experiences with publishing open access monographs in our Open Access Monograph Case Studies.
Open Research Advisory Group
Strategic leadership for open access at the University of Sheffield is provided by the Open Research Advisory Group (ORAG).