Open access agreement for Swiss Academic Libraries

Information for authors

If you are affiliated with a participating institution, you may be eligible to publish open access (OA) in our journals with fees covered.

 The national consortial agreement offers advantageous and uniform conditions for all Swiss HEI, meaning that corresponding authors affiliated with participating institutions may be eligible to publish their articles OA with fees covered. Please enquire with your library or Open Access Office about the procedures at your HEI, as these may differ.


Learn more about your eligibility

Participating institutions
(PDF, 251.38 KB)
Author guide
(PDF, 2.82 MB)

Publishing open access in a Springer portfolio journal

This agreement covers open access publications in Springer, Palgrave & Adis hybrid journals on Springer Nature Link, and Academic journals on Nature.com.

Eligible journals
(XLSX, 206.07 KB)

Ready to publish?

Springer 20 px
BMC Logo 20 px
L_06NDK_SNTR_US_PalgraveLogo

Participating institutions

A

  • Agroscope

B

  • Berner Fachhochschule BFH

C

  • CERN
  • Conservatoire de Fribourg
  • Conservatoire de Lausanne

E

  • Eawag - Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz
  • Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne


E (continued)

  • EHB Eidgenössische Hochschule für Berufsbildung
  • Empa - Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
  • EPFL Lausanne
  • ETH Zurich

F

  • Fachhochschule Graubünden FHGR
  • Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
  • Fachhochschule Ostschweiz FHO
  • Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
  • Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL)

G

  • Geneva Graduate Institute

H

  • Haute Ecole Arc
  • Haute Ecole Pédagogique des cantons de Berne, du Jura et de Neuchâtel
  • Haute Ecole Specialisée de Suisse occidentale (HES-SO)
  • HEFP Haute école fédérale en formation professionnelle
  • HEP Valais / PH Wallis
  • Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften St.Gallen FHS
  • Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil HSR

I

  • Interkantonale Hochschule für Heilpädagogik (HfH)

M 

  • Medi
  • Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)


P

  • Pädagogische Hochschule Graubünden PHGR
  • Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen (PHSG)
  • Pädagogische Hochschule Thurgau (PHTG)
  • Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich (PH Zürich)
  • Pädagogisches Hochschulinstitut NMS Bern
  • PH Bern
  • PH Luzern
  • PH Schaffhausen
  • PH Schwyz
  • PH Zug
  • PH-HEP Fribourg
  • PH-HEP Vaud
  • PSI - Paul Scherrer Institute

S

  • Schweizerische Vogelwarte
  • SUFFP Scuola universitaria federale per la formazione professionale
  • Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI)
  • Stiftung Kalaidos Fachhochschule


U

  • Università della Svizzera italiana
  • Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD)
  • Universität Basel (Universitätsbibliothek Basel)
  • Universität Bern
  • Universität Liechtenstein
  • Universität Luzern
  • Universität St.Gallen
  • Universität Zürich
  • Université de Fribourg
  • Université de Genève
  • Université de Lausanne
  • Université de Neuchâtel

W

  • WSL - Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft

Z

  • Zentralbibliothek Zürich
  • ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
  • Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK)

Publishing open access in a Nature Portfolio journal

This agreement covers OA publications in Nature, the world's leading multidisciplinary science journal, first published in 1869 and original Nature research journals across the life, physical, clinical and social sciences.

Eligible journals
(XLSX, 129.31 KB)

Ready to publish?

Nature Portfolio

Participating institutions

A

  • Agroscope

C

  • Centredoc
  • CERN

E

  • Eawag - Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz
  • Empa - Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
  • EPFL Lausanne
  • ETH Zurich


L

  • Lib4RI – Library for the Research Institutes within the ETH Domain



P

  • PH Bern
  • PH Luzern
  • PH Schwyz
  • PH Zug
  • PH-HEP Vaud
  • PSI - Paul Scherrer Institute

U 

  • Università della Svizzera italiana
  • Universität Basel (Universitätsbibliothek Basel)
  • Universität Bern
  • Universität Luzern
  • Universität St. Gallen
  • Universität Zürich
  • Université de Fribourg
  • Université de Genève
  • Université de Lausanne
  • Université de Neuchâtel

W

  • WSL - Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft

Z

  • Zentralbibliothek Zürich

  • ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften

Publishing in a fully open access journal

Check the list of fully OA journals that are included in the agreement.

