Open Access Uptake by Discipline

Open access (OA) for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) has caught up with Scientific, Technical and Medical (STM) disciplines.  SSH uptake of gold OA in 2025 even surpassed that of STM by 1%.

Historically, gold OA was less available to SSH disciplines than STM.  The data shows a substantial increase in availability for both since 2015  when the option of gold OA was available for 67% of STM and just 39% of SSH publications. 

The availability of gold OA across STM and SSH disciplines in 2025  is equal at roughly 84%.  The expansion of transformative agreements beyond their initial concentration in STM publishing has increased gold OA opportunities in the social sciences and humanities. Many national and institutional agreements now cover multidisciplinary publishers whose journal portfolios include substantial SSH content.2 

In 2025, SSH also slightly surpassed STM in the share of authors choosing to publish gold OA when offered, at 54% and 52% respectively.

The trend in OA uptake for STM disciplines shows little variation from the overall picture because most scholarly content published is within an STM discipline. As of 2025, STM disciplines cover 90% of global articles, reviews and conference papers, while SSH represent 10%. The relative share of each has remained consistent over the past ten years.  

Both SSH and STM have seen the share of subscription-only articles fall; by 29% for SSH and 15% for STM over the ten-year period.  The share of gold Open Access has increased by 26% for STM and 33% for SSH.   

2 2019, Transformative Agreements: A Primer – The Scholarly Kitchen and 2026, Transformative agreements – The University of Nottingham 

DEFINITIONS

Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript.  To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access.  See Methodology and Notes for more information.

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DEFINITIONS

Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript.  To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access.  See Methodology and Notes for more information.

link to chart

DEFINITIONS

Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript.  To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access.  See Methodology and Notes for more information.

link to chart

DEFINITIONS

Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript.  To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access.  See Methodology and Notes for more information.

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DEFINITIONS

Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript.  To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.

Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access.  See Methodology and Notes for more information.

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STM and SSH disciplines are almost equal in their selection of gold OA

In 2025, STM and SSH authors chose gold OA 52% and 54% of the time, respectively, when it was offered. The percentage of STM publications for which the author selected gold OA when it was offered has steadily increased since 2015. The percentage of SSH publications for which the author chose gold has fluctuated a little but shows strong overall growth since 2015.

 

 

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