📉 The February 2026 Scopus Update: What Researchers Need to Know
Scopus, the renowned abstract and citation database maintained by Elsevier, plays a pivotal role in the academic world. It indexes over 25,000 peer-reviewed journals across disciplines, providing essential metrics like CiteScore and SJR (Scimago Journal Rank) that influence hiring decisions, grant applications, and tenure promotions. Every month, Scopus updates its source list to ensure only high-quality publications are included. In the February 2026 coverage update, the database removed seven journals from its indexed list, citing publication concerns, outlier behavior, editorial issues, and policy changes. This move underscores Scopus's commitment to upholding rigorous standards in scholarly communication.
These delistings are part of a broader effort to combat issues like predatory publishing practices, where journals prioritize profit over peer review integrity. For academics, this means previously published articles in these titles remain indexed as a historical record, but no new content will be added. Researchers must now pivot to verified outlets to safeguard their work's visibility and credibility. Staying informed about such changes is crucial, especially when building a strong publication record for opportunities in higher education jobs.
Complete List of Delisted Journals
Here is the detailed list of the seven journals discontinued or removed in the February 2026 update. Each entry includes key identifiers like ISSN, publisher, and the final indexed issue, based on the latest coverage data.
| Journal Title | ISSN/EISSN | Publisher | Final Indexed Coverage | Reason Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Mathematics | 2705-1064 / 2705-1056 | Universal Wiser Publisher | 2025, Vol 6, Issue 6 | Publication Concerns |
| International Neurological Journal (Ukraine) | 2224-0713 / 2307-1419 | Zaslavsky Publishing House | 2025, Vol 21, Issue 5 | Publication Concerns |
| Journal of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research | 2981-0221 | Sami Publishing Company | 2026, Vol 8, Issue 5 | Publication Concerns |
| Premier Journal of Science | 3049-9011 (E) | Premier Science | 2025, Vol 15, Issue 0 | Publication Concerns |
| Reliability: Theory and Applications | 1932-2321 (E) | <Gnedenko Forum | 2025, Vol 20, Issue 3 | Publication Concerns |
| Architecture Image Studies | 2184-8645 (E) | AP2 | Not specified | Journal Policy Change |
| Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems | 1480-2422 | International Information and Engineering Technology Association | Not specified | Journal Policy Change |
This table highlights the diversity of fields affected, from mathematics and neurology to chemistry and architecture. Publishers like Universal Wiser and Sami are often associated with rapid publication models that have raised red flags in the past.
Why Do Journals Get Delisted? Unpacking Scopus's Evaluation Process
Scopus's Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) rigorously assesses journals using both quantitative metrics and qualitative reviews. Key criteria include a transparent peer-review process, ethical publication policies, regular issuance without delays, international editorial diversity, and high-quality content aligned with the journal's scope. Journals are flagged through community reports or Elsevier's proprietary 'Radar' tool, which detects anomalies like excessive self-citations, unusual authorship patterns, or citation stacking.
Publication concerns often stem from ethical lapses, such as inadequate peer review or plagiarism issues. For instance, outlier behavior might involve a sudden surge in publications without corresponding citations. In severe cases, like proven fraud, previously indexed content could be retroactively removed, though this is rare—most delisted journals retain their historical data to preserve citation continuity. Following discontinuation, an embargo period prevents immediate reapplication, typically lasting one to two years.
- Check for a detailed peer-review description on the journal website.
- Verify editorial board credentials and geographic spread.
- Review recent issues for readability, originality, and scope adherence.
- Monitor citation metrics for unnatural patterns.
Understanding this process helps researchers avoid pitfalls. For more on maintaining research integrity, explore resources like Elsevier's Scopus Content Policy page.
Impacts on Researchers and the Academic Community
Delistings like these reverberate through academia. Articles published before the cutoff remain citable and contribute to metrics like h-index, vital for professor jobs and funding. However, future submissions risk invisibility in Scopus searches, reducing discoverability and impact factor contributions. Early-career researchers, reliant on Scopus for CV building, face heightened pressure to select wisely.
In 2025 alone, Scopus discontinued 56 journals, signaling a crackdown on low-quality outlets. This benefits the ecosystem by elevating standards but challenges authors from regions with limited access to top-tier journals. Positively, the same February update added 27 new titles, offering fresh opportunities in emerging fields. Balancing these changes requires proactive vetting.
Institutions may update promotion criteria, prioritizing stable Scopus-indexed venues. Researchers should document publication dates relative to delistings for transparency in evaluations.
🎓 Actionable Steps: How to Verify and Select Scopus-Indexed Journals
To protect your research legacy, adopt these verified strategies before submitting:
- Visit the Scopus Sources page and download the monthly Excel list, filtering for 'Discontinued' status.
- Use the Title Suggestion Preview tool to check coverage plans for new issues.
- Cross-reference with Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) for quartile rankings and trends.
- Examine DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) for ethical open-access seals.
- Consult tools like Think.Check.Submit for predatory journal red flags.
For career advancement, pair strong publications with a polished academic CV. Check out how to write a winning academic CV for tips on highlighting Scopus metrics effectively.
Additionally, engage with peers via platforms like Rate My Professor to gather insights on journal reputations from experienced academics.
Broader Trends in Academic Publishing and Solutions
Scopus's actions reflect industry-wide pushes against predatory practices, seen in similar purges by Web of Science. With open-access growth, hybrid models blending quality and accessibility are rising. Researchers can mitigate risks by diversifying portfolios across databases and prioritizing society-published journals.
For those in research-intensive roles, staying ahead means monitoring updates monthly. Related discussions on research misconduct, such as the cancer research fraud case, highlight the stakes. Explore research jobs that value integrity-driven outputs.
Institutions should invest in workshops on publication ethics, while authors leverage preprints on arXiv or ResearchGate for early visibility.
Looking Ahead: Navigating Future Scopus Updates
Expect continued vigilance, with AI tools aiding detection of manipulations. Researchers thriving in this landscape focus on quality over quantity, targeting Q1/Q2 journals. By aligning with Scopus standards, academics enhance global impact and career prospects.
In summary, the February 2026 delistings remind us of the evolving publishing terrain. Prioritize verified outlets, track your metrics, and leverage resources like higher ed jobs, Rate My Professor, and higher ed career advice to advance. Share your experiences in the comments below—your insights could guide fellow scholars. For job seekers, browse university jobs or post openings via recruitment services.
