Inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) marks an important milestone for scholarly journals. It signals a commitment to transparency, ethical publishing, and unrestricted knowledge sharing which are the foundational principles of open science. DOAJ listing enhances a journal’s visibility, academic reputation, and potential eligibility for indexing in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. This guide outlines the essential requirements, editorial policies, and technical infrastructure needed for DOAJ inclusion, along with practical recommendations to support your application.
Getting Started: Register an Account
Begin by creating an account on the DOAJ website. This allows you to save and edit your application before submission, download a PDF version for internal review, and monitor your journal’s application status.
Core Eligibility Criteria
DOAJ accepts journals in all subject areas and languages, provided they follow peer review standards and open-access principles.
Minimum requirements include:
- Publishing at least five peer-reviewed research articles per year
- Targeting an academic or professional audience
- Ensuring immediate, free access to all content upon publication
New or Recently Converted Journals
Journals that are newly launched or have recently transitioned to open access must demonstrate one of the following:
- A minimum of one year of open-access publishing history
- At least ten peer-reviewed open-access articles published prior to application
Understanding DOAJ’s Open Access Expectations
Open access requires immediate, unrestricted online availability of full-text content without paywalls, embargoes, or user registration. Journals must use a Creative Commons license (or equivalent) that permits reuse and distribution.
Licensing guidelines:
- Clearly state the open-access policy on the journal homepage
- Display licensing terms on each article (e.g., CC BY)
- If a print edition is available for purchase, the digital version must remain free
Website and Technical Requirements
A journal’s website must meet specific usability and transparency criteria:
- Have a dedicated domain name (not a blog or institutional subpage)
- Offer downloadable full-text articles without login requirements
- Ensure consistency across language versions
- Avoid excessive advertising and focus on academic content
- Use only recognized metrics and avoid misleading indicators
Mandatory Website Content
The following items must be clearly accessible from the homepage:
- Open access policy
- Aims and scope
- Editorial board with full names and affiliations
- Peer review process
- Author guidelines
- Copyright and licensing terms
- Article processing charges (APCs) and waiver policy
- Publisher location and contact information
ISSN and Journal Identity
Journals must have a valid ISSN issued by the ISSN International Centre. The ISSN should be displayed prominently on the site, and the journal title must match the registered name.
Editorial and Peer Review Policies
Editorial board standards:
- A minimum of five qualified editors with listed names and affiliations
Peer review requirements: - A documented policy publicly available on the site
- Each article must be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers
- The review method (single-blind, double-blind, or open) must be specified
- Plagiarism screening tools are strongly recommended
Limits on Editorial Authorship (Endogeny)
To prevent internal bias, DOAJ limits internal contributions. No more than 25% of articles in the two most recent issues—or during the previous calendar year for rolling journals—can be authored by individuals affiliated with the editorial board or reviewers.
Handling Special Issues
Special issues must follow regular editorial protocols.
- The Editor-in-Chief must retain final authority
- Guest editors must be listed and qualified
- No more than 25% of content may be authored by guest editors
- The peer review process must remain independent
Licensing and Copyright Requirements
Licensing terms must be clear, preferably using Creative Commons licenses, and stated on both the homepage and article pages. Avoid restrictive phrases such as “All rights reserved.” Use consistent licensing aligned with open-access principles.
Conclusion
DOAJ inclusion strengthens a journal’s academic reputation and aligns it with global open science practices. While the requirements are extensive, they are entirely achievable through editorial clarity, transparent policies, and sound publishing practices.
WebTa Publishing offers expert support for DOAJ applications, including policy review, metadata optimization, and website improvements to help maximize your journal’s eligibility. Reach out to us for a pre-review or full consultancy.