Polish List is one of the key tools for assessing the quality of scientific journals in Poland. For researchers, universities and scientific institutions, this list is of great importance, as it is the number of points assigned to a journal that affects the assessment of publication activity and scientific results. That is why it is important for scientists and authors to understand how the ministerial list of scientific journals works, by what criteria journals receive points and why this list should not be equated with journal quartiles in Scopus or Web of Science.
What is the ministerial list of scientific journals (Polish List)?
Polish List is the Polish ministerial list of scientific journals and peer-reviewed materials from international conferences. It is used as a tool for assessing the scientific activity of Polish universities, institutes and researchers. The list was created to assess the quality of scientific activity within the disciplines developed by a specific institution.
How are journals in the ministerial list assessed?
Each journal in the list is assigned a certain number of points. For publishing an article in this journal, the author or scientific institution receives the corresponding number of points. If a journal is not included in the list, such a publication is usually assessed much lower. For example, some Polish university regulations sometimes indicate 5 points for articles published in a journal outside the list.
The assessment depends not only on the name of the journal, but also on the year of publication. For an article, the list that was in force in the year of its publication is used. If a new list was not published in a specific year, the latest available list from previous years is applied. This is important because a journal could have been assessed at one number of points in 2023 and another in 2024.
The following assessment levels are distinguished:
- 20-40 points – the lowest assessment level, often for journals with a lower level of international influence or a narrow audience
- 70 points – an intermediate level that is acceptable for many academic purposes
- 100-140 points – a high level; such journals have greater scientific weight in the assessment system
- 200 points – the highest level in the assessment system, usually for the most authoritative scientific journals
What is the difference between journals in Polish List and quartiles in Scopus and Web of Science?
Quartiles in the Scopus and Web of Science databases (Q1-Q4) show the position of a journal in the list of the best publications in the database within a certain category. Polish List, in turn, shows how many points a publication in this journal gives specifically in the Polish system of science assessment. That is, a journal may be in Scopus but have a different number of points in Polish List depending on the Polish ministerial assessment.
When forming the list, scientometric indicators, indexing, the disciplinary affiliation of the journal and expert assessment are taken into account. In 2024, the Polish Ministry of Science reported that the new approach should be based on the work of experts and journal impact indicators, while the draft list is prepared by the Commission for the Evaluation of Science (Komisja Ewaluacji Nauk).
As of 2026, Poland is also preparing changes to the rules for forming the new list for 2026-2030. The new list should be based mainly on journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, as well as on bibliometric and expert assessment. Approximately 90% of the list is planned to be formed on the basis of objective bibliometric data.
Our team will monitor updates regarding the new list so that you are among the first to learn about possible changes.
Need a publication in a journal from the ministerial list? Contact Scientific Publications. Our specialists will select a reliable journal and support you at all stages of work until successful publication. To learn more about our service, fill in the form below, and our manager will provide you with a free consultation. Together towards new scientific achievements!
