Many publishers submit their journals for indexing in Scopus and are rejected. This topic is rarely discussed openly, largely because reliable information about the real reasons for rejections is almost never publicly available.
Yes, the official Scopus website provides a list of formal evaluation criteria, but in practice decisions are often made not only on the basis of these points, but also taking into account the business goals and strategic priorities of the platform for a specific period.
Who actually makes the decisions?
According to the official Scopus rules, the final decision on acceptance or rejection of a journal is made by Content Selection & Advisory Board (CSAB) — a special council consisting of experienced researchers and editors from various fields.
However, in practice, the process works somewhat differently.
In most cases, the journal checks one independent reviewer, who collaborates with Scopus on a volunteer (unpaid) basis. He analyzes the journal's website, its issues, the quality of the articles, and the completed submission form.
The CSAB intervenes only in complex or controversial cases, and most decisions are made by these independent experts.
As a result, the decision may be partially subjective, as it depends on the assessment of one person.
It is also important to note: even if a publisher files an appeal after a rejection, the system is designed so that the probability of changing the decision is minimal — appeals are almost never satisfied.
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Scopus business goals for accepting new journals
Currently, there are three main areas in which Scopus is particularly open to considering new journals (apart from large international publishers, which often approve almost automatically).
1. Regional coverage
Scopus seeks to expand its presence in countries or regions that were previously underrepresented in the database.
If only a few local journals in a given country are indexed in Scopus, the platform is more likely to accept new publications from that region—especially if they have a local academic focus or cover regional issues.
For example, imagine two social science journals, one from Argentina and one from the UK. Both have similar quality of articles and topics.
Scopus may accept the Argentine journal because only about 100 journals are indexed from Argentina, and adding a new one would improve regional representation.
However, a British journal may be rejected, as Scopus already has over 6,500 publications from the UK, and the industry is well-covered by both university and commercial publishers.
2. New or underrepresented scientific areas
The second goal is to cover new or underrepresented thematic niches. For example:
- artificial intelligence in philosophy;
- digital technologies in art;
- bioethics and AI in medicine;
- sustainable development in business and law.
Journals that combine related disciplines and offer innovative approaches to research have a higher chance of acceptance.
3. Long-running university journals
Scopus also tends to consider older university journals with a long history and stable publishing tradition.
If a journal has been around for decades and demonstrates consistency in publications, this is seen as a sign of reliability and academic reputation.
Formal evaluation criteria
Once a journal meets one of Scopus' business priorities, it moves on to the formal eligibility criteria review stage, which includes:
Alignment of goals and direction (Aims & Scope) — consistency between the declared topic and the positioning of the journal.
Quality of English — especially in annotations, since they are the ones that are viewed first.
Scientific level of publications — article structure, methodology, bibliography, and relevance of the topic.
Citation — if the journal's articles are already cited in Scopus, this significantly increases the chances of acceptance.
In some cases, reviewers also evaluate the design and content of the journal's website, the composition of the editorial board (its internationality and scientific qualifications), and the geographical diversity of the authors. However, these factors are not always decisive.
Conclusion
Understanding how Scopus evaluates and accepts journals is critical for every publisher and editor. The process is not purely technical—it is strategic.
Even if your journal meets all formal requirements, acceptance is not guaranteed, as Scopus takes into account broader goals: regional balance, subject coverage, and the long-term reputation of the publication.
Remember: Scopus accepts journals according to own goals, not yours. Therefore, it is important for publishers to take these priorities into account and adapt their magazine's development strategy, positioning, and editorial policy.
Do you need a publication in a guaranteed journal that will not be excluded from the database and with the desired percentile?
Articles Academy is ready to help you with publication in reliable journals:
Publication of scientific articles “turnkey” – from writing to publication in a journal with the required quartile (Q1-Q4) and 100% publication guarantee
Co-authorship in articles
– choose a topic from more than 55 scientific areas in our Co-authorship catalogs
