Open Access types

Open Access (OA) makes research freely available online so it can be read, shared and reused without subscription barriers. There are several pathways to publishing open access. The most suitable option will depend on your discipline, publisher and funder requirements.

Each OA type has different implications for cost, copyright and compliance. Depositing your accepted manuscript in ResearchSpace supports the University’s OA policy and many funder requirements, including MBIE.

In many cases, researchers use a combination of pathways, for example, publishing in a journal and depositing a manuscript in a repository to ensure long-term access and compliance.

For help with selecting the best option and meeting policy requirements, contact the Library’s Open Research team.

• Green OA involves depositing a version of your research (usually the accepted manuscript) in a trusted repository such as ResearchSpace.
• It is free to use and supports long-term access and preservation.
• Publisher embargoes may apply, so permissions should be checked before sharing.

• Gold OA involves publishing in a fully open-access journal.
• The final published article is immediately available online.
• Some journals impose an article processing charge (APC), while others do not.

• Hybrid OA refers to subscription journals that offer an optional open-access pathway for individual articles.
• It usually involves a fee to make an article open access.
• Other journal content remains behind a paywall.
• Some funders do not consider hybrid publishing alone to be compliant.

• Diamond OA refers to journals that provide immediate open access to articles.
• There are no fees for authors or readers.
• These journals are typically supported by institutions, societies, or research organisations.

• Bronze OA refers to articles that are free to read on a publisher’s website.
• There is no open licence for reuse.
• Access may be temporary, and reuse rights are limited.