Open access journals are accepted into the rating and are evaluated according to the same criteria as traditional publication series. For the Level 2 and Level 3, the aim is to promote open science in the following way: the green OA channel can be favoured if the embargo is at most six months in natural sciences and engineering, and 12 months in SSH. Open data can also be taken into account.
• If candidates for Level 2 or Level 3 in the same field have equal impact or prestige, an open access journal or one permitting self-archiving of the peer-reviewed version of the manuscript is chosen for higher level, over the channel that does not support open access.
• The channel allowing for A journal/series that allows self-archiving can only be favoured favored in a comparison if the embargo period is six months (publication channel allows immediate self-archiving of the peer-reviewed version of the manuscript. For book publishers and book series, an embargo period may be allowed: 6 months in science and technology) , and 12 months ( in the human sciences).
• Openness of data can also be considered an advantage.
It is checked when comparing whether open access provides grounds to decide on selection.