ABDC Journal List 2026: Complete Updated Guide for Researchers
The ABDC journal list has received its most significant update since 2019. The 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List — released officially on March 26, 2026 — covers over 2,600 peer-reviewed journals in business, management, economics, finance, and related disciplines. If you are a PhD scholar, faculty member, or researcher planning your next publication, this guide gives you everything you need to understand the updated ABDC journal list, what changed in 2026, and how to use it strategically.
What Is the ABDC Journal List?
The ABDC journal list — formally called the ABDC Journal Quality List — is published by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), the peak body representing business schools at Australian universities. It ranks peer-reviewed academic journals across business disciplines into four quality tiers: A, A, B, and C*.
First released in 2007, the list is reviewed approximately every three years. The review cycles to date have been 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, and the latest 2025 edition released in March 2026. The list is freely available online at abdc.edu.au and is used worldwide by universities, promotion committees, PhD evaluation boards, and funding bodies to assess journal quality.
ABDC Journal List 2026 Update — What's New?
The 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List (released March 26, 2026) is the most comprehensive revision in several years. Here is what researchers need to know:
The review process
The 2025 review was conducted by 10 discipline panels involving 43 experts, who evaluated over 2,600 journal titles. The process included community consultation, bibliometric analysis, and peer nomination — making it the most rigorous update cycle to date.
Overall size stays stable — but the composition has shifted
The total number of journals on the ABDC list has hovered around 2,700 for 15 years. The 2025 edition continues that pattern at approximately 2,659 journals. However, the internal composition has shifted significantly:
In 2010, nearly half the list was C-rated. In 2025, just over a third sits at C. The upper tiers (A* + A + B) now account for 64.5% of the list, up from 52.7% fifteen years ago.
A* journals — growth that is largely earned
The A* category has expanded from 147 journals in 2010 to 220 journals in 2025 — a 50% increase. Importantly, analysis of this growth shows that 76.7% of journals that gained A status were promoted from lower tiers*, primarily from A. Only 23.3% were new entrants added directly at A*. The A* expansion represents genuine recognition of journals that earned their way up, not a dilution of the tier.
Notable individual upgrade in 2026
One confirmed A* upgrade announced in connection with the 2025 list release: the Journal of Population Economics was upgraded from A to A* (announced March 26, 2026), reflecting its exceptional global impact in demography and economics research.
International Journal of Information Management — downgraded
The International Journal of Information Management moved from A* to A in the 2025 review, a notable downgrade in the information systems field.
C-tier: culled, not improved
The C-tier shrank by over 300 journals since 2010 — but analysis shows this is largely due to removals rather than promotions. Of C-tier losses over 15 years, 65.4% were dropped from the list entirely and only 34.6% were promoted upward. The list proposes the removal of an additional 141 journals in the 2025 draft. Researchers who have been targeting C-tier journals should verify their target journal’s current status before submitting.
Field of Research (FoR) code changes
Australia switched from 2008 to 2020 ANZSRC FoR codes between the 2019 and 2022 cycles. The 2025 list continues with 2020 codes. Some journals have changed FoR classification — for example, the Demography journal shifted from FoR 3505 to FoR 3801. Always verify a journal’s current FoR code if your institution uses it for classification purposes.
Understanding ABDC Journal Rankings: A*, A, B, and C
Every journal on the ABDC journal list is assigned one of four tiers:
A* — Elite, world-leading journals
A* journals represent the absolute top tier of academic publishing in business and management. As of 2025, approximately 8.3% of journals on the list hold A* status. These publications are globally recognized, have highly competitive acceptance rates (often below 10%), and carry significant weight in promotion, tenure, and grant applications. Notable A* ABDC journals include:
- Journal of Finance
- Journal of Financial Economics
- Journal of Marketing
- Journal of Consumer Research
- Academy of Management Journal
- Management Science
- Strategic Management Journal
- MIS Quarterly
- Journal of Population Economics (upgraded to A in 2026)*
A — High-quality international journals
A-ranked journals are excellent, internationally respected publications sitting just below the elite tier. They account for approximately 23.7% of the list and are a realistic and respected target for established researchers. A-tier publications carry substantial weight in most institutional evaluation systems.
B — Good quality, peer-reviewed journals
B-ranked journals are well-regarded, peer-reviewed publications making solid contributions to their disciplines. They represent 32.5% of the ABDC list and are particularly suitable for early-career researchers, regionally focused research, or applied studies. A publication in a B-tier ABDC journal is a legitimate, credible research output.
C — Recognised journals meeting baseline standards
C-ranked journals meet the minimum threshold for inclusion in the ABDC list — they are peer-reviewed and maintain scholarly standards, but carry lower prestige than higher tiers. With the C-tier shrinking in the 2025 update, researchers should confirm their target journal’s continued inclusion before submitting.
