Publications in academic journals included in the Ministerial List are a key instrument for assessing the scientific achievements of researchers in Poland. They contribute to obtaining research grants, prestigious academic positions, and enhancing the professional authority of scholars. The number of ministerial points an author receives for a publication directly depends on the choice of journal from this list. It is precisely at this stage that researchers often make mistakes. What kind of mistakes are these? How can they be avoided? We will discuss this in more detail in today’s article.
Why is the Polish List needed?
The Ministry of Science and Education of Poland maintains an official list of academic journals, which is systematically updated. This register includes both Polish and international journals that undergo a rigorous selection process. This ministerial list is also referred to as the Polish List.
The evaluation system provides for the assignment of a specific number of points to each journal within six possible categories: 20, 40, 70, 100, 140, and 200. The highest scores are awarded to the most authoritative academic journals, while the lowest are assigned to less well-known but nevertheless high-quality publications.
This mechanism was created to unify the process of evaluating scientific achievements. Polish higher education institutions and research organisations undergo regular evaluations at four-year intervals, in which publications in journals from this official list constitute a key criterion.
You can read more about the key advantages of publishing in such journals in one of our previous articles.
Choosing a journal from the Polish List: what should be avoided?
At first glance, selecting a journal may seem not to be a particularly difficult task, as authors can consider a wide range of different options. However, it is precisely this breadth of alternatives that can cause difficulties during the selection process. As a result, researchers become dispersed in their choices, overlook important criteria, and give preference to unsuitable journals. What should be avoided when choosing an academic journal from the Polish List? Let us examine the most common mistakes.
Using an outdated list
The list of journals included in the Polish List is periodically updated, and these changes must be monitored, as some journals may lose or gain points, while others may be excluded from the list. There are cases in which researchers rely on outdated information when selecting a journal for publication. As a result, their publication may not be counted, or they may receive fewer points.
The most recent update of the Polish List took place in 2024, and the list of current journals can be consulted via this link.
Choosing a journal based solely on its point score
As noted above, researchers receive points for publications in journals included in the ministerial list, and these points, in turn, form the basis for academic career advancement. For this reason, many researchers give preference to journals with exceptionally high scores (for example, 200 or 140 points), while failing to verify whether the topic of their article corresponds to the journal’s profile.
The consequence of such a superficial approach to journal selection is the rejection of the manuscript at the peer review stage. To avoid this, it is essential to carefully examine the journal’s research scope on its official website, particularly in the Aims and Scope section.
Ignoring the individual characteristics of the journal
Researchers often do not pay sufficient attention to the specific requirements of a particular journal. Each journal has its own technical standards for manuscript preparation, including the structure of sections, citation format, length limitations, and requirements for figures and tables. Ignoring these details leads to repeated rounds of review or even rejection of the article.
It is also advisable to study the journal’s editorial policy and determine whether it accepts certain types of articles (original research articles, reviews, short communications) and what thematic priorities it currently has. This helps to assess the realistic chances of acceptance.
Lack of alternative options
Authors frequently focus on a single journal without preparing an alternative list. If their so-called “Plan A” does not succeed and the editorial board rejects the article, they will have to spend additional time searching for another journal instead of submitting the manuscript immediately to the next option. Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, it is advisable to prepare in advance a list of 3–5 journals to which one can turn if necessary.
Both early-career researchers and experienced scholars can make mistakes. However, these can be avoided through a thorough approach to analysing potential journals and by developing a clear publication strategy. Checking the relevance of the list, ensuring thematic alignment, analysing the journal’s reputation, and taking into account all technical requirements are simple steps that significantly increase the chances of successful publication in journals included in the Polish List.
If you wish to simplify the publication process in journals from the ministerial ranking list, we invite you to contact the company Scientific Publications. Our specialists will select a reliable journal for you and support you at all stages of the process until the successful publication of your article. To learn more about our service, please complete the form below, and our manager will provide you with a free consultation. Together to the new scientific achievements!
