From 1 April 2026, all research articles and conference papers authored by Loughborough staff and doctoral researchers will be automatically covered by the institutional Rights Retention Policy.

This change simplifies Open Access and ensures more Loughborough research is immediately available and compliant with the REF 2029 Open Access Policy.

What’s changing?

Authors no longer need to add a Rights Retention statement: publishers have been notified directly by the Library.

After publication, the Library will make the Author’s Accepted Manuscript openly available in the Research Repository immediately, with no embargo periods.

What do researchers need to do?

1. Continue depositing your Author’s Accepted Manuscript in the Research Repository via LUPIN as soon as it’s accepted.
2. Inform external co‑authors that Loughborough operates a Rights Retention Policy.
3. Contact the Library Open Research team with questions or to discuss opting out.

For more information, please see our institutional Rights Retention webpages.