Path to Indexing — Full Program
Overview
“We want DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science, and we want one plan and one person to call — not three separate consultants telling us three different things.” Each database checks the same underlying things: policies, board, peer review, regularity, metadata and citations. Fixing them once and sequencing the applications is far more effective than applying to everything at once and hoping.
The Path to Indexing program is staged. It begins with a single audit against all three databases’ criteria and a unified improvement plan. Each application is then prepared and submitted only when the journal passes an eligibility gate for that database; if a gate is not met, the program continues the improvement work and sets the date for the next check. A dedicated project manager runs the whole program and supports you through each database’s review.
Who this is for: journals with at least two years of publishing history and an active peer-review process that want a managed route to all three databases, and university presses that want one program rather than three purchases.
What’s Included
- Comprehensive audit against DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science criteria, with a unified improvement plan
- Dedicated project manager, weekly progress updates and 24-hour response on queries
- Eligibility gate before each application — a documented check that the criteria for that database are met, with a go or defer decision agreed with you
- DOAJ readiness and application — criteria assessment, policy and website compliance, application prepared and submitted, query support
- Scopus readiness and submission — CSAB criteria assessment, board and citation analysis, title suggestion prepared and submitted, query support
- Web of Science readiness and submission — 24-criteria assessment, submission prepared and submitted, query support
- 12-month support window covering the review periods, including one reapplication per database within the window if a decision is negative
How It Works
| Stage | Typical timing | Key activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Audit and plan | Month 1 | Single audit across all three databases; unified improvement plan; implementation begins |
| 2. Improvement work | Months 1–4 | Policies, board, metadata, regularity and website fixes, with weekly check-ins |
| 3. DOAJ gate and application | Months 2–4 | Eligibility check; if met, application prepared and submitted |
| 4. Scopus gate and submission | Months 4–8 | Eligibility check; if met, title suggestion prepared and submitted |
| 5. Web of Science gate and submission | Months 6–12 | Eligibility check; if met, submission prepared and made; program wrap-up |
The program runs 6–12 months depending on how much improvement work is needed before each gate. Database review periods (DOAJ typically 1–3 months; Scopus 6–12 months; Web of Science 6–18 months) run in parallel with the later stages and are outside NeucitePress’s control.
What Stays With Your Editors
The journal’s editors keep final authority over reviewer selection, editorial assessment and acceptance, and the journal adopts the policy and board changes in the improvement plan. NeucitePress runs the program, the eligibility gates, the preparation and the submissions.
Important Limitations
- Inclusion is decided solely by DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science. NeucitePress prepares, remediates and submits; it cannot sell inclusion.
- Applications are submitted only when the eligibility gate for that database is met. If a gate is not met within the program term, the program delivers the dated roadmap for that database instead of a premature application; no application is submitted just to use it up.
- DOAJ requires a fully open-access journal with more than one year of publishing history or at least ten open-access research articles; subscription journals substitute another database for DOAJ at the audit stage.
- The fee covers the program work regardless of database decisions. Covers one journal; multi-journal pricing on request.
- Implementation of improvements is done by the journal; delays extend the program timeline.
Common Questions
Why not apply to all three at once?
Because a rejection from Scopus or Web of Science triggers a waiting period before resubmission, and because each database’s requirements overlap: fixing them once, then applying in sequence, gives each application the benefit of the previous work.
What if our journal is not ready for any of them?
The audit will say so, and the program becomes the improvement work plus the gates. Many journals pass the DOAJ gate within months and the Scopus gate within the year.
Can we buy the databases individually?
Yes. DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science readiness and submission support are each available separately; the program adds the unified audit, the gates, the project manager and the 12-month support window.
Every engagement can begin with the Journal Health Check.
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