How Long Does It Take (and Cost) to Publish in Web of Science Journals?

Publishing in Web of Science (WoS) journals is often a key requirement for researchers, especially those seeking academic promotions, graduation approvals, or research funding. In countries like China, Macau, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Hong Kong, Türkiye, South Korea, and Japan, universities and research institutions often require publications in Web of Science as part of graduation requirements, academic promotions, or research funding evaluations.

This article explains how Web of Science journals work, their indexing systems, publication metrics, how long it takes to get published, and what the costs are. By the end, you’ll know how to plan your research paper submission more effectively.

Introduction to Web of Science Journals

The Web of Science database, managed by Clarivate, is one of the most respected indexing systems in the academic world. Journals included in the WoS Master Journal List undergo strict evaluation to ensure they meet standards of quality, peer review, editorial policies, and ethical publishing.

Historically, these journals were referred to as ISI journals (after the Institute for Scientific Information). Today, Web of Science covers almost every academic discipline including:

academic discipline

Sciences & Engineering (Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, IEEE-covered fields)
Medicine & Life Sciences
Arts & Humanities
Social Sciences

Different Indexing Categories in Web of Science

Not all WoS journals are the same. They are divided into categories based on impact and recognition:

Science Citation Index (SCI) – Covers high-impact journals in natural sciences and engineering.

Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) – Broader coverage of sciences, often used for research evaluations.

Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) – Journals in psychology, sociology, economics, education, etc.

Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) – Journals in arts, history, philosophy, and humanities.

Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) – Journals that are newer but meet quality standards and are candidates for higher WoS indexing later.

Understanding the Difference Between SCI, SSCI, and SCIE

Web of Science Journal Quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)

Each journal in Web of Science is ranked by its Impact Factor and placed into quartiles:

Q1 – Top 25% (most prestigious and competitive).
Q2 – Strong, well-regarded journals.
Q3 – Moderate-impact journals.
Q4 – Lower-ranked but still indexed and credible.

Researchers often target Q1 or Q2 journals for higher academic recognition, but Q3 and Q4 journals may have faster acceptance timelines.

Key Metrics Checked in Web of Science Journals

Before submitting your research paper, you should understand the key metrics available in Journal Citation Reports (JCR):

Impact Factor (IF) – Average number of citations a journal receives per article.
CiteScore, H-Index, and SJR – Alternative measures of journal influence.
Acceptance Rate – Some journals share this; lower rates usually mean higher prestige.
Review Timelines – Estimated duration from submission to decision.

Practical Tip: You can verify these metrics in the Web of Science Master Journal List and Journal Citation Reports (JCR) before submission.

How to Check a Web of Science Journal’s Indexing — Step-by-Step Guide

Before you submit, always verify a journal’s WoS status yourself — never rely solely on what the journal’s website claims. Use the official Clarivate tools and a few practical checks.

Quick tools you will use

Web of Science Master Journal List (Clarivate) — https://mjl.clarivate.com/home
Journal Citation Reports (JCR) — https://jcr.clarivate.com (subscription/institutional access usually required)
Publons / Web of Science author tools — https://publons.com (useful for review timelines and reviewer info)

Step 1 — Note the journal’s exact title and ISSN

Why: many journals have similar names. Using the exact journal title or ISSN gives a precise search result and avoids confusion.

How:

Open the journal’s website and copy the full journal title and print or electronic ISSN.
If ISSN isn’t shown on the site, search the publisher page or the PDF of a recent article.

Step 2 — Search the Clarivate Master Journal List (MJL)

Why: MJL is the authoritative, public listing of journals indexed by Clarivate/WoS.

How:

Go to https://mjl.clarivate.com/home.
Paste the journal title or ISSN into the search box and press Enter.
Open the matching result.

Check

What to look for in the MJL entry:

Web of Science Indexes field — this lists exactly which index the journal belongs to (e.g., Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), or Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)).
Publisher and country — check these for legitimacy.
Coverage years — shows from which year WoS indexes this journal.
Link to the journal — use it to cross-verify

If the journal appears in MJL and shows SCIE/SSCI/AHCI, it is in the main WoS Core Collection.
If it shows ESCI, it is indexed in WoS but is considered an emerging source (ESCI journals do not have an Impact Factor via JCR yet).

Step 3 — Check Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for Impact Factor and Quartile

Why: JCR provides Impact Factor, subject categories, and quartile (Q1–Q4) in each category.

How:

If you or your institution has access, go to https://jcr.clarivate.com.
Search the journal by title or ISSN.
Check the Impact Factor, rank in subject category, and quartile (Q1–Q4).

Notes:

ESCI journals will typically not have a JCR Impact Factor.
If you don’t have JCR access, you can sometimes find Impact Factor and quartile on the journal/publisher page but always verify via MJL/JCR if possible.

Step 4 — Verify coverage years and current status

Why: A journal may have been indexed previously but removed, or indexed only for certain years.

How:

In the MJL entry check the coverage years.
Confirm the journal is currently active in the index (MJL shows current status).
If a journal was indexed in the past but not now, MJL will show the coverage window — be cautious if your university requires current indexing.