How to Access the ABDC Journal List Online
The ABDC journal list online is freely available. No subscription or login is required.
To access the official list:
- Go to edu.au
- Navigate to Research → ABDC Journal Quality List
- Download the Excel file (the 2025 edition includes the 2025, 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010 lists on separate sheets)
- Use Excel’s filter to search by journal title, ISSN, FoR code, or category (A*, A, B, C)
The official download also includes the 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List Review Report (PDF), which explains the methodology, panel decisions, and rationale for major changes.
Important: Always use the official ABDC website. Many third-party websites circulate outdated versions of the list. With the 2025 edition released in March 2026, any site still showing a “2024 ABDC journal list” is displaying old data.
ABDC Indexed Journals vs Scopus vs Web of Science
A question researchers frequently ask is how ABDC indexed journals compare to Scopus or Web of Science listings. Here is a clear comparison:
A journal being ABDC indexed does not automatically mean it is in Scopus, and vice versa. Some journals appear on both; others appear on only one. When your institution specifies an ABDC-ranked journal, verify the journal’s current ABDC category — Scopus indexing alone is not a substitute.
For Indian researchers specifically: many universities, including those affiliated with Anna University, and institutions using UGC-CARE criteria, increasingly recognise ABDC-listed journals as valid publication venues for PhD requirements and faculty promotions. However, confirmation with your specific institution is always advisable, as policies vary.
How Often Is the ABDC Journal List Updated?
The ABDC reviews the list approximately every three years. The review history is:
- 2010 — First major list
- 2013 — Second edition
- 2016 — Third edition
- 2019 — Fourth edition
- 2022 — Fifth edition
- 2025 — Sixth edition (released March 26, 2026) ← Current
The next expected review cycle would be around 2028. The ABDC has also released a Societal Impact Framework alongside the 2025 list — a new tool for evaluating the broader impact of business research beyond traditional bibliometric measures.
How to Get Published in ABDC Listed Journals — 2026 Advice
With the updated list now active, here is what researchers should keep in mind:
1. Verify your target journal’s current status
The 2025 update included downgrades, removals, and reclassifications. Before committing to a journal, download the latest official list and confirm the journal’s current tier. Do not rely on the journal’s own website to state its ABDC ranking — verify independently.
2. B-tier journals are a growing opportunity
B-ranked journals now account for 32.5% of the list — the largest single tier in the 2025 edition. For early-career researchers and applied studies, B-tier ABDC journals offer a legitimate, well-recognised publication route without the multi-year review timelines of A* titles.
3. Track journal trajectories, not just current tiers
Research published in February 2026 shows that journals with a history of upward movement — from C to B, or B to A — are demonstrably improving. Publishing in a journal on an upward trajectory can be a strategically sound choice.
4. Be cautious with C-tier targets
Given that 65.4% of historical C-tier losses were removals rather than promotions, and the 2025 review proposes 141 further removals, C-tier journals carry higher uncertainty. If a C-tier journal is your target, confirm it remains on the current list.
5. Match scope rigorously
Desk rejection remains the most common reason for rejection at all tiers. Read at least five recent issues of your target journal. The ABDC list tells you the quality tier — the fit between your paper and the journal’s specific scope is your responsibility to establish.
6. Plan for timelines
A* and A journals typically take 6–18 months from submission to decision. B-tier journals can be faster but vary widely. Build your publication timeline around realistic review cycles, not best-case scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the ABDC journal list?
The ABDC journal list is the ABDC Journal Quality List, published by the Australian Business Deans Council. It ranks business and management journals into four tiers — A*, A, B, and C — based on quality, impact, and peer evaluation.
2. What is the latest ABDC journal list?
The most current version is the 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List, officially released on March 26, 2026. It covers approximately 2,659 journals and is available for free download at abdc.edu.au.
3. How do I check if a journal is ABDC listed?
Download the latest Excel file from abdc.edu.au and search by journal title or ISSN. You can also use the searchable online version on the ABDC website.
4. Is the ABDC journal list the same as Scopus?
No. The ABDC list is a quality-ranking system for business and management journals maintained by the Australian Business Deans Council. Scopus is a multidisciplinary citation database by Elsevier. A journal may appear on both, one, or neither.
5. Are ABDC listed journals peer-reviewed?
Yes. All journals on the ABDC list are peer-reviewed. Inclusion at any tier confirms the journal meets minimum scholarly standards.
Conclusion
The ABDC journal list remains one of the most trusted benchmarks for journal quality in business, management, economics, and related disciplines — and the 2025 update released in March 2026 makes it more comprehensive and current than at any point in its history.
At Kenfra Research, the PhD assistance in India we help PhD scholars and faculty members identify the right ABDC ranked journals for their research, prepare manuscripts to meet top-tier publication standards, and navigate the full submission process. If you need expert guidance on publishing in an ABDC journal, contact our team today.
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