Scopus verification
How to Check If a Journal Is Scopus Indexed
A journal may have Scopus records from earlier years even when current coverage has stopped. Check the official Source details, ISSN, coverage years and coverage status.
Reviewed by the Beallslists.com editorial desk · Evidence checked: · Review cycle: 2026
Quick answer
Search the journal’s exact title or ISSN in the official Scopus Sources record. Confirm that the journal identity matches, then check the coverage years and whether forward coverage is active. Finding an old Scopus article or seeing a Scopus logo on the journal website does not prove current indexing.
If you are checking a specific journal before submission, use the Journal Checker to keep the indexing evidence with the journal’s ISSN, website, metrics and fee information.
Step-by-step Scopus verification
- Open Scopus Sources or Elsevier’s official Scopus content page.
- Search the exact title or, preferably, the ISSN/eISSN.
- Open the Source details page for the correct title.
- Compare the publisher and ISSN with the journal website.
- Read the coverage years.
- Check the current coverage status.
- If the title is discontinued, note when forward coverage ended.
Why “I found the journal in Scopus” is not enough
Elsevier explains that content already indexed can remain in Scopus after a title’s forward coverage is discontinued. This preserves the scientific record. As a result, old articles or an old source profile can coexist with discontinued coverage. Authors should therefore look at both the dates and status rather than relying on a screenshot or a single indexed paper.
What discontinued coverage means
Scopus re-evaluates titles that are flagged for performance or publishing concerns. A discontinued title may remain searchable for the years during which it was covered, while new content is no longer added. Elsevier publishes discontinued-source information in its Source title list and updates source information periodically.
Common misleading Scopus claims
- “Scopus indexed” based only on historical coverage.
- Showing an old CiteScore without explaining current status.
- Using the name of a different journal with a similar title.
- Claiming that one article appearing in Scopus proves active journal coverage.
- Using SCImago information without checking the official Scopus source status.
Scopus FAQ
Can Scopus discontinue a journal?
Yes. Elsevier describes an ongoing title re-evaluation process and may discontinue forward coverage.
Are old articles removed after discontinuation?
Usually not. Previously indexed content generally remains as part of the scientific record, subject to exceptional cases.
Can I check Scopus by ISSN?
Yes. ISSN searching is useful when titles are similar or have changed.
Check title changes and publisher changes
Scopus source records can show former titles and coverage information. A title change, ownership change or new ISSN can alter what a researcher sees in search results. If the journal website says “indexed since 2012,” compare that claim with the source record rather than assuming the coverage belongs to the current title and owner.
Scopus indexing is not the same as journal suitability
Scopus selection is meaningful evidence, but authors still need to decide whether the journal fits the manuscript, whether its editorial and fee policies are acceptable, and whether it satisfies institutional requirements. Treat indexing as one verified fact in a larger publishing decision.
Official sources used for verification
Use first-party databases and recognized publishing-ethics guidance for current checks. A logo or a claim on a journal website is not a substitute for an official record.