Ceramics International APC and Open Access: Elsevier Pricing, Institutional Deals, and Alternatives
Ceramics International (Elsevier) charges ~$3,800-$4,200 for open access. Hybrid journal, IF ~5, core Elsevier R&P.
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Ceramics International publishing costs and open access options
APC is one cost. Funder mandates, institutional agreements, and access route timing all shape what you actually pay.
What shapes what you pay
- Ceramics International offers open access publishing. Check whether your institution has a read-and-publish agreement.
- Funder mandates (NIH, Wellcome, UKRI) may require immediate OA — verify compliance before choosing a subscription route.
- Accepted authors typically have 48-72 hours to choose their access route before proofs begin.
When OA is worth the cost
- When your funder or institution requires it — non-compliance can affect future funding.
- When your topic benefits from broad immediate access beyond institutional subscribers.
- Ceramics International's IF 5.6 means OA papers here have real citation upside.
Quick answer: Ceramics International charges roughly $3,800-$4,200 for gold open access. Subscription-track publication is free. It's a core Elsevier journal covered by most institutional Elsevier Read & Publish agreements. With an IF around 5 and over 5,000 articles published per year, Ceramics International is the highest-volume dedicated ceramics journal in the world.
What Ceramics International charges
Component | Details |
|---|---|
Gold OA APC | ~$3,800-$4,200 |
CC BY license | Higher end of range |
CC BY-NC-ND license | Lower end of range |
Subscription-track | $0 |
Submission fee | $0 |
Color figures | $0 |
Page charges | $0 |
Ceramics International is published by Elsevier and affiliated with the European Ceramic Society (ECerS) and other regional ceramic societies. Despite the society affiliations, pricing follows standard Elsevier terms. There are no society-member APC discounts.
The journal publishes over 5,000 articles per year across all areas of ceramics, from traditional ceramics (tiles, refractories) to advanced ceramics (bioceramics, electronic ceramics, ceramic coatings). This high volume makes it one of the more accessible selective journals in materials science.
If the cost looks workable, the harder question is whether your paper will clear desk review. A Ceramics International desk-rejection risk check takes about 1-2 minutes before you commit to these fees.
Elsevier R&P coverage
Ceramics International is a core Elsevier hybrid journal. If your institution has an Elsevier Read & Publish agreement, the APC is almost certainly covered.
Region / Consortium | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
UK (Jisc-Elsevier) | Full APC coverage | All core Elsevier hybrid journals |
Netherlands | Full coverage | National agreement |
Germany | Varies by institution | Individual institutional agreements |
Sweden (Bibsam) | Full or partial | Active agreement |
University of California | Partial | UC covers $1,000 + 10% discount |
Australia (CAUL) | Capped | Shared allocation |
Norway (UNIT) | Full coverage | National consortium |
Finland (FinELib) | Full coverage | National deal |
The pattern is the same as for other core Elsevier journals: extensive European coverage, partial US coverage through individual university agreements, and growing coverage in Asia and Latin America.
For ceramics researchers specifically, it's worth noting that many of the world's leading ceramics labs are in China, Japan, and South Korea. Elsevier's R&P coverage in East Asia is less extensive than in Europe. Chinese institutions, which produce a large share of Ceramics International submissions, generally don't have full R&P coverage, meaning Chinese authors often pay the APC from grant funds.
The ceramics journal landscape
Ceramics has a well-defined set of dedicated journals, plus overlap with broader materials science venues.
Dedicated ceramics journals: Ceramics International (Elsevier, IF ~5), Journal of the European Ceramic Society (Elsevier, IF ~6), Journal of the American Ceramic Society (Wiley, IF ~3.5). These three are the core of ceramics publishing.
Broader materials journals that publish ceramics work: Acta Materialia (Elsevier, IF ~9), Materials Letters (Elsevier, IF ~3), Scripta Materialia (Elsevier, IF ~6), Journal of Materials Science (Springer Nature, IF ~4). These are options when your ceramics work has broader materials science implications.
Niche ceramics journals: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Cement and Concrete Research, Dental Materials. These serve specific subfields.
How Ceramics International compares on cost
Journal | APC (USD) | Model | IF (2024) | Annual Volume | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceramics International | ~$3,800-$4,200 | Hybrid | ~5 | ~5,000 | Elsevier |
J European Ceramic Soc | ~$4,000-$5,450 | Hybrid | ~6 | ~1,500 | Elsevier |
J American Ceramic Soc | ~$3,500-$4,000 | Hybrid | ~3.5 | ~1,500 | Wiley |
Materials Letters | ~$3,500-$3,800 | Hybrid | ~3 | ~3,000 | Elsevier |
Scripta Materialia | ~$3,500-$4,000 | Hybrid | ~6 | ~1,500 | Elsevier |
Several observations:
Ceramics International and JECS are covered by the same Elsevier agreements. If your institution has an Elsevier deal, both are free. The choice between them is purely editorial, not financial.
Journal of the American Ceramic Society (Wiley) requires a different agreement. J Am Ceram Soc is covered by Wiley R&P agreements, not Elsevier ones. If you have Wiley but not Elsevier coverage, J Am Ceram Soc may be the cheaper option. If you have Elsevier but not Wiley, Ceramics International and JECS are cheaper.
Materials Letters and Scripta Materialia are also Elsevier. For shorter communications or letters, these journals are covered by the same institutional agreements as Ceramics International. No additional cost if your Elsevier deal is in place.
Ceramics International vs JECS: the common decision
Ceramics researchers frequently choose between these two journals. Both are Elsevier, both are covered by the same R&P agreements, and both focus on ceramics. The differences are editorial.
