QSJ + MIC | Journal Evaluation Framework
Qualification of Scientific Journals (QSJ) → Metrics Indexa Calculator (MIC) | Comprehensive assessment for global indexing
8 QSJ Stages
9 MIC Categories
5 Score Levels
7-21 Days Process
QSJ – Qualification of Scientific Journals
QSJ evaluates journals across 8 mandatory stages. Each stage contains several criteria. The final QSJ score (0–100) determines if a journal is qualified (≥ threshold, default 75) and can proceed to MIC indexing.
Initial Validation
Weight: 10%
ISSN Valid0-100
Correct format, registered with ISSN centre.
Editor Email Valid0-100
Functional editorial contact email.
Website Accessible0-100
Journal website reachable, secure.
Technical Review
Weight: 15%
DOI Usage0-100
Articles have Crossref DOIs.
ORCID Integration0-100
Authors encouraged to use ORCID.
Fee Transparency0-100
Clear APC or subscription fees.
Publisher Reputation0-100
Trustworthy publisher background.
Editorial Review
Weight: 15%
Editorial Board Size0-100
Adequate number of editors.
Peer Review Description0-100
Clear peer review process (single/double blind).
Acceptance Rate Reasonable0-100
Not too high (predatory).
Regular Publication0-100
Consistent issue frequency.
Ethical Compliance
Weight: 15%
COPE Membership0-100
Member of COPE or follows COPE guidelines.
Plagiarism Check0-100
Uses anti-plagiarism software.
COI Policy0-100
Conflict of interest statement required.
Retraction Policy0-100
Clear retraction and correction procedures.
Content Quality
Weight: 15%
Scientific Rigor0-100
Methodology, statistics, reproducibility.
Originality0-100
Novel contributions to field.
Data Sharing Statement0-100
Data availability policy.
Visibility & Accessibility
Weight: 10%
Indexing Presence0-100
In DOAJ, Scopus, WoS, etc.
Open Access Policy0-100
Gold, hybrid or green OA.
English / Multilingual0-100
Articles in English or multilingual abstracts.
Final Review
Weight: 10%
Overall Coherence0-100
Alignment between scope, content, and policies.
Recommendation Strength0-100
Evaluator’s confidence for indexing.
Indexing Preparation
Weight: 10%
Metadata Readiness0-100
Complete article metadata (title, abstract, keywords).
DOAJ Compliance0-100
Meets DOAJ application requirements.
QSJ Qualification Threshold
A minimum QSJ score of 75/100 (default, adjustable in settings) is required for qualification. Qualified journals are automatically pushed to Metrics Indexa Calculator (MIC) for further indexing evaluation.
MIC Qualification Overview
MIC evaluates qualified journals across 9 categories with 60+ sub-criteria. A minimum score of 60/100 is required to proceed to the final indexing stage.
Article Quality
Weight: 30%
Title QualityMax 20
Clear, descriptive, accurate.
Abstract QualityMax 20
Structured, informative.
Keywords QualityMax 15
Relevant, specific.
References QualityMax 20
Current, proper formatting.
Content QualityMax 25
Original research, rigor.
Author Metadata
Weight: 20%
Author AffiliationMax 30
Complete affiliations.
ORCID UsageMax 30
% authors with ORCID.
Author PublicationsMax 20
Publication history.
Author DiversityMax 20
Geographic/institutional diversity.
Publisher System
Weight: 20%
Publisher RORMax 25
Valid ROR ID.
OJS SystemMax 25
Uses OJS or similar.
DOI CountMax 25
Number of DOIs.
AccessibilityMax 25
WCAG compliance.
Technical Design
Weight: 10%
Technical AspectMax 40
Performance, security.
Design QualityMax 30
Responsive, navigation.
Web AccessibilityMax 30
Accessibility features.
Metrics & Impact
Weight: 10%
Crossref CitationsMax 30
Citation count.
Impact FactorMax 30
JIF or other metrics.
VisibilityMax 20
SEO, search indexing.
EngagementMax 20
Social media mentions.
Information Transparency
Weight: 5%
Publisher InformationMax 40
Complete contact details.
Publication PolicyMax 30
Ethics, peer review, copyright.
Publication FeesMax 30
Transparent APCs.
Review Process
Weight: 5%
Process QualityMax 40
Description and implementation.
Review SpeedMax 30
Submission to decision.
Reviewer QualityMax 30
Reviewer qualifications.
Diversity & Inclusion
Weight: 5%
Geographic DiversityMax 35
Multiple countries.
Board DiversityMax 35
Gender, institution.
Linguistic InclusionMax 30
Multilingual content.
Additional Criteria
Weight: 5%
Ethical ComplianceMax 40
COPE guidelines.
Data PreservationMax 30
Long-term archiving.
InnovationMax 30
Innovative features.
MIC Qualification Threshold
Minimum score 60/100 required to proceed to final indexing.
Metrics Indexa Calculation
After MIC qualification, journals proceed to the final Metrics Indexa calculation, which adds 6 advanced metrics.
Citation Impact
h‑index, citation patterns
Weight: 25%
Global Reach
Geographic distribution
Weight: 20%
Growth Trends
YoY growth
Weight: 15%
Discoverability
SEO, database indexing
Weight: 15%
Collaboration
International partnerships
Weight: 15%
Publication Speed
Submission to publication
Weight: 10%
Final Metrics Indexa Score
Metrics Score = (MIC Qualification Score × 0.6) + (Indexing Metrics Score × 0.4)
90-100
Platinum
Exceptional quality and impact
75-89
Gold
High quality, strong impact
60-74
Silver
Good, meets standards
40-59
Bronze
Developing, good potential
0-39
Registered
Newly registered, needs improvement
Score Distribution
Sample distribution of indexed journals
Journal Evaluation Journey
1
Submission
Journal info submitted
2
QSJ Qualification
7-14 days
3
MIC Evaluation
7-14 days
4
Indexing Metrics
2-3 days
5
Certificate Issued
Immediate
Detailed Timeline
- QSJ Qualification: 7-14 business days
- MIC Qualification: 7-14 business days
- Indexing Metrics Calculation: 2-3 days
- Certificate generation: immediate after indexing
How long does the whole process take?
Total timeline is 2‑4 weeks: QSJ qualification (7‑14 days) + MIC qualification (7‑14 days) + indexing metrics (2‑3 days).
What if my journal fails QSJ qualification?
You receive a detailed report with recommendations. You can improve and resubmit (additional fee may apply).
What is the difference between QSJ and MIC?
QSJ is the initial qualification (8 stages). MIC is the advanced indexing evaluation (9 categories + metrics). Both must be passed.
How is the final Indexa score calculated?
Final = (MIC Qualification Score × 0.6) + (Indexing Metrics Score × 0.4).
Can I display a badge on my journal site?
Yes, after final indexing you receive HTML embed codes for badges, widgets, or iframes.
What is the cost?
Basic QSJ qualification starts at $50. Premium subscriptions offer priority handling and additional support.