Affordable Journal Publication in Morocco

Searching for low cost journal publication in Morocco? Getting a paper published should not cost a month’s income. This guide covers what journals in Morocco and elsewhere usually charge, where free and low-cost options can be found, how to recognise predatory offers that use cheap fees as bait, and five checks to run before you pay anything. It is aimed at students, scholars and faculty in Rabat, Morocco; Casablanca, Morocco; Fez, Morocco; Marrakesh, Morocco. Reading a journal’s own fee page carefully before submitting avoids most of the common surprises.

What Publishing in a Journal Costs in Morocco

Journals on the national IMIST portal get free hosting, and many ask authors for little or nothing; always check each journal’s policy.

What does an APC actually pay for? It covers running peer review, editing, typesetting, online hosting, persistent identifiers such as DOIs and indexing metadata. Backing from a university or society allows some journals to ask little or nothing, while commercial open access titles usually charge more. Judge the process, not only the price.

Free and Low-Cost Choices for Researchers in Morocco

The Moroccan Journal of Chemistry states that its publication services cost authors nothing, and the IMIST portal hosts over 160 Moroccan journals.

• Diamond open access journals — search DOAJ with the “without fees” filter and add your subject.
• National and university journals — frequently inexpensive and widely read at home: look at Portal of Moroccan Scientific Journals (PRSM), CNRST, IMIST.
• APC waivers and discounts — publishers often grant them to authors in lower- and middle-income countries; check the policy of each one.
• Institutional agreements — your university or library may hold agreements that cover APCs or give a discount.
• Preprints — you may post early findings at no cost, but a preprint does not stand in for peer-reviewed publication.

What a Sound Low-Fee Journal Should Still Offer

A lower fee should never mean a weaker review process. Before settling on an affordable journal, make sure it still provides the basics that every author in Morocco has a right to expect. Ask the editorial office directly if any of these points is unclear from the website:

• Genuine peer review — expect a stated review model, independent reviewers and comments you can use.
• Similarity screening — a published limit, applied before review starts, which safeguards both you and the journal.
• A clear licence — open access normally means Creative Commons, so readers know how your work can be reused.
• Permanent hosting — article pages that last, an archive, and a DOI where the journal offers one.
• Correct metadata — accurate titles, authors and references let databases and search engines locate and cite the article.
• Transparent policies — ethics, corrections, retractions and refunds written down before you submit.

Affordable Does Not Mean Predatory

Be wary when a low fee is used as bait. Predatory operations promise acceptance, invent impact factors and ask for money before any review. Trustworthy low-cost journals, in contrast, announce the fee before submission, collect it only once acceptance is real, and return reviewer comments that actually help.

• Payment asked for ahead of any review or decision.
• Pledges that acceptance is “guaranteed” or will arrive on a set date.
• Scopus, Web of Science or impact-factor boasts for which the databases hold no record.
• A website that borrows the ISSN or title of a journal that already exists.
• A fee that changes after acceptance, or a demand to pay into a personal account.

Five Things to Check Before Paying a Publication Fee

1. Acceptance is authenticThe decision comes from the journal itself and includes reviewer comments
2. Fee was publishedThe amount matches what was stated before you submitted
3. Official paymentHandled through the journal’s own website, with no personal account in the picture
4. Know what is includedAuthors, certificates, DOI and extras
5. Save the paperworkInvoice, receipt and acceptance letter

Sources of Funding and Support in Morocco

CNRST backs Moroccan journals via the IMIST portal; ask your laboratory or university what help exists for international publication costs.

Plan for publication costs while designing the study rather than after acceptance. Put the expected fee into grant proposals, ask co-authors’ institutions whether costs can be split, and keep a cheaper second journal in mind in case your first choice proves too costly.

Compare the Full Cost, Not Only the Headline Fee

Safe Ways to Pay a Publication Fee From Morocco

Paying internationally brings hidden costs: bank charges, currency conversion and, at times, intermediary fees. Before paying, find out from the journal which payment methods it takes, whether the fee is quoted in dirhams or US dollars, and whether the invoice can be made out in the name your institution needs for reimbursement. Keep every receipt, since reimbursement offices often ask for proof of the exact amount paid.

• Pay only after a genuine acceptance, and send money solely to the journal’s official bank account or payment page.
• Do not pay into anyone's personal account or through an agent.
• Store the acceptance letter, the invoice and the receipt together in case of an audit or a reimbursement claim.
• If the amount asked for differs from the published fee, obtain a written explanation before paying.

Low-Cost Publication Wherever You Are in Morocco

Submission, review and payment all happen online, so authors in Rabat, Morocco; Casablanca, Morocco; Fez, Morocco; Marrakesh, Morocco; Agadir, Morocco; Oujda, Morocco; Tetouan, Morocco; Meknes, Morocco and every other city publish under identical terms. Choose a journal for its suitability and its process; your location has no effect on the fee.

A Moroccan Researcher's Guide to Careful, Affordable Publication

Moroccan scholars commonly move between Arabic, French and English. These suggestions help you keep your language, funding and verification choices consistent from first draft to final payment.

• Choose one language for the master draft. Writing simultaneous versions invites inconsistencies. Finish a master draft first, then translate, and compare the two versions line by line before submitting either of them.
• Check citation conventions for French sources. Accents, titles and publisher details in French references are easily corrupted by software. Proofread them manually so that readers can locate each source without difficulty.
• Use university networks for introductions. Colleagues in partner universities can introduce you to journal editors or suggest reviewers' expectations. Personal recommendations are valuable, though they never replace independent verification.
• Confirm how the dirham is handled. Ask your bank about rules and costs for sending foreign currency abroad. Learning the process before the deadline avoids rushed decisions and unnecessary transfer fees.
• Archive your reviewer correspondence. Save all editor and reviewer messages in one folder. They help you write your response letter and provide evidence of the review process if your department asks.

Keep languages and citations consistent, use trusted academic networks, and clarify payment details with your bank before making any transfer.

Questions Researchers Often Ask

Summary and What to Do Next

Affordable publishing in Morocco is achievable when you know where to search and what to verify. Favour journals with a transparent process and a stated fee, use waivers and institutional support, and never pay ahead of a genuine acceptance.

1. Find out exactly what your institution requires.
2. Select diamond, national and budget-friendly international journals that fall within your subject.
3. Complete the five checks before you pay any fee.
4. Take a look at the list of research journals in Morocco and high impact factor journals in Morocco.

References and Sources

Checked on 4 October 2026. Fees and policies can change, so confirm them before submitting.

• Directory of Open Access Journals
• Think. Check. Submit.
• ISSN Portal
• CNRST
• CNRST — MorJChem indexed in Scopus