Preparing Your OJS Journal for Scopus & Web of Science Evaluation
Comprehensive strategic roadmap for Scopus and Web of Science evaluation. Covers Content Selection & Advisory Board criteria, author diversity metrics, and editorial timelines.
Real Problem
Over 80% of journals applying to Scopus are rejected due to regional bias, lack of international citations, irregular publication schedules, and incomplete English metadata.
Practical Solution
Follow this strategic evaluation roadmap: diversify your editorial board and author pool internationally, enforce strict publication punctuality, publish English abstracts and titles, and align with COPE guidelines.
The Pinnacle of Academic Indexing
In the global academic evaluation landscape, two databases represent the gold standard of scientific impact:
1. Scopus (Elsevier): The world’s largest curated abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature.
2. Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate): Encompassing ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index), SCIE, SSCI, and AHCI.
Journals indexed in these databases receive dramatic surges in global submission volume, attract institutional research funding, and can reward authors with university promotion points.
Scopus Content Selection & Advisory Board (CSAB) Criteria
The CSAB evaluates journals across five categorical dimensions:
1. Journal Policy (Rigor and Clarity)
- Convincing editorial concept and distinct academic niche.
- Explicit peer review type clearly explained.
- International diversity in the geographic distribution of editors.
- International diversity in the geographic distribution of authors.
2. Content Quality and Academic Contribution
- Academic contribution to the field.
- Clarity of abstracts and relevance to international readers.
- Conformity with the stated aims and scope.
- Readability of published articles.
3. Journal Standing
- Citation impact: Articles published in your journal must already be cited in existing Scopus-indexed literature!
- Editor standing: Editors should have respectable personal h-index scores and active publication records in Scopus.
4. Regularity and Punctuality
- No publication delays: A journal with a quarterly publication schedule must publish 4 issues per year, strictly within the designated quarterly windows, for at least two consecutive years.
5. Online Availability and Infrastructure
- English-language journal website of professional quality.
- High-level digital infrastructure (Open Journal Systems).
- Complete publication ethics and publication malpractice statements aligned with COPE.
The Step-by-Step Preparation Protocol
Year 1: Foundation and Diversification
- Restructure the editorial board: recruit recognized scholars from Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America.
- Enforce DOI registration and reference linking via Crossref.
- Apply for and secure DOAJ listing.
Year 2: Citation Velocity and Track Record
- Monitor citation acquisition via Google Scholar and Dimensions.
- Ensure 100% on-time issue publication.
- Perform a Scopus Pre-Evaluation audit with AcademiaTech.
Year 3: Formal Submission
Submit your formal dossier to the Scopus Title Evaluation Platform (STEP).
Step-by-Step Action Plan
Audit Editorial Board Internationalization
Ensure editorial board members represent institutions across at least 5 different countries with proven Scopus citation records.
Enforce Absolute Publication Punctuality
Publish all scheduled issues strictly on time for at least two consecutive years before submitting an application.
Mandate English Titles & Abstracts
Even for multi-language journals, require high-quality English titles, abstracts, and Romanized reference lists.
Track Inbound Scopus Citations
Verify that articles published in your journal have been cited by authors publishing in existing Scopus-indexed journals.
Complete Scopus Pre-Evaluation Tool
Run the Scopus Pre-Evaluation tool to ensure zero disqualifying factors before formal submission.
Questions People Usually Ask
What is the penalty if Scopus rejects a journal application?
If rejected by the Scopus Content Selection & Advisory Board (CSAB), a mandatory embargo of 1 to 5 years is imposed before the journal is permitted to re-apply. Pre-submission audits are therefore essential.
Does a journal need an Impact Factor to be in Scopus?
No. The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is proprietary to Clarivate’s Web of Science. Scopus utilizes its own citation metrics: CiteScore, SJR (SCImago Journal Rank), and SNIP.
Can journals publishing in languages other than English be indexed in Scopus?
Yes! Scopus indexes journals in Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, and other languages, provided that all articles include English titles, English abstracts, English keywords, and Romanized reference lists.
Aiming for Scopus or Web of Science Indexing?
AcademiaTech performs comprehensive pre-submission audits and technical optimizations to maximize your chances of first-time Scopus acceptance.