How to Select Journal for Submission: SCI/SSCI/CSSCI/EI Journal Selection Methods

What this page helps you do first

• Analysis of various journal types
• Core journal selection indicators
• Common journal selection mistakes

Common journal types and characteristics

• SCI (Science Citation Index): Mainly natural sciences and technology, Web of Science as core retrieval
• SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index): Social sciences, some humanities and arts included
• CSSCI (Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index): Highest level domestic social sciences journals
• EI (Engineering Index): Authoritative engineering retrieval, mainly conference papers
• Core vs regular journals: Core journals usually refer to journals indexed in SCI/SSCI/CSSCI/EI

Core indicators for journal selection

• Impact Factor (IF): Journal influence indicator, higher = harder to publish
• Quartile: JCR Q1/Q2, or CAS T1/T2
• Review cycle: Usually 1-3 months, understand clearly if urgent
• Publication cycle: From acceptance to appearance usually 6-12 months
• Acceptance rate: Lower = more competitive
• Page charges: Open access (OA) journals usually charge fees

How to match your thesis

• First determine research area and keywords
• Search journal list in Web of Science/JCR for your field
• Read recent issues of target journals to confirm thesis-journal match
• Evaluate thesis innovation level, select appropriate tier journal
• Do not aim too high, starting from high baseline wastes time

Common journal selection mistakes

• Only looking at Impact Factor, not thesis match
• Not understanding publication cycle, missing graduation deadline
• Wrong journal type, like submitting review to research letter
• Not carefully reading author guidelines, causing format issues
• Multiple submissions or duplicate publication

How to improve acceptance rate

• Carefully read author guidelines, submit strictly following format requirements
• Professional thesis format, native English matters
• Write good Cover letter, highlight thesis innovations
• When recommending reviewers, choose experts who truly understand your field
• Do not submit to multiple journals simultaneously, this is academic misconduct

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit to multiple journals simultaneously?

Absolutely not. Simultaneous submission is serious academic misconduct with severe consequences. Only after being rejected or receiving rejection notice can you submit to another.

Can I submit to another journal after rejection?

Yes, but adjust format and materials according to new journal requirements. Do not mention previous submissions in Cover letter. Also, be careful if withdrawing after major revision requests.

How to learn about actual review cycles?

Can view other authors submission experiences on platforms like LetPub, Medsci. Can also directly ask journal editors, they usually respond.