Understanding the 7 Major Academic Journal Ranking Systems

With seven major ranking systems used worldwide, understanding the differences between them is crucial for strategic publication planning. This guide explains each ranking system in detail: who publishes it, what the rankings mean, and who uses them.

Not sure which ranking you should use? Check out our guide: Which Journal Ranking Should I Use?

VHB-JOURQUAL (Updated 2024)

Publisher

VHB (Verband der Hochschullehrer für Betriebswirtschaft e.V.) - the German Academic Association for Business Research.

Official Source

Rankings

• A+: Exceptional quality journals
• A: High-quality journals
• B: Established journals
• C: Recognized journals
• D: Entry-level journals

Who Uses VHB-JOURQUAL?

Primary Users:

• German universities and business schools
• Austrian academic institutions
• Swiss German-speaking universities
• European researchers publishing in business and economics

Geographic Focus: Primarily Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region)

VHB-JOURQUAL is the gold standard for business research evaluation in German-speaking countries. If you're applying for academic positions in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, or seeking research grants from German funding agencies (like DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), VHB rankings are crucial. German universities often require candidates to demonstrate publications in VHB A or A+ journals for tenure and promotion.

Key Insight: VHB has broader discipline coverage than some rankings and includes important European journals that might not appear in UK or US-centric lists.

ABDC Journal Quality List (Updated 2022)

Publisher

ABDC (Australian Business Deans Council) - a consortium of business deans from Australian universities.

Official Source

Rankings

• A*: Top-tier journals (highest quality)
• A: Excellent journals
• B: Well-regarded journals
• C: Recognized journals

Who Uses ABDC?

Primary Users:

• Australian universities (mandatory for most business schools)
• New Zealand academic institutions
• Asian-Pacific business schools
• International researchers targeting Australian positions

Geographic Focus: Australia and New Zealand, with growing influence in Asia-Pacific

The ABDC list is mandatory for research evaluation at most Australian universities. If you're seeking academic positions in Australia or New Zealand, ABDC rankings directly impact hiring, promotion, and research funding decisions. The Australian Research Council (ARC) and university research offices use ABDC to evaluate research output quality.

Key Insight: ABDC underwent a major update in 2022 and is known for its rigorous peer-review process. Australian universities often set minimum publication requirements (e.g., "at least 3 ABDC A* or A publications for promotion to Associate Professor").

ABS Academic Journal Guide (Updated 2024)

Publisher

ABS (Chartered Association of Business Schools) - the UK's representative body for business schools.

Official Source

Rankings

• 4*: World elite journals
• 4: Top journals
• 3: Highly regarded journals
• 2: Recognized journals
• 1: Modest-quality journals

Who Uses ABS?

Primary Users:

• UK universities and business schools (nearly universal adoption)
• Irish academic institutions
• Commonwealth countries (Canada, South Africa, Singapore)
• European Business Schools (EFMD, EQUIS-accredited institutions)

Geographic Focus: United Kingdom and Ireland, with significant influence across Europe

The ABS Guide is the dominant ranking system in the UK higher education sector. UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF) - which determines university research funding - relies heavily on ABS rankings. British universities typically require publications in ABS 3, 4, or 4* journals for tenure and promotion.

Key Insight: ABS 4* journals are extremely selective (only ~5% of listed journals achieve this rating). A single ABS 4* publication can significantly boost your academic profile in UK institutions.

HCERES Journal List (Updated 2021)

Publisher

HCERES (Haut Conseil de l'Évaluation de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur) - the French High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education.

Official Source

Rankings

• Not explicitly ranked - journals are categorized by discipline and recognized status

Who Uses HCERES?

Primary Users:

• French universities and grandes écoles
• French-speaking institutions in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada (Quebec)
• French research institutes (CNRS, INSERM)

Geographic Focus: France and Francophone countries

HCERES evaluates all French higher education and research institutions. While it doesn't use A/B/C rankings like other systems, being listed in HCERES is essential for French academics. French universities and funding agencies (like ANR - Agence Nationale de la Recherche) use HCERES to assess research quality.

