Research Publishing Policy

QA237 Research Publishing

Purpose

The University of Galway supports research publishing that strengthens excellence, impact, visibility, and equity. Research publications are a core institutional asset. The University expects high-quality publishing in recognised outlets alongside immediate open availability, reuse, and long-term preservation of outputs.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff and students. It covers journal articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, monographs, and reports. Artistic, creative, and literary works are encouraged to consider open options but are not subject to the mandatory requirements.

Core requirements

Authors should publish in domain-leading outlets and avoid deceptive or poor publishing practices. Open availability is required on acceptance, unless an approved exception applies. Authors must make publications openly available via at least one route: repository-led deposit (Green), open publishing platforms (Diamond), or immediate publisher-hosted open access (Gold, including via read-and-publish agreements). In addition, and in all cases, authors must deposit the AAM or VoR in the University of Galway Research Repository on acceptance, with no embargo, unless an exception is approved.

Rights retention and licensing

To enable immediate open access, authors must retain sufficient rights. Staff grant the University a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide licence to make a version of their publications publicly available under an open licence (for example, a Creative Commons licence). Authors should use the University’s rights retention approach as set out in the Library guidance.

Exceptions

Exceptions require approval where there are legal restrictions, ethical concerns, issues of national security, commercial sensitivity, or overriding public interest reasons, including certain long-form works and major digital resources. Any delay must be requested at submission and should be for the shortest period necessary. Publisher restrictions on sharing the publisher PDF are not, by themselves, a valid reason for exception where the AAM can be shared under retained rights.

Publication information

Publications should include a clear statement on access to underlying research data, software, or materials where relevant. For outputs arising from University employment or student research, the primary affiliation must be “University of Galway”, including in persistent identifiers such as ORCID.

Support

Implementation is supported by the University of Galway Research Repository, OpenPress at University of Galway, the Current Research Information System (CRIS), national Read-and-publish agreements, and Library support on copyright, rights retention, open licences, repositories, and responsible outlet selection. Practical procedures and current guidance are maintained on the Library Research Publishing and Rights Retention webpages.

D‌ownload a PDF copy of the policy: QA237 Research Publishing Policy‌‌‌‌