What different access levels are there for journals and books?
Last updated on March 02, 2026
ScienceDirect uses several different icons to indicate a document’s access level. Access may also be determined at the publication level.
Please note: For access to subscribed content, you are required to have an (institutional) account.
Answer
The access levels are specified on journal, volume, book, and article/chapter level according to your institution’s account (or subscription). See the tables below for the different access levels used for all content:
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Anyone can read and download the full content |
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Anyone can read and download the full content. Articles are made available after an embargo period. |
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The article/chapter is included in your institution’s subscription to ScienceDirect. You can read and download the full content. |
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The full article/chapter is not part of your subscription. The content of the abstract can be read. The full article/chapter, if available, can be purchased through the shopping cart with a credit card or charged to your institution’s account according to the terms of their contract. |
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The article/chapter is not part of your subscription. A separate abstract is not available. The full article/chapter, if available, can be purchased through the shopping cart with a credit card or charged to your institution’s account according to the terms of their contract. |
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Open access (Free-To-Read) |
Anyone can read and download the full content of the journal/book. This access may be limited to specific volumes or issues. |
Open archive |
Anyone can read and download the full content. Volume/issues are made available after an embargo period. |
Complimentary |
You can read and download the full content of the specific volume/issue. This access may expire. |
Subscribed |
The journal/book is part of your institution’s subscription. You can read and download the full content. Subscriptions may be limited to specific volume/issues or date ranges. Check with your librarian or administrator for details. |
Non-subscribed |
The journal/book is not part of your subscription. The content of the abstracts can be read, if available. Individual articles/chapters can be purchased through the shopping cart with a credit card or charged to your institution’s account according to the terms of their contract |
See more information about the open access initiative.
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