Depositing the accepted manuscript of your published research into a repository enables you to make your research available openly. This is an important element of many Open Access policies, and is often referred to as green Open Access, or self-archiving.
Northumbria Research Link (NRL) was retired at the end of 2024. All research outputs deposited to NRL will now be available in Northumbria Research Portal. All Northumbria University awarded theses which were previously available in NRL are now available via the Research Portal.
Pure is the central source of data about research outputs at Northumbria University, so depositing details of your work in Pure informs other systems at the University about your activity without the need to duplicate information.
Figshare is Northumbria University's research data repository. Guidance on Research Data.
You should deposit your accepted author manuscript (AAM). This is the final author-generated version of the paper that exists prior to the publisher applying typesetting and formatting to the paper, and it typically includes all changes suggested following peer review and communications with the editor. It is often a simple text file.
For new publications, you should upload the manuscript as soon as possible after receiving notification of acceptance from the journal. If you are not the corresponding author, you may need to request the accepted manuscript from a co-author.
Research funders and REF 2029 require the accepted manuscript to be uploaded within a strict time limit.
It is possible to add an accepted manuscript at any time, even if a paper has already been published. This can retrospectively enable Open Access to your research.
For journal articles and conference papers in serial publications with an ISSN, any work accepted for publication after 1st September 2025 will be made immediately available upon deposit in Pure, unless you have completed an opt out form.
Many publishers require the author to sign an agreement which temporarily restricts access to shared accepted manuscripts. This is known as an embargo. Embargoes vary in length, and can be applied to the file once it has been deposited. Work accepted for publication on or after 1st September 2025 is covered by the University Research Publications Policy and is subject to a prior licence which cannot be overridden by signing subsequent contracts.
For work accepted before this date, or other output types embargoes may apply. You should not delay in depositing the manuscript just because an embargo will apply. You can check how long an embargo is required by checking the publishers webpage, or using resources like Jisc Open Policy Finder.
Page updated: 13/08/2025
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