Copyright @ 2025 NSLC-CEPlEC "Open Access Resource Evaluation" joint Lab
Open Access Journal Index (OAJ) is a high-quality open-access (OA) journal database jointly developed by the joint lab of the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NSLC), and China Educational Publications Import & Export Corporation (CEPIEC).
OAJ is committed to addressing the needs of open science practices in China, adhering to international academic evaluation criteria. By combining peer review with data analysis, OAJ conducts comprehensive evaluation of applicant journals from multiple dimensions, including academic quality, publishing norms, open access, and research integrity. The goal of OAJ is to select high-quality fully OA journals across all disciplines worldwide.
In recent years, the rapid development of OA journals has raised widespread concerns about the issue of research quality, leading research management departments and scholars to question the credibility of OA publications. In response, the OAJ project aims to create a scientifically sound evaluation system for OA journals. By establishing a high-quality journal database, it systematically highlights the characteristics of OA publishing, promoting the global open science ecosystem.
OAJ is committed to establishing rigorous, internationally recognized selection criteria to identify high-quality OA journals worldwide and establish an authoritative indexed database.
Meanwhile, OAJ pays greater attention to the diverse values and characteristics of OA journals. For instance, it highlights the diversity in journal positioning-including Significant Science Journal, Sound Science Journal, and Popular Science Journal; and the societal impact of journals, such as academic impact, policy impact, economic impact and so on.
OAJ serves as a reference platform for the research community to gain a comprehensive understanding of the OA ecosystem, by highlighting the characteristics of OA journals. In the future, OAJ plans to conduct more evaluation about the diverse value and impact of OA journals. The evaluation results from OAJ will be progressively integrated into CAS Journal Ranking.
The latest version of CAS Journal Ranking has been updated with OAJ labeling. For English journals included in OAJ but not yet incorporated into the current ranking, their corresponding quartile data will be released simultaneously in the next annual update of the CAS Journal Ranking.
OAJ adopts a dynamic inclusion mechanism of "rolling review upon application" to ensure the continuous updating of its journal list. The official website synchronizes and updates the latest information on included journals on a quarterly basis.
Meanwhile, OAJ has established a rigorous exit mechanism: The journal selection team conducts an annual review of all indexed journals, and those failing to meet the required standards will be removed.
All fully OA journals that are formally published (including Gold OA and Diamond OA journals, excluding Green OA, Bronze OA, and hybrid OA journals) are eligible to apply. There are no restrictions on the publication countries/regions, language, or subject.
Considering the stability of continuous journal publication, it is recommended that journals applying for inclusion should have been established for at least one year. For journals established for less than one year, please contact the User Service Team before submission.
Contact Information:
Prof. Wu, Phone: 17801063402, WeChat ID: binwu98246
Prof. Zhu, Phone: 18210100371, WeChat ID: 18210100371
The OAJ application does not have a deadline and operates on a "rolling review" basis. Journals may submit applications at any time, and the selection team reviews them in the order they are received.
Application Process:
Download the Application Form: The application form can be downloaded from the OAJ official website at: https://www.oaj.com.cn/request.
Submit the Application Form: Please send the completed form to the following email address: oaj@cepiec.com.cn.
For any inquiries about application, please contact:
Prof. Wu, Phone: 17801063402, WeChat ID: binwu98246
Prof. Zhu, Phone: 18210100371, WeChat ID: 18210100371
OAJ provides application forms in both Chinese and English. The language of the submitted form must match the journal's primary language: English-language journals should use the English form, while Chinese-language journals should use the Chinese form.
All fields are required by default, and the information provided in the application form will be used for the journal evaluation and official website display (Each field can be individually opted in or out for website display). For details, please refer to Application Form Field Descriptions.
The journal selection criteria for OAJ encompass several dimensions: general publishing standards, OA publishing standards, research integrity, and academic value. Review Process and Journal Selection Criteria.
The criteria will be continuously optimized with the development of OA publishing. All revisions will be promptly published on the official OAJ website. Valuable suggestions are warmly welcomed (contact email: oaj@cepiec.com.cn).
The research integrity review data of OAJ is sourced from Amend: a warning system for academic papers developed by CAS Journal Ranking Team. Amend is a comprehensive academic integrity database, integrating retraction notices from journal websites, information on problematic papers disclosed by academic communities, as well as official announcements from research management authorities.
The definition of APC rationality is the same as the indicator applied in Early Warning Journal List, considering multi-factors such as reject rate and impact metrics, rather than relying solely on APC fees.
The review process for OAJ journals is conducted jointly by the journal selection team and more than 100 senior researchers (with the number continuously increasing), with final decisions made by the journal selection team. For details, please refer to the Review Process.
The review process for OAJ journals typically takes 3-4 months from the date of receiving a qualified application.
There are 3 types of review results notifications:
| Type | Feedback | Follow-up Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted | Certification | — |
| Accepted after Revision | Content Requiring Revision | Provide Feedback to OAJ Team for Confirmation after Revision |
| Rejected | Reject Reasons | Resubmit the Application After Comprehensive Rectification of Identified Issues |
Note: All applying journals (whether accepted or not) will receive the review results via email. Applicants who have not yet received feedback should note that their submissions are still under review.
OAJ does not have a defined cooling-off period. However, journals receiving "Rejected" status typically have serious issues (such as research integrity concerns) that require comprehensive rectification before reapplying. The rectification period effectively serves as a cooling-off period.
Users can obtain the OAJ-indexed journal list by completing basic information registration. All data usage must comply with the relevant provisions outlined in the OAJ Data Sharing Agreement.
OAJ platform updates its list of newly included journals on a quarterly basis, and removes those that fail to meet the standards through an annual review.
All changes to the journal listings are promptly announced via the platform's bulletin board in real time.
· Application Scenarios:
OAJ could provide reference to:
Researchers: OA journal submissions
Research Management Departments: Identification of OA journal quality
Publisher: Monitoring OA journal development
Libraries: OA journal recommendation
Funding Agencies: Funded OA publications evaluation
· Collaboration & Feedback：We sincerely invite all types of institutions to become demonstration partners for OAJ applications!
· Contact Information: Email: oaj@cepiec.com.cn, Phone: +86-17801063402; Wechat ID: 18210100371
