How to Get Scopus Index: A Researcher’s Guide
Nov 4, 2025

Getting a paper indexed in Scopus isn't about submitting directly to Scopus — it's about publishing in a source that Scopus already indexes. Once your paper appears in an indexed journal or conference proceeding, Scopus automatically includes it during its regular database updates.

The Foundational Principle: Quality is Non-Negotiable

Regardless of the venue you choose, the foundation of successful publication is high-quality research. To pass the rigorous peer-review process required by any reputable journal or conference, your work must demonstrate:

  • Originality and Significance: It must present novel findings, innovative methods, or unique insights that contribute meaningfully to your field.
  • Methodological Rigor: The research must be built on a sound, well-executed methodology that leads to valid and reliable conclusions.
  • Clarity and Professionalism: The manuscript must be well-structured (typically following the IMRAD format), clearly written in academic English, and meticulously formatted according to the publisher's guidelines.

Pathway 1: The Journal Track

Publishing in a Scopus-indexed journal is the most traditional and widely recognized method for ensuring your research is indexed. This route emphasizes depth, comprehensive analysis, and significant theoretical or empirical contributions.

Step 1: Identify and Verify Scopus-Indexed Journals

  • Use the Official Source: The most reliable method is to use the Scopus "Sources" page on its official website. Here, you can search for journals by title, publisher, ISSN, or subject area to find suitable outlets in your field.
  • Confirm Current Status: It is essential to verify that the journal is currently indexed and active in Scopus. A journal's indexing status can change, so always check before you submit your manuscript.

Step 2: Navigate Submission and Peer Review

Once you have selected a target journal, carefully prepare your manuscript according to its specific "Guide for Authors." After submitting through the journal's online portal, your paper will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, which can take several months. Be prepared to revise your work based on feedback from expert reviewers.

Step 3: Publication and Automatic Indexing

Upon acceptance and publication, the journal's publisher will send the metadata for all articles in that issue to Scopus. Your article will then be automatically indexed by Scopus, typically within a few weeks to a few months after its official publication date.

Pathway 2: The Conference Track

For many disciplines, especially fast-moving fields like computer science, engineering, and technology, leading academic conferences are prestigious venues for disseminating cutting-edge research. The proceedings from these conferences are often indexed by Scopus, making them an excellent alternative to journals.

Step 1: Identify and Verify Scopus-Indexed Conferences

Just like with journals, your paper's inclusion depends on whether the conference proceedings as a whole are indexed by Scopus.

  • Search for Conference Proceedings: On the Scopus "Sources" page, filter the source type to "Conference Proceedings" to search for and verify a conference's status.
  • Look for Reputable Publishers: Proceedings published by major academic publishers such as IEEE, Springer (e.g., their LNCS series), Elsevier, and ACM are frequently indexed by Scopus. Check the conference's official website to identify its publisher.
  • Assess the Conference's Reputation: A well-established conference with a history of its proceedings being indexed in Scopus is a reliable choice.

Step 2: Meet Submission and Review Standards

Conference submissions often have strict deadlines and page limits. Your paper will still undergo a peer-review process to be accepted for presentation (either oral or poster) and publication in the proceedings.

Step 3: Publication and Automatic Indexing

After the conference, all accepted papers are compiled and published in the official proceedings. If these proceedings are indexed by Scopus, the publisher will submit them, and your paper will be automatically indexed in the Scopus database.

Your Scopus Author Profile: The Automatic Result

Whether your first indexed publication is a journal article or a conference paper, Scopus will automatically create a Scopus Author Profile for you. This profile is assigned a unique Scopus Author ID and serves as a verified record of your academic output. It will consolidate all your Scopus-indexed publications and track your citation metrics, including your h-index, providing a clear measure of your research impact.

Summary

To get indexed in Scopus:

  • Publish in a Scopus-indexed journal or conference.
  • Write original, well-structured research.
  • Verify the source on the official Scopus list.
  • Let the publisher handle submission to Scopus.
  • Track and maintain your author profile.

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