Article Processing Charge (APC) Policy

Golden Ratio applies an Article Processing Charge (APC) to support the editorial, peer-review, copyediting, production, and publication processes associated with scholarly articles. The APC policy is designed to provide transparent information about publication costs while maintaining the independence and integrity of the journal's editorial decision-making.

The publication process follows the sequence:

Submission → Initial Editorial Assessment → Invoicing → Payment → Letter of Acceptance (LoA) → Peer Review → Revision → Final Editorial Assessment → Copyediting → Production → Publication

APC Rate

For authors affiliated with institutions in Indonesia, the APC is IDR 5,000,000 per manuscript.

As part of Golden Ratio's commitment to internationalization and the development of a diverse global scholarly community, authors affiliated with institutions outside Indonesia are fully exempt from the APC.

The international APC waiver is intended to encourage broader participation from researchers and academic institutions worldwide, strengthen international and geographic diversity in authorship, facilitate cross-border scholarly exchange, and increase the international visibility of Golden Ratio.

The APC waiver is determined by the author's institutional affiliation rather than nationality. Authors affiliated with institutions outside Indonesia are therefore eligible for the waiver regardless of nationality, while authors affiliated with institutions in Indonesia are subject to the applicable APC.

The APC policy does not create different academic or editorial standards. All manuscripts are subject to the same editorial assessment, external peer-review procedures, research integrity requirements, and publication standards regardless of the author's country or institutional affiliation. Payment or APC exemption does not influence editorial decisions, reviewer recommendations, or the academic evaluation of a manuscript.

Payment Procedure

The APC is payable only after the manuscript has successfully passed the initial editorial assessment and an official invoice has been issued.

Payment confirms the author's decision to proceed with the formal editorial and peer-review processing stage. Payment does not determine the editorial outcome and does not replace independent peer review.

After payment has been verified, Golden Ratio issues the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) and proceeds with the subsequent editorial and peer-review process in accordance with the journal's established publication workflow. Authors must follow the payment amount and instructions stated in the official invoice.

Official Payment Account

All APC payments must be made exclusively through the official bank account specified by Golden Ratio:

  • Bank: Bank BCA

  • Branch: Boulevard, Makassar City, Indonesia

  • Account Holder: ADITYA HALIM PERDANA KUSUMA PUTRA S

  • Account Number: 826-048-3014

Authors should retain proof of payment and submit it through the official payment procedure indicated in the invoice or OJS.

Payment Identification Code

To facilitate payment verification and reconciliation, Golden Ratio may apply a unique payment identification code to the APC amount based on the manuscript identification number.

For example, if the applicable APC is IDR 5,000,000 and  DOI IDR 25.000 the manuscript identification number is 442, the amount stated in the invoice may be IDR 5,025,442.

Authors must always follow the exact amount stated in the official invoice. The amount stated in the invoice takes precedence over any example provided in this policy.

Withdrawal and Refund

Withdrawal after payment and issuance of the LoA is governed by Golden Ratio's Manuscript Withdrawal, Correction and Retraction Policy.

Where an author formally withdraws a manuscript after payment and LoA issuance, the APC is non-refundable, because the formal editorial and peer-review process has commenced and associated editorial, administrative, and review resources have been allocated. Authors retain the right to request withdrawal through the official withdrawal procedure. Legitimate withdrawal itself is not considered misconduct.

However, simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to another journal while it remains under active consideration by Golden Ratio is not permitted. Authors should complete the official withdrawal procedure and receive formal confirmation from Golden Ratio before submitting the manuscript elsewhere.

Payment Security

Authors should make payments only to the official bank account stated in the current invoice and APC information published by Golden Ratio. Golden Ratio does not recognize payments made to unauthorized accounts, intermediaries, or other bank accounts that are not officially identified by the journal. Authors are advised to verify the payment details before completing any transaction.