Key Insight: HCERES includes many French-language journals and European publications that don't appear in Anglo-American rankings. If you're working in France or applying for French research grants, HCERES recognition is critical.

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank) (Updated 2024)

Publisher

SCImago Research Group - a Spanish research group that analyzes science, technology, and innovation using data from Scopus (Elsevier).

Official Source

Rankings

• Q1: Top 25% of journals in each category (highest quartile)
• Q2: 25-50th percentile
• Q3: 50-75th percentile
• Q4: Bottom 25%

Who Uses SJR?

Primary Users:

• Global: Researchers and institutions worldwide
• Particularly important in Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal)
• Latin American universities
• Eastern European institutions
• Asian universities (China, India, Southeast Asia)

Geographic Focus: Truly international, but especially important outside Anglo-American academic systems

SJR is the most internationally accessible ranking system because:

1. It's free and publicly available (no subscription required)
2. It covers the broadest range of journals (over 25,000 titles)
3. It includes journals from all countries and languages
4. It's based on Scopus, the largest citation database

Key Insight: SJR is particularly valuable for interdisciplinary researchers and those in emerging fields where specialized rankings don't exist. It's also widely used in countries without national ranking systems.

Financial Times 50 (FT50) (Updated 2025)

Publisher

Financial Times - the British international daily newspaper.

Official Source

Rankings

• Binary: Journals are either on the list (elite) or not
• No internal A/B/C ranking—being listed is the achievement

Who Uses FT50?

Primary Users:

• Business schools worldwide (especially top-tier MBA programs)
• Management and strategy researchers
• Institutions seeking Financial Times business school rankings

Geographic Focus: Global, but with strong emphasis on top international business schools

The FT50 list represents the most prestigious business and management journals globally. Only 50 journals make the cut, making it the most exclusive ranking. Business schools use FT50 publications to:

• Evaluate faculty research for hiring and promotion
• Determine bonuses and research awards
• Boost their institution's Financial Times business school ranking

Key Insight: A single FT50 publication can be career-defining, especially at elite business schools. However, the list is extremely narrow (only 50 journals vs. thousands in other rankings), so it's less useful for comprehensive research evaluation.

UTD 24 List (Updated 2025)

Publisher

University of Texas at Dallas - Naveen Jindal School of Management.

Official Source

Rankings

• Binary: 24 journals across 8 business disciplines
• No quality tiers—all listed journals are considered top-tier

Who Uses UTD 24?

Primary Users:

• US business schools (particularly top research-focused institutions)
• North American management researchers
• Schools ranked in UTD Top 100 Business School Rankings

Geographic Focus: United States, with influence in North American research institutions

The UTD list is ultra-selective, featuring only 24 journals across eight major business disciplines:

• Accounting (3 journals)
• Finance (3 journals)
• Information Systems (3 journals)
• Management (3 journals)
• Marketing (3 journals)
• Operations Management (3 journals)
• Organizations (3 journals)
• Strategy (3 journals)

Key Insight: UTD is the most selective list (only 24 journals total). Publications in UTD journals are highly valued at US research universities, often resulting in significant salary increases, reduced teaching loads, and accelerated promotion.

Compare Journals Across All Rankings

Want to see how a specific journal ranks across all seven systems? Use our free Reference Analyzer to instantly check journal rankings and analyze your publication portfolio.

Features:

• ✓ Check journals across VHB, ABDC, ABS, HCERES, SJR, FT50, and UTD
• ✓ Analyze entire reference lists in seconds
• ✓ Identify high-overlap journals for international mobility
• ✓ Export results for tenure/promotion documentation

Try it now - it's free →

Next Steps

Now that you understand the different ranking systems, learn how to choose the right one for your situation:

Read: Which Journal Ranking Should I Use? →

This guide will help you:

• Select the ranking that matters for your institution
• Navigate geographic requirements
• Match rankings to your discipline
• Build a strategic publication plan

Last updated: November 2025