Answers to common questions about IJIF
Find concise information about registration, eligibility, evaluation, public journal records and certificate verification.
Common questions about IJIF evaluation and public records
These answers summarise common points about journal registration, eligibility, evaluation, directory records and certificate verification. Where a policy page provides more detail, that policy should be read together with the relevant answer.
Who can submit a journal for IJIF consideration?
A journal publisher or an authorised representative may submit journal information through the Publisher Portal. The information provided should be accurate and capable of reasonable verification.
Is an ISSN required?
The registration process requires at least one valid journal ISSN in the form supported by the IJIF registration process.
When does a journal become eligible for its first evaluation year?
A journal commencing between January and June becomes eligible in the following calendar year. A journal commencing between July and December becomes eligible in the subsequent calendar year. The exact commencement month is therefore required.
What information is considered during evaluation?
Evaluation may consider journal identity, website accessibility, editorial and publisher information, publication regularity and archive continuity, policies, metadata and other evidence relevant to the active evaluation criteria.
Does registration guarantee an IJIF Score?
No. Registration or submission does not guarantee approval, public directory inclusion, a certificate or any particular IJIF Score.
What is the purpose of Priority Service?
Where Priority Service is available, it relates to processing priority only. It does not purchase approval, a certificate or a particular evaluation result.
Is an IJIF Score tied to a specific year?
Yes. A recorded IJIF Score is associated with the evaluation year shown in the journal record.
How can I verify a certificate?
Use the official Certificate Verification page and the certificate details provided on the issued record.
Where can I find evaluated journals?
Approved public records can be searched through the IJIF Journal Directory. A journal profile may include identifying information, the current record and available evaluation history.
Can a publisher update journal information?
Publisher-account facilities may be used to maintain eligible profile information. Some record changes may require review before they are reflected publicly.
What happens if required information cannot be verified?
An evaluation may remain incomplete, require clarification or be withheld where information necessary for the assessment cannot be established or reasonably verified.
How can I ask a policy or technical question?
Use the Contact page and select the enquiry type that best matches your question. Include the journal title or ISSN when the enquiry concerns a specific journal.
Need more help?
For a question not covered here, contact IJIF and include the relevant journal title or ISSN where applicable.