Eligible journals
(XLSX, 102.07 KB)

Ready to publish?

Springer 20 px
Nature Research 25 px
BMC Logo 20 px
L_06NDK_SNTR_US_PalgraveLogo

Participating institutions

A

  • Agroscope

E

  • Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
  • Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
  • EPFL Lausanne

H 

  • High School Arc
  • Hotelschool of Lausanne

L

  • Lib4RI – Library for the Research Institutes within the ETH Domain
  • Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

R

  • Research Institute of Organic Agriculture

B

  • Bern University of Applied Sciences

F

  • FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

I

  • Interstate University of Applied Sciences Buchs NTB

M

  • Medi
  • Medicines for Malaria Venture MMV

S

  • St.Gallen University of Teacher Education
  • SUPSI - University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
  • Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences
  • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
  • Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET)
  • Swiss Ornithological Institute

C

  • CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Conservatory of Fribourg
  • Conservatory of Lausanne

G

  • Geneva Graduate Institute

K

  • Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences

P

  • Pädagogisches Hochschulinstitut NMS Bern
  • PSI - Paul Scherrer Institute

T

  • The Schwyz University of Teacher Education
  • The University of Teacher Education, State of Vaud (HEP Vaud)
  • Thurgau University of Teacher Education


U

  • Università della Svizzera italiana
  • University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
  • University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
  • University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich HWZ
  • University of Applied Sciences in Special Needs Education
  • University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons
  • University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil HSR
  • University of Applied Sciences St.Gallen FHS
  • University of Basel
  • University of Bern
  • University of Fribourg
  • University of Geneva
  • University of Lausanne

U - continued

  • University of Liechtenstein
  • University of Luzern
  • University of Neuchâtel
  • University of St.Gallen
  • University of Teacher Education BEJUNE
  • University of Teacher Education of Bern
  • University of Teacher Education of Fribourg
  • University of Teacher Education of Luzern
  • University of Teacher Education of Schaffhausen
  • University of Teacher Education of the Grisons (PHGR)
  • University of Teacher Education of Valais
  • University of Teacher Education Zug
  • University of Zurich

W

  • WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

Z

  • Zentralbibliothek Zürich
  • ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  • Zurich University of Teacher Education
  • Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)

FAQs

Who is considered the corresponding author?

The corresponding author is defined as the person who handles the manuscript and correspondence during the publication process – from manuscript correction and proof reading, to handling the revisions and re-submission of revised manuscripts up to the acceptance of the manuscripts. 

The corresponding author has the authority to act on behalf of all co-authors in all matters pertaining to publication of the manuscript including supplementary material. They are also responsible for obtaining such agreements and for informing the co-authors of the manuscript’s status throughout the submission, review and publication process. 

In addition, the corresponding author acts as the point of contact for any enquiries after the paper is published.

How can I make sure my article is eligible?

When you submit, use at least one of the below methods of recognition.

CSALdata © Springer Nature

Upon acceptance of your article, you'll also be prompted to provide your institutional affiliation.

How do I know if my article has been approved?

The approval manager at your institution will approve your article's eligibility based on your institutional affiliation, article type and journal name.

Once your article is approved by your institution, you will be notified by email and your article will proceed to publication.

Which article types are covered by this agreement?

  • Original Paper#: Standard article, usually presenting new results; articles published under this article type may also be referred to as Original Research, Original Article, Original Paper or Research Paper.
  • Review Paper: Standard article, interpreting previously published results.
  • Brief Communication: Short article submitted for rapid publication that exhibits the same structure as a standard article.
  • Continuing Education: Article forming integral part of further education (usually medical).

#When publishing in a Nature Portfolio journal, Original Paper is the only applicable article type. Articles published under this article type may also be referred to as: Analysis, Article, Letter, Brief Communication, Registered Report, Resource, Technical Report. 

What if I'm not covered by the agreement?

There are still plenty of ways to find funding for your article processing charge (APC). Visit our open access funding page to check whether your institution or research funder makes OA funding available.

Who can I contact for more information? 

Please email us at oa.verification@springernature.com if you need further assistance.