Which is more authoritative: PKU Core, CSSCI, or CSCD?

Different systems are authoritative for different purposes: CSSCI is most authoritative in social sciences; CSCD is most authoritative in natural sciences and engineering; PKU Core has the widest coverage. Follow your institution's specific journal list requirements.

No response after 3 months — am I rejected?

Not necessarily. Review cycles vary: CSSCI journals typically 3-6 months, PKU Core 2-4 months. If you exceed the normal cycle, politely inquire with the editor. If over 1.5x the normal cycle with no feedback, consider inquiry or withdrawal.

What is the article processing charge (APC) for core journals?

Most core journals charge APCs: PKU Core typically 800-3000 CNY/article; CSSCI varies widely; CSCD science journals typically 1000-5000 CNY/article. Some CSSCI journals do not charge or even pay authors. Charges are usually collected after acceptance, before publication.

Chinese Core Journal Submission Guide

Chinese Core Journal Submission Guide | From Journal Selection to Publication for PKU/CSSCI/CSCD Journals

How to submit to Chinese core journals? This guide covers journal selection, submission format, review cycles, article processing charges, and response to reviewer comments for PKU Core, CSSCI, CSCD journals.

View journal selection guide View reviewer response templates

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Journal selection strategies for PKU Core/CSSCI/CSCD/ISTP journals
Complete checklist for submission format and author information
Templates and strategies for responding to reviewer comments
[PKU Core] Compiled by Peking University Library, updated every 4 years, focuses on comprehensive academic influence of Chinese journals

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Why this page is suitable for citation

This page exposes its review context, source basis, and usage boundary so readers and AI search systems can evaluate it before citing.

Review record

2026-04-16

AcademicIdeas Editorial Review

Manually reviewed against the public journal-selection guide, reviewer-response guide, academic cover-letter page, and journal-review timeline page, together with the official CSSCI source-journal directory entry, ICMJE recommendations, and COPE reviewer-ethics guidance, so this page stays focused on Chinese-journal targeting, submission preparation, and reviewer communication.

Source basis

CSSCI source-journal directory entry

cssrac.nju.edu.cn

Used to verify the official CSSCI directory entry point and the source-journal system behind Chinese social-science targeting.

ICMJE Recommendations

icmje.org

Used to verify manuscript-preparation, authorship, conflict-of-interest, and submission-process norms at the journal level.

COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers

publicationethics.org

Used to verify reviewer-ethics and peer-review communication boundaries that also affect author response strategy.

Journal selection guide

acaids.com

Used to support journal targeting logic and fit assessment before submission.

Reviewer response guide

acaids.com

Used to support revision-stage communication and response strategy.

Topic graph

Related workflows and reference pages

What this page helps you do first

Journal selection strategies for PKU Core/CSSCI/CSCD/ISTP journals
Complete checklist for submission format and author information
Templates and strategies for responding to reviewer comments

Understanding Chinese core journal systems

[PKU Core] Compiled by Peking University Library, updated every 4 years, focuses on comprehensive academic influence of Chinese journals
[CSSCI (Nanjing Core)] Compiled by Nanjing University, primarily for social sciences — considered most authoritative in social science
[CSCD (Chinese Science Citation Database)] Compiled by Chinese Academy of Sciences, primarily for natural sciences and engineering
[ISTP (Chinese Core Journals from STI)] Compiled by China Institute of Science and Technical Information, covering natural sciences and technology fields

Core journal selection strategies

Step 1: Clarify publication purpose — graduation, title evaluation, or academic exchange? Different purposes require different journal levels
Step 2: Research journal scope — check papers published in the past 1-2 years to confirm topic and method alignment
Step 3: Assess publication cycle — CSSCI journals typically 3-6 months review, PKU Core 2-4 months
Step 4: Understand article processing charges (APC) — most core journals charge 1000-5000 CNY per article
Step 5: Read submission guidelines carefully — word limits, format requirements, anonymous review requirements

Pre-submission checklist

[Format] Adjust to journal requirements: font size, line spacing, figure/table placement, reference format
[Author info] Prepare complete affiliation, title, education, contact information
[Ethics] Provide ethics review approval if involving human subjects or animal experiments
[Similarity check] Core journal submissions should have similarity ratio below 10%

Frequently asked questions

Which is more authoritative: PKU Core, CSSCI, or CSCD?: Different systems are authoritative for different purposes: CSSCI is most authoritative in social sciences; CSCD is most authoritative in natural sciences and engineering; PKU Core has the widest coverage. Follow your institution's specific journal list requirements.
No response after 3 months — am I rejected?: Not necessarily. Review cycles vary: CSSCI journals typically 3-6 months, PKU Core 2-4 months. If you exceed the normal cycle, politely inquire with the editor. If over 1.5x the normal cycle with no feedback, consider inquiry or withdrawal.
What is the article processing charge (APC) for core journals?: Most core journals charge APCs: PKU Core typically 800-3000 CNY/article; CSSCI varies widely; CSCD science journals typically 1000-5000 CNY/article. Some CSSCI journals do not charge or even pay authors. Charges are usually collected after acceptance, before publication.

Journal selection guide Reviewer response templates Pre-submission similarity check