Step 5 — If you need Impact Factor/quartile but cannot access JCR

Options:

Ask your institution/library for temporary JCR access — most universities provide it.
Use the journal’s publisher page for reported metrics, but cross-check on MJL.
For Scopus-based metrics (CiteScore, SJR) use SCImago (note: SCImago is Scopus-based, not WoS). This is useful if you also care about Scopus status.

Step 6 — Confirm acceptance/review timelines (optional but useful)

How:

Check the journal’s Instructions for Authors — some list average review times.
Use Publons or search for “review times [journal name]” to see author reports.
If still unclear, contact the editorial office directly with a concise question: “Do you have a typical submission-to-first-decision timeframe?”

Quick Checklist

Before you submit, confirm:

Exact journal title and ISSN recorded.
Journal appears in Clarivate MJL.
MJL shows which index: SCIE / SSCI / AHCI / ESCI.
Coverage years show current indexing.
If needed, JCR confirms Impact Factor and quartile.
Publisher and editorial board look legitimate.
Journal’s review timelines and APCs (if any) are acceptable.

What if the journal is not in the Master Journal List?

Do not assume it is indexed — many predatory journals falsely claim WoS indexing.
Verify Scopus or other indexes as alternatives.
Consider submitting to a different, verified WoS journal that matches your scope.
If your university requires WoS specifically, submitting to a non-indexed journal may not meet graduation/promotion rules.

Short FAQ

Q: I found the journal on the publisher site claiming “Indexed in WoS”. Is that enough?
A: No. Always verify on the Clarivate Master Journal List (MJL). Publisher claims can be outdated or false.

Q: My university requires JCR-indexed journals. Is ESCI acceptable?
A: It depends. ESCI journals are indexed in WoS but usually do not have a JCR Impact Factor yet. Check your university rules.

Q: The journal is listed in MJL but shows coverage only to 2018. Can I submit?
A: Be cautious — your university may require current indexing. Prefer journals with active/current coverage.

How Long Does It Take to Publish in Web of Science Journals?

This is the most common question researchers ask. The answer is: it depends on the journal and field.

Initial Desk Review: 1–3 weeks (editor checks scope and formatting).
Peer Review Process: 2–6 months (can vary depending on reviewer availability).
Revisions & Resubmission: 1–3 months (depending on the depth of changes required).
Final Acceptance to Online Publication: 2–8 weeks.

Average Timeline: 6–12 months for most Web of Science journals.

However, some journals offer Fast Track or Accelerated Review for an additional fee, which can reduce the process to 2–4 months.

Tip for researchers: Always check if your target journal mentions average review time in its submission guidelines.

How to Find Out a Web of Science Journal’s Acceptance Timeline

Some journals publish average peer-review and publication timelines on their websites. To check:

Visit the journal’s “Instructions for Authors” section.
Look for details on submission-to-decision or acceptance-to-publication timelines.
Use platforms like Publons (by Web of Science) where researchers share peer review duration experiences.
Ask colleagues in your field or check previous publications from your university.

Note: Not all journals disclose this information openly. In such cases, consult with academic support services.

How Much Does It Cost to Publish in Web of Science Journals?

The cost depends on the type of journal and publishing model:

Subscription-Based Journals – Usually no publication fee, but access is limited to subscribers.
Open Access Journals – Require Article Processing Charges (APCs) to make the article freely available.

Average Costs:

ESCI or lower-ranked WoS journals: €125 – €1,500
Mid-tier SCIE/SSCI journals: €800 – €2,000
High-impact Q1 journals: €2,000 – €5,000+

Some universities in Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan cover APCs, especially if publishing in high-impact factor journals.

Related Academic Tools and Queries

While preparing for WoS publication, you will come across terms like:

Sci-Hub – Often used by researchers to access paywalled articles (though not legal).
ORCID – A unique researcher ID required by many journals.
Scholar (Google Scholar) – Useful for citation tracking.
IEEE – Major publisher in engineering and technology fields, with many WoS-indexed journals.

Web of Science Journal Selection and Publication Services at SITA Academy

At SITA Academy, we have helped researchers for years publish their work in Web of Science journals across different academic disciplines.

Our services include:

✅ Journal Recommendation – Get a tailored list of WoS journals in your research scope.
✅ Timeline Guidance – We analyze journals’ acceptance times and match them to your deadlines.
✅ Publication Support – From formatting to submission.
✅ Optional Services – Plagiarism check, English editing, translation, and cover letter preparation.

Want Web of Science indexed journals in your research scope within your timeline?
Send us your paper today, and we’ll provide a personalized list of journals, costs (APCs), and acceptance timelines.

Conclusion

Publishing in Web of Science journals requires patience, planning, and resources. On average, it takes 6–12 months to publish, though timelines vary by journal and discipline. Costs can range from €125 to €5,000, depending on whether the journal is subscription-based or open access.

By choosing the right journal, preparing a strong manuscript, and understanding the WoS metrics like Impact Factor, JCR rankings, and quartiles, you can increase your chances of timely acceptance.

With professional guidance from SITA Academy, you can save time, avoid predatory journals, and ensure your work is published in a credible Web of Science-indexed journal.

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If you have any questions, inquiries, or would like to learn more about our services, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you.

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