NBME operates a transparent and competitive pricing structure for open access publication that reflects the comprehensive editorial and production services provided.

Standard APC Rates:

• Research Articles: $120 USD
• Review Articles: $140 USD
• Case Studies: $100 USD
• Brief Communications: $80 USD
• Special Issue Articles: $130 USD

APC Coverage: Article processing charges cover comprehensive publication services including:

• Professional editorial management and oversight
• Coordination of peer review process with expert reviewers
• Professional copyediting and English language improvement
• Technical formatting, typesetting, and layout design
• DOI registration and metadata distribution
• Global hosting and distribution infrastructure
• Indexing submissions to major academic databases
• Long-term digital preservation and archiving
• Author support services and correspondence management

Financial Support Programs: NBME provides financial assistance to qualified authors through several mechanisms:

• Complete APC waivers for corresponding authors from World Bank-classified low-income countries
• 50% discounts for corresponding authors from lower-middle-income countries
• Institutional voucher programs for partner universities and research organizations
• Research council and funding agency agreements for direct payment arrangements
• Emergency hardship waivers evaluated on case-by-case basis for demonstrated financial need

Payment Terms: APCs are invoiced upon manuscript acceptance and must be paid prior to publication. Payment options include credit card processing, wire transfer, institutional invoicing, and third-party funding arrangements. All prices are quoted in USD with local taxes applied where applicable.

Refund Policy: APC refunds are provided only in cases of publisher error resulting in failure to deliver contracted services. Refunds are not available for author-initiated withdrawals, manuscript rejections, or changes in author circumstances after acceptance.