Open Access Fund for Longform Publications: Stage Two

Document research last revised 2026-08-12.

Grant Name

Open access fund for longform publications: stage two

Maximum Funding - Book Processing Charge

Up to £10,000 per publication, inclusive of VAT where applicable

Maximum Funding - Chapter Processing Charge

Up to £1,000 per book chapter, inclusive of VAT where applicable

Maximum Funding - Alternative Open Access Model

Up to £6,000 for participation in an alternative open access model, not exceeding the total participation cost

Additional Alternative Model Funding

UKRI can fund up to a further £3,000 where there are two or more eligible outputs under an alternative open access model

Third-Party Content Costs

Up to £2,000 within the applicable funding maximum can be used towards costs associated with clearing permissions for third-party content in the open access version of a publication

Last Updated

11 May 2026

Applicant Requirement

The project lead for this opportunity must be based in the organisation's relevant open access management team.

International Applicants

Researchers outside the UK whose publication is in scope of UKRI's policy should contact openresearch@ukri.org to determine how they can claim open access funding.

Publication Eligibility

Publications must be in scope of UKRI's open access policy, approved at stage one, and immediately available open access with a Creative Commons licence.

Eligible Publications

Monographs, book chapters and edited collections

Eligible Research Area

Research outputs arising from research that acknowledges UKRI funding and falls within the scope of UKRI's open access policy.

Research Category

Open access publishing support

Stage One Requirement

Mandatory. Each publication included in a stage two application must have been approved for funding at stage one.

Stage Two Purpose

To confirm that the approved publication has been published immediately open access and to provide the financial information required for UKRI to release/reimburse eligible funding.

Open Access Requirement

The Version of Record must be made immediately open access with a Creative Commons licence to claim under this route.

Eligible Open Access Models

UKRI supports a range of open access models, including book processing charges, chapter processing charges and alternative/diamond or collective open access models.

Research Organisation Funding

Funding is claimed by the eligible UK research organisation responsible for managing open access within the institution.

Researcher Funding

Individual researchers do not apply directly through the standard stage two route.

Subcontractors

Not applicable/not specified

Previous Platform

Applications cannot be submitted through Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S).

Application Lead

The project lead must be based in the research office, library or other team responsible for open access management at the organisation.

Application Summary

Must state the total number of publications being registered and identify whether costs for third-party content are being requested.

Core Team

Key team members must be listed using the available UKRI roles, including Project Lead (PL) and Professional Enabling Staff where applicable.

Publication Information

Applicants must complete the Stage 2 table of questions for the publications being claimed.

Financial Evidence

A single PDF containing the relevant invoices for all publications included in the application must be uploaded.

Invoice Requirement

Invoices must be arranged in the same order as the publications listed in the application.

Invoice File Size

The combined invoice PDF must be no larger than 8MB.

Application Format

Applications using a format other than the specified stage two table and supporting invoice requirements will not be considered.

Open Access Verification

UKRI checks whether the publication is actually available immediately open access.

Financial Assessment

UKRI checks whether the claimed costs are permissible under the fund and whether they align with the supporting financial evidence.

Interview Stage

Not applicable

Payment Frequency

UKRI makes two payments each year, in the June and December pay-runs.

Payment Consolidation

Organisations can submit multiple stage two applications during an application period. Eligible applications are consolidated into a single grant per payment period.

December 2026 Payment Period

Applications must be received between 15 April 2026 and 1 October 2026 for the December 2026 payment run.

June Payment Period

Applications received during the October to April application period are paid in June.

December Payment Period

Applications received during the April to October application period are paid in December.

Current Payment Deadline

The deadline for the December 2026 payment run is 1 October 2026. UKRI states this was brought forward from the previously announced 14 October date.

Key Requirements

Publication must be in scope of UKRI's OA policy, approved at stage one, immediately open access with a Creative Commons licence, and supported by appropriate financial evidence.

Stage One Information

Stage one requires information such as the research organisation, UKRI funding reference, author name(s), publication title, publisher and estimated cost where known.

Stage Two Information

Stage two requires the publication date, confirmation of immediate OA publication with a Creative Commons licence, financial information/invoices and any changes to information supplied at stage one.

Publication Timing Eligibility

In-scope outputs published seven or more years after the formal end of the UKRI-funded project are not eligible for UKRI open access funding.

Older Publications

If a monograph, book chapter or edited collection was published before 1 January 2024, there is no UKRI requirement to make it open access under the new longform policy.

Research Grant Publication Costs

Since 31 October 2023, publication costs for longform publications in scope of the UKRI OA policy can no longer normally be included in new research funding applications.

Third-Party Rights

Anticipated costs for clearing third-party rights, such as image permissions, may continue to be included in research grant applications where appropriate.

Existing Grant Funding

If open access costs were already included in the research grant, that funding must be used for the publication rather than applying to the dedicated open access fund.

Alternative Funding

Where publication costs exceed UKRI's maximum contribution, research organisations can use other funding sources or open access options while still complying with UKRI's policy.

Resubmission Rules

Not specifically stated. Applicants should follow UKRI guidance if an application is rejected or a publication is found to be ineligible.

Application Amendments

Once submitted to the funding opportunity, an application cannot be changed and will not be returned for amendment.

Outcomes Publication

UKRI will publish funding opportunity outcomes through Gateway to Research and may publish certain personal information if an application is successful.

Contact - Funding Queries

openresearch@ukri.org

Contact - Funding Service

support@funding-service.ukri.org

Funding Service Phone

01793 547490

Important Notes

This is stage two of UKRI's dedicated open access fund for longform publications. Applicants must have received stage one approval before claiming costs at stage two.

Application deadline in source document

Open - no closing date

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance