Web of Science Removes Seven Journals in October 2026: Complete List, Reasons, and What Researchers Should Do
Updated: 22 October 2026 | Topic: Research Integrity, Journal Indexing and Scholarly Publishing
Introduction
Journal indexing plays an important role in scholarly communication. Researchers use indexing databases to identify journals, discover scientific literature, track citations, and demonstrate the visibility of their research. Among the major scholarly indexing platforms, Web of Science is widely used by researchers, universities, research institutions, and funding agencies.
However, inclusion in an indexing database is not permanent. Journals are periodically reviewed to determine whether they continue to meet the database's editorial and quality requirements.
According to a report on 21 October 2026, seven journals were removed from the Web of Science Core Collection in the October update. The reported titles include journals previously indexed in both the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). All seven entries are described as Editorial De-listing.
Important verification note: The list below reproduces the reported October update. Individual journal entries and their effective coverage-end dates should be checked in Clarivate's official Master Journal List and Monthly Changes Archive before this report is used for formal institutional decisions.
1. Complete list of the seven reported delisted journals
The following table summarizes the journal titles, identifiers, publishers, and indexing categories reported in the October 2026 update.
No. | Journal title | Print ISSN | Electronic ISSN | Index reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Revue Roumaine des Sciences Techniques—Série Électrotechnique et Énergétique | 0035-4066 | Not provided | SCIE |
2 | International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications | 1947-315X | 1947-3168 | ESCI |
3 | Alexandria Engineering Journal | 1110-0168 | 2090-2670 | SCIE |
4 | European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry | 0965-7452 | 2396-8893 | ESCI |
5 | Advanced Electromagnetics | 2119-0275 | 2119-0275 | ESCI |
6 | Balneo and PRM Research Journal | 2734-844X | 2734-8458 | ESCI |
7 | Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science | 2223-4721 | 2076-0299 | ESCI |
Source: PhDTalks, “Web of Science Removes Seven Journals in October 2026,” published 21 October 2026. ISSNs and publisher details are reproduced from the supplied report.
Two SCIE titles: Revue Roumaine des Sciences Techniques—Série Électrotechnique et Énergétique and Alexandria Engineering Journal.
Five ESCI titles: International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications, European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Advanced Electromagnetics, Balneo and PRM Research Journal, and Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science.
The distinction matters because SCIE and ESCI are different indexes within the Web of Science Core Collection. A change in coverage can therefore have different implications depending on the journal's previous indexing category and the requirements applicable to a particular publication.
The reported list also mentions that some journals were added to ESCI during the same update. Those additions are separate from the seven reported removals and should be verified independently.
2. What does “Editorial De-listing” mean?
Editorial de-listing refers to the removal of a journal from coverage following an editorial decision. According to Clarivate's published policy, journals may be re-evaluated when monitoring or credible concerns indicate that they may no longer meet the required quality criteria. During a re-evaluation, a journal may be placed On Hold, and new content is not processed for indexing while the review is underway.
Stage 1: Re-evaluation
Clarivate reviews a journal when concerns arise about its editorial practices, published content, or compliance with selection criteria.
Stage 2: On Hold
New content is temporarily not processed for indexing while the evaluation is in progress. This is not, by itself, a final delisting decision.
Stage 3: Editorial De-listing
If the journal fails the relevant quality requirements, coverage can be discontinued from a date determined by Clarivate.
Clarivate's policy states that a journal removed for failing its quality criteria is generally subject to an embargo of at least two years before it can be resubmitted for evaluation, although exceptions may apply in specified circumstances. Resubmission does not guarantee reinstatement.
3. Why does Web of Science remove journals?
Journal removal can occur for different reasons. It is essential to distinguish an editorial decision from a production-related removal or a change in a journal's publication status.
Clarivate's published policies identify several circumstances that may affect continued coverage.
Journals must continue meeting the quality criteria applied by Web of Science. Acceptance at an earlier stage does not guarantee permanent indexing.
B. Concerns about research integrity
Issues involving editorial oversight, publication practices, or the quality and integrity of published content may lead to a re-evaluation. The outcome depends on the evidence and the applicable criteria.
C. Changes in publishing practices
Changes in ownership, editorial leadership, journal scope, publication practices, or other characteristics may affect a journal's continued suitability for coverage.
D. Production and content-delivery problems
Not every removal is an editorial-quality decision. Clarivate also has a production de-listing process for journals that fail to provide content over an extended period and for which attempts to resolve the problem are unsuccessful. Such a removal should not automatically be interpreted as a finding of editorial misconduct.
4. What are the implications for researchers and PhD scholars?
The removal of an indexed journal can affect researchers in several ways. The practical consequences depend on the publication date, the journal's coverage history, the applicable institutional rules, and the specific indexing requirements.
4.1 Researchers planning to submit a manuscript
Researchers should not rely on an old screenshot, a previous Journal Impact Factor, or a publisher's historical claim that the journal is indexed in Web of Science.
Before submission, verify the journal's current status using the official Web of Science Master Journal List.
If the journal is no longer covered, determine whether an alternative journal is more appropriate for the manuscript and the intended evaluation requirements.
4.2 PhD scholars and research students
Doctoral researchers should be particularly careful when choosing journals to meet publication requirements for thesis submission, pre-submission evaluation, or degree completion.
Before paying an article processing charge, scholars should:
Check the journal's current indexing status.
Confirm the required index, such as SCIE or ESCI, if specified by their institution.
Review the relevant university regulations and the exact date by which indexing must be established.
Obtain written clarification from the research office or supervisor if the policy is ambiguous.
A journal being indexed when a manuscript is submitted does not necessarily establish that the resulting article will be indexed or that it will satisfy every institutional requirement.
4.3 Faculty members seeking promotion or appraisal
Faculty members should distinguish between the fact of publication and the journal's indexing status at the relevant time.
A delisting may affect how a publication is treated under a particular assessment framework, but the consequences are not identical across all universities, employers, funding agencies, or promotion systems.
Researchers should retain their publication records and verify the applicable institutional policy rather than assume that all previous publications become invalid.
4.4 Research administrators and institutional committees
Universities and research institutions should establish a consistent process for verifying journal coverage.
Useful measures include maintaining an official verification date, recording the relevant Web of Science index, documenting the journal's coverage period, and applying institutional rules consistently.
Such procedures can reduce disputes arising from changes in indexing status after manuscript submission or publication.
5. Does delisting mean previously published papers are removed?
No—not automatically.
Three different situations need to be distinguished:
Situation | What it means |
|---|---|
Previously indexed articles | Their historical publication and citation records may remain available. Their continued availability depends on the circumstances and Clarivate's decisions. |
Articles published after the coverage-end date | These articles will not be indexed under the discontinued coverage after the applicable date. |
Exceptional removal of existing content | In serious cases involving breaches of editorial standards, Clarivate may remove previously published content from Web of Science. |
Clarivate explicitly distinguishes the end of future indexing from the exceptional removal of existing content. Its policy also states that content may not be backfilled following a removal decision.
That every article published in a delisted journal automatically disappears from Web of Science.
That every article published before delisting is guaranteed to remain indexed indefinitely.
For a specific article, search its DOI or title in Web of Science and examine the relevant journal coverage information.
6. What about the Journal Impact Factor?
The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and a journal's current indexing status are related, but they are not interchangeable.
A JIF is a citation metric calculated for eligible journals within the Journal Citation Reports framework. A journal's historical JIF does not establish that it remains covered by the Web of Science Core Collection today.
The reported October 2026 list includes two journals identified as previously indexed in SCIE and five in ESCI. Both indexes have been eligible for JIF assignment under Clarivate's framework, but eligibility should not be confused with confirmation of a particular journal's current metric or coverage status.
Is the journal currently covered in the Web of Science Core Collection?
Under which index is it covered?
Does it have a JIF in the relevant Journal Citation Reports edition?
What coverage period and metric edition apply to the publication under consideration?
A journal's previously reported JIF should not be presented as evidence of current indexing without a current verification.
7. How should researchers verify a journal's indexing status?
The safest approach is to use Clarivate's official sources rather than rely exclusively on third-party lists or promotional claims.
Step 1: Search the Master Journal List
Open the official Master Journal List and search by the complete journal title or ISSN.
This is Clarivate's authoritative source for journal coverage.
Step 2: Check the coverage dates
Review the journal's current status and any coverage-end or discontinuation information available in its profile.
Step 3: Consult the Monthly Changes Archive
Visit the official collection downloads and Monthly Changes Archive. The archive provides information about changes in journal coverage. A free Master Journal List login is required for the change files.
Search by DOI, article title, or author name in Web of Science to determine whether the specific paper has a record in the database.
Step 5: Keep evidence of verification
Save the verification date and relevant journal record for your institutional documentation. Recheck the status if submission or publication is delayed.
8. What should authors do if they have already submitted or published in one of these journals?
If you have submitted a manuscript to one of the reported titles, do not panic. Instead, take a systematic approach.
If the manuscript is under review:
Check the journal's present status in the Master Journal List.
Ask the editorial office for clarification about the journal's current indexing and coverage arrangements.
