Scientific Journal Grant within Humanities and Social Sciences (Sweden)

The Swedish Research Council Scientific Journal Grant supports Swedish open access journals that publish high-quality, peer-reviewed research in humanities and social sciences. The funding helps cover essential journal operation costs such as editorial work, publishing, distribution, and language review for academic research dissemination.

Overview of the Swedish Research Council Scientific Journal Grant

The Swedish Research Council has launched the Scientific Journal Grant to strengthen the publication and global dissemination of high-quality research in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

The programme supports:

Open access academic journals.
Peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Research dissemination.
Editorial and publishing activities.
Sustainable operation of Swedish scholarly journals.

The grant aims to ensure that important humanities and social sciences research reaches researchers, institutions, and the wider academic community through accessible and reliable publishing platforms.

Purpose of the Grant

The main objective of the Scientific Journal Grant is to support the continued operation and development of Swedish scientific journals that contribute to international research communication.

The programme focuses on:

Increasing access to publicly available academic research.
Supporting high-quality peer-reviewed publishing.
Strengthening editorial processes.
Improving research visibility.
Maintaining professional academic publishing standards.

Key Focus Areas

Open Access Publishing

The grant supports journals that provide open access to research articles, allowing researchers and readers worldwide to access academic knowledge without subscription barriers.

Open access publishing helps:

Increase research visibility.
Encourage knowledge sharing.
Improve global academic collaboration.
Support equal access to scientific information.

Humanities and Social Sciences Research

The funding specifically targets journals publishing research in areas such as:

History.
Languages and literature.
Philosophy.
Sociology.
Political science.
Education.
Cultural studies.
Other humanities and social sciences disciplines.

Scientific Journal Operations

Funding helps journals maintain essential activities, including:

Editorial management.
Manuscript preparation.
Academic review processes.
Publishing activities.
Digital dissemination.

Funding Information

The grant provides financial support for journal operations.

Funding details:

Minimum funding: SEK 50,000 per year.
Maximum funding: SEK 350,000 per year.
Project duration: 1 to 3 years.
Grant period begins: January 2027.

Funding categories depend on journal size and publication frequency.

Journals With Lower Publication Volume

Journals that:

Publish up to two issues annually.
Publish fewer than 15 articles per year.

May request:

Up to SEK 240,000 annually.

Journals With Higher Publication Volume

Journals that:

Publish at least two issues annually with 15 or more articles per year, or
Publish three or more issues annually.

May request:

Up to SEK 350,000 annually.

Eligible Uses of Funding

The grant supports direct journal operation expenses.

Eligible costs include:

Editor salaries.
Editorial secretary salaries.
Printing expenses.
Online publication costs.
Distribution costs.
Language review and editing services.

Ineligible Costs

The grant does not support:

Salaries for other editorial team members.
General organisational costs unrelated to journal operations.
Indirect costs except those connected to eligible salary expenses.

Applicants should ensure that the proposed budget clearly connects expenses with journal activities.

Who Is Eligible?

Applications may only be submitted by approved Swedish organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

Swedish higher education institutions (HEIs).
Other organisations approved by the Swedish Research Council as administrating organisations.

The applicant organisation must manage the grant administration and financial reporting responsibilities.

Requirements for the Journal Editor

Each application must include:

A named journal editor.
The editor must be affiliated with the host organisation when the grant period begins.

The application cannot include:

Additional participating researchers.
Multiple project leaders.

Why This Grant Matters

Scientific journals play an important role in sharing academic knowledge and supporting research communities.

This funding helps:

Preserve important scholarly publications.
Improve access to humanities and social sciences research.
Support professional editorial standards.
Strengthen Sweden’s contribution to international research communication.

Open access journals also allow students, researchers, and institutions worldwide to benefit from Swedish academic research.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should verify that:

They are a Swedish HEI or approved administrating organisation.
The journal focuses on humanities and social sciences.
The journal follows peer-review standards.
A qualified journal editor is affiliated with the organisation.

Step 2: Prepare the Application

The application should include:

Information about the journal.
Description of research focus.
Publication details.
Open access approach.
Editorial structure.
Budget plan.
Explanation of requested funding.

Step 3: Develop a Realistic Budget

Applicants should clearly explain:

Editorial salary costs.
Publishing expenses.
Distribution costs.
Language review expenses.

The budget should only include eligible costs.

Step 4: Submit Through the Approved Organisation

Applications must be submitted by the eligible administrating organisation according to Swedish Research Council requirements.

Application Tips

Applicants should:

Clearly explain the journal’s academic importance.
Demonstrate strong peer-review procedures.
Highlight international research relevance.
Provide a detailed publishing plan.
Ensure the budget matches journal activities.
Explain how open access improves research accessibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying without an eligible host organisation.
Including ineligible editorial expenses.
Failing to provide a clear journal publication record.
Submitting unclear budget information.
Including additional researchers in the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Swedish Research Council Scientific Journal Grant?

The Scientific Journal Grant is a funding programme that supports Swedish open access journals publishing peer-reviewed research in humanities and social sciences.

How much funding can journals receive?

Journals can receive between SEK 50,000 and SEK 350,000 per year depending on publication volume and journal activity.

How long can projects receive funding?

Projects can receive funding for one to three years starting from January 2027.

Who can apply for the grant?

Applications can be submitted by Swedish higher education institutions and other organisations approved by the Swedish Research Council as administrating organisations.

What costs are covered by the grant?

The grant supports editor salaries, editorial secretary salaries, printing, online publishing, distribution, and language review costs.

Can individual researchers apply for this grant?

No. Individual researchers cannot apply. Applications must be submitted through eligible organisations responsible for journal administration.

Does the grant support all academic disciplines?

No. The programme specifically supports scientific journals in humanities and social sciences.

Conclusion

The Swedish Research Council Scientific Journal Grant strengthens academic publishing by supporting open access journals that share high-quality humanities and social sciences research. Through funding for editorial work, publishing activities, and dissemination, the programme helps maintain reliable scholarly communication and improves global access to Swedish research.