Scopus conferences are everywhere — and that's both a blessing and a problem. With hundreds of events across every discipline, how do you choose the one that's truly right for your paper?

We've developed a practical checklist that we use ourselves and recommend to researchers at every career stage. Follow it, and you'll never waste a submission on the wrong event again.

The 10-Point Scopus Conference Checklist

Here's our complete evaluation framework. We score each conference against these criteria before committing:
1. Scopus indexing: Is it verified?
Check the official Scopus source list or use AIScholar (aischolar.com) to confirm. This is non-negotiable — if it's not indexed, it's off the list.
2. Topic alignment: Does it match your paper?
Read the call-for-papers carefully. Your paper should fit naturally into at least one listed topic. Forcing a mismatch reduces your acceptance chances.
3. Publisher reputation: Who handles the proceedings?
Springer, IEEE, ACM, Elsevier — these are safe bets. Unknown publishers require extra investigation.
4. Acceptance rate: How selective is it?
Lower acceptance rates generally indicate higher quality and prestige. Aim for conferences in the 20-40% range for a good balance.
5. Programme committee: Who's involved?
Look for recognisable names in your field. A strong committee signals rigorous review and academic credibility.
6. Conference history: Is there a track record?
Established conferences with multiple successful editions are safer than brand-new events with no history.
7. Location and format: Can you attend?
Consider whether the conference is in person, virtual, or hybrid. Factor in travel costs, visa requirements, and time commitments.
8. Deadline feasibility: Can you make it?
Be realistic about your writing timeline. Rushing a paper to meet a deadline rarely produces good results.
9. Registration cost: Is it within budget?
Factor in the total cost — registration, travel, accommodation, and any extra page charges.
10. Networking value: Who attends?
A conference where you'll meet potential collaborators, employers, or mentors adds value beyond the publication itself.

How to Use This Checklist

We suggest a simple scoring approach:

• Rate each criterion from 1-5 for each conference you're considering
• Total the scores and compare
• Any conference scoring below 3 on criteria 1 (Scopus indexing) is automatically eliminated
• For the remaining conferences, prioritise those with the highest total scores

This takes about 30 minutes per conference and saves you from weeks of wasted effort on the wrong event.

When to Submit to Multiple Conferences

It's worth noting that you cannot submit the same paper to multiple conferences simultaneously — that violates academic ethics and most conference policies.
However, you can:

• Submit different papers to different conferences at the same time
• Have a backup conference in mind if your first-choice submission is rejected
• Stagger your submissions to spread your publications across the year

We recommend always having a Plan B conference identified before you submit to Plan A. This reduces the sting of rejection and keeps your publication pipeline moving.

Red Flags That Should Eliminate a Conference

Regardless of score, we immediately drop any conference that shows these signs:

• No verifiable Scopus indexing: Claims without evidence are worthless
• Guaranteed acceptance: No legitimate event does this
• Spam email recruitment: Unsolicited invitations are a classic predatory tactic
• No visible programme committee: If they won't tell you who's reviewing, why would you trust them?
• Suspiciously low fees with grand promises: Quality conferences cost money to run
• Constantly changing names or websites: This is a tactic to dodge bad reviews

FAQs

Q: How many conferences should we evaluate before choosing?

A: We recommend shortlisting 3-5 options and scoring them against the checklist. More than that becomes overwhelming.

Q: What if no conference perfectly matches our paper?

A: Perfect matches are rare. Look for the best fit and consider adjusting your paper's framing slightly to align with the conference scope.

Q: Should we always choose the most prestigious conference?

A: Not necessarily. A mid-tier conference with excellent topic alignment may serve your paper better than a top-tier event where it's a poor fit.

Q: How far in advance should we start looking for conferences?

A: 6-12 months ahead is ideal. This gives you time to write, revise, and submit without rushing.

Choose Wisely, Publish Confidently

The right Scopus conference can amplify your research. The wrong one can waste your time. By using this checklist, you'll make informed decisions that maximise your chances of acceptance, indexing, and academic impact.
We encourage you to start applying this checklist to your next conference search. Head over to AIScholar to browse verified Scopus conferences, and choose the event that deserves your best work.