If indexing is essential for your academic requirement, discuss your options with your supervisor or research office before deciding whether to withdraw or continue.
If the paper has been accepted but is not yet published:
Confirm the expected publication date and whether it falls within the journal's applicable coverage period.
Ask whether the article is expected to be submitted for indexing, while recognizing that the final indexing outcome is determined by Clarivate.
If the paper has already been published:
Verify whether its record is present in Web of Science.
Retain the DOI, publication details, and any relevant indexing evidence.
Consult the rules governing your particular assessment or promotion.
Continue to evaluate the scientific quality of the paper on its merits.
A change in indexing status does not, by itself, invalidate a research finding. The validity of a scientific result depends on the research design, data, analysis, reproducibility, and the available evidence.
9. Lessons for journal editors and publishers
The reported delistings also offer lessons for publishers and editorial teams.
Maintain transparent peer review
Journals should have clearly defined editorial responsibilities, a credible peer-review process, and consistent standards for evaluating manuscripts.
Protect research integrity
Editors should have effective procedures for identifying plagiarism, manipulated data, image irregularities, inappropriate authorship, conflicts of interest, and other publication-integrity concerns.
Monitor publication quality
Rapid publication growth should not come at the expense of editorial scrutiny. The journal's published content should remain consistent with its stated scope and quality standards.
Keep publication practices transparent
Authors should be able to find accurate information about editorial policies, fees, publication timelines, corrections, retractions, and complaints procedures.
Maintain reliable communication with indexing services
Publishers should promptly communicate material changes in journal ownership, title, publication frequency, or other relevant information. Clarivate notes that failures to notify it of changes in a timely manner can affect coverage.
10. A broader lesson: Journal indexing is not the same as research quality
The October 2026 report highlights a larger issue in academic publishing: researchers must evaluate more than a journal's name, impact factor, or indexing badge.
A comprehensive assessment should consider:
Scientific relevance: Does the journal publish work appropriate to the research question?
Editorial quality: Are the peer-review and editorial processes credible?
Research integrity: Are corrections, retractions, and ethical concerns handled transparently?
Discoverability: Is the journal indexed in databases relevant to the field?
Audience and impact: Will the intended research community be able to find and use the work?
Compliance: Does the publication meet the applicable institutional and funding requirements?
No single metric can capture every dimension of research quality. Citation indicators can support evaluation, but they should not replace expert judgment or assessment of the underlying research.
For doctoral scholars and early-career researchers in particular, the best publication strategy is to select a suitable, credible journal before submission rather than relying on indexing claims alone.
11. Frequently asked questions
Q1. How many journals were reportedly removed in October 2026?
According to the PhDTalks report dated 21 October 2026, seven journals were reported as delisted.
Q2. Were both SCIE and ESCI journals affected?
Yes. The report lists two SCIE titles and five ESCI titles.
Q3. Does editorial delisting prove that a journal is predatory?
No. Delisting indicates a change in coverage following an editorial decision. The label alone does not establish that a journal is predatory or identify the precise reasons for its removal.
Q4. Will all papers published in these journals lose their Web of Science records?
Not necessarily. Previously indexed records may remain available, although Clarivate can remove existing content in serious cases. The status of a particular article should be checked directly.
Q5. Can a delisted journal return to Web of Science?
A journal may be resubmitted for evaluation under the applicable policies and waiting periods. Reinstatement is not automatic and depends on the outcome of the evaluation.
Q6. Where should researchers verify the latest status?
Use the Web of Science Master Journal List and its Monthly Changes Archive, rather than relying solely on third-party websites.
Conclusion
The reported removal of seven journals in October 2026 is an important reminder that journal indexing is subject to ongoing evaluation. Researchers, PhD scholars, faculty members, and research administrators should pay attention to changes in journal coverage and understand how those changes affect their particular academic requirements.
The central lesson is straightforward: verify before you submit, document before you claim, and evaluate research on its scientific merit rather than on journal metrics alone.
A responsible publication strategy combines current indexing verification, sound editorial standards, research integrity, and a clear understanding of institutional rules. These practices protect researchers and contribute to a more transparent and trustworthy scholarly communication system.
Official sources and further reading
- Web of Science Master Journal List — verify individual journal coverage.
- Web of Science Collection Downloads and Monthly Changes Archive — review coverage changes.
- Clarivate Editorial Policies and Removal from Coverage — understand editorial review, delisting, and appeals.
- Clarivate Content Collection and Indexing Process — learn about production and coverage changes.
Editorial note: This article summarizes a third-party report of October 2026 changes. The official Master Journal List should be consulted for definitive journal-level status, coverage dates, and institutional decisions.
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