After 31 December 2025, there will be some changes to open access publishing agreements that may affect read (access to content) and publishing for some journals.
These changes are the result of a landmark new open access agreement with publisher Taylor & Francis (PDF, 268 KB) and a pause in negotiations with Elsevier for a new agreement for 2026.
The Library will continue to support the UQ community in accessing journal content and identifying appropriate high-quality publishing outlets for research. Read our advice below and contact your Faculty Services Librarians for more information or help.
Publishing in journals
Academics can still choose to publish in Elsevier journals no longer covered by a Read and Publish agreement; however, APCs may apply and are not funded by UQ Library budgets. Academics might elect to allocate internal or project funds for open access publishing in Elsevier journals; however, the Library strongly recommends reconsidering paying to publish in subscription-based ‘hybrid open access’ journals.
For academics who want to publish in an Elsevier journal, we recommend the following options.
- Consider an appropriate high-quality journal that has a UQ Read and Publish Agreement, or use UQ Journal Search to identify appropriate high-quality journals with open access or pre-paid article processing charges (APCs).
- Publish in a hybrid Elsevier journal without paying an APC, then deposit the Author Accepted Manuscript (post-print) in UQ eSpace ('green open access'). Embargo periods may apply for some journals, and exercising a Rights Retention Strategy might be necessary.
- Publish in a fully open access Elsevier journal ('gold open access') and pay the APC from internal or project funds.
- Publish in a hybrid Elsevier journal and pay the APC from internal or project funds.
We provide:
- guidance and resources for publishing your work open access, and ways to achieve open access in publication
- workshops and training about publishing activities and strategies (UQ login required).
Accessing Elsevier journals or journal articles for individual use
More than 30% of Elsevier’s content from 2020 onwards is available open access, and UQ Library Search includes various integrations with other open access journals and journal articles.
Additionally, Elsevier journal content that is not part of the ScienceDirect platform is not impacted, and some Elsevier ScienceDirect content will continue to be accessible.
We advise UQ students and staff to continue to use Library Search, Google Scholar or Google to search for journals and journal articles as usual. Some Elsevier content will continue to be available e.g., content that is already open access.
For Elsevier journal content that is no longer accessible, you may request the item using document delivery. Delivery timeframes vary from 24 hours to 2 weeks, and charges may apply.
Academics may also consider contacting the journal article author directly.
For course coordinators providing access to Elsevier journal articles via a course reading list
If a required journal article from an Elsevier journal is no longer accessible, our Learning Resources team will do their best to provide alternative access options (noting that licensing, copyright and timeframes will vary).
If it is not possible to provide access to a required journal article within an Elsevier journal, our Faculty Service Librarians can assist you with finding alternative resources. In some cases, you may decide to remove some Elsevier items from reading lists, particularly if they are recommended or further readings.
Contact
Contact your Faculty Services Librarians if you would like more information or help with publishing or accessing journals or journal articles.
We will continue to update you about read and publish agreements for 2026.