Ceramics International (IF ~5): Broader scope. Higher volume (~5,000 articles/year). More accessible, with an acceptance rate estimated at 25-35%. Publishes everything from traditional ceramics to advanced functional materials. Faster review process on average.
Journal of the European Ceramic Society (IF ~6): More selective. Lower volume (~1,500 articles/year). Slightly higher prestige within the ceramics community. Tends to favor longer, more detailed studies. The acceptance rate is estimated at 20-25%.
For solid, well-executed ceramics work, Ceramics International is a reliable and well-indexed venue. For your best work with broader significance to the ceramics field, JECS may be the stronger choice. Many labs submit to JECS first and transfer to Ceramics International if rejected.
Ceramics International vs J American Ceramic Society
This comparison involves a publisher switch, which matters for cost:
Ceramics International (Elsevier): Covered by Elsevier R&P agreements. Higher IF (~5 vs ~3.5). Larger volume. More international authorship.
J Am Ceram Soc (Wiley): Covered by Wiley R&P agreements. The oldest ceramics journal (founded 1918). Strong reputation in the US ceramics community. The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) membership is tied to the journal.
If you're at a US institution with a strong Wiley deal, J Am Ceram Soc may be effectively free. If you're at a European institution with Elsevier coverage, Ceramics International is the path of least resistance.
Waivers and discounts
Geographical pricing (GPOA): Elsevier automatically adjusts APCs for authors from lower-income countries.
Hardship waivers: Available through Elsevier's Author Support portal. Approval is discretionary.
Society membership doesn't help with APCs. Despite Ceramics International's affiliation with ECerS, there's no ECerS member discount on APCs. The society relationship governs editorial policy, not pricing.
Institutional R&P is the primary path. As with all core Elsevier journals, checking your institutional agreement should be step one.
Readiness check
Run the scan while the topic is in front of you.
See score, top issues, and journal-fit signals before you submit.
Funder mandate compliance
Funder/Policy | Compliant? | Route |
|---|---|---|
Plan S (cOAlition S) | Yes | Gold OA with CC BY |
NIH Public Access | Yes | PMC deposit or gold OA |
UKRI | Yes | Gold OA with CC BY |
ERC / Horizon Europe | Yes | Gold OA with CC BY |
NSF | Yes | Embargo deposit or gold OA |
NSFC (China) | Yes | Gold OA or embargo deposit |
Given the large Chinese research contribution to Ceramics International, NSFC compliance is particularly relevant. Chinese researchers can satisfy NSFC mandates through either gold OA or embargo deposit routes.
Hidden costs
- No page charges. The APC covers everything.
- No supplementary material charges. Data files, high-resolution images, and supplementary tables are free to host.
- Tax may apply. EU VAT (15-25%) adds to costs in some jurisdictions.
- Transfer within Elsevier: If rejected from JECS and offered transfer to Ceramics International, the Ceramics International APC applies. Pricing is similar.
- Language editing: Elsevier offers paid language editing services during submission. These are optional and separate from the APC. Many non-native English speakers find them helpful but they can add $300-$600 to the total cost.
The practical decision
Ceramics International is a strong, reliable venue for ceramics research. The APC is mid-range for an Elsevier journal, and it's covered by the same extensive R&P agreements as every other core Elsevier title.
Here's how to approach the cost decision:
- Check your Elsevier agreement. If covered, publish OA for free in either Ceramics International or JECS.
- No Elsevier deal but have Wiley coverage? Consider J American Ceramic Society instead.
- No agreements at all? Publish subscription-track for free. Ceramics International has broad library access in materials science and engineering departments.
- Budget available but limited? Ceramics International's APC (~$3,800-$4,200) is at the lower end of the Elsevier range, making it relatively affordable for a well-indexed hybrid journal.
Make sure your microstructural characterization is thorough, your processing conditions are clearly documented, and your mechanical or functional property measurements include error analysis. These are the areas where Ceramics International reviewers are most demanding. Ceramics International submission readiness check to catch issues before they reach reviewers.
Is open access at Ceramics International worth the APC?
Worth paying if:
- Your funder mandates open access (check Plan S / cOAlition S requirements)
- An institutional Read & Publish agreement covers the fee
- Open access visibility meaningfully benefits your research area
- The APC fits within your grant budget
Consider alternatives if:
- The APC is a personal out-of-pocket expense
- A subscription option or green OA (preprint + embargo) satisfies your funder
- Another OA journal with a lower APC would provide similar visibility
Frequently asked questions
Ceramics International charges approximately $3,800-$4,200 for gold open access, depending on the license type. CC BY costs more than CC BY-NC-ND. Subscription-track publication is free. As a core Elsevier journal, it is covered by most Elsevier R&P agreements.
Yes. Ceramics International is a core Elsevier hybrid journal, included in standard Elsevier Read & Publish agreements covering 1,800+ journals. If your institution has an Elsevier deal, the APC is likely covered.
Ceramics International (Elsevier, IF ~5, ~$3,800-$4,200) and Journal of the European Ceramic Society (Elsevier, IF ~6, ~$4,000-$5,450) are both Elsevier ceramics journals covered by the same R&P agreements. JECS is slightly more selective with a higher IF. Ceramics International publishes a larger volume and has a broader scope.
Ceramics International has an estimated acceptance rate of 25-35%. The journal publishes over 5,000 articles per year and evaluates manuscripts on technical quality, novelty, and relevance to the ceramics community. It is more accessible than JECS but still selective.
No. The APC covers everything, including color figures, supplementary materials, and page length. There are no additional page charges or figure charges beyond the OA fee. Subscription-track publication has no charges at all.
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