ABDC Journal List Guidance for PhD Scholars: How to Choose the Right Ranking Category
For scholars in management, commerce, economics, and business-related disciplines, the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List is one of the most referenced ranking systems worldwide — and one of the most misunderstood by first-time PhD authors
We’ve guided scholars through ABDC-based publication planning for several years now, and the same question comes up in almost every consultation: “Which category should I actually be targeting?” Here’s a clear breakdown.
The ABDC list ranks journals into four tiers:
- A* — Top 5–10% globally in the field; extremely competitive, long review cycles, often 12+ months
- A — Excellent, well-regarded journals with rigorous peer review
- B — Solid, respected journals with reasonable acceptance rates
- C — Recognized journals, generally faster turnaround, still peer-reviewed
A common mistake is assuming higher is always better for a PhD timeline. It isn’t — it depends entirely on your submission deadline and your university’s minimum requirement.
Most Indian universities specify a minimum ABDC category (commonly B or C) for PhD publication requirements, not A* or A. Before you invest six months chasing an A* journal, confirm your department’s actual minimum with your research committee — chasing prestige beyond what’s required is one of the most common causes of PhD delays we see.
- If this is your first publication and you’re early in your PhD, a B- or C-category journal with a realistic 3–6 month review cycle builds momentum and gives you reviewer feedback to strengthen later work.
- If you’re further along with strong empirical results and have time, an A category journal adds significant weight to your CV and future academic applications.
- A* should generally be reserved for post-PhD or when you have genuine time flexibility — not a hard submission deadline.
An ABDC ranking tells you about journal quality and prestige — it doesn’t tell you if your specific paper fits. Review 3–5 recent issues to check:
- Typical paper length and structure
- Whether the journal favors quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods work
- Editorial board’s research focus areas
The ABDC list is refreshed periodically, and journals do move between categories or get delisted. Always verify against the current official ABDC list rather than a cached PDF someone forwarded you — this alone prevents a significant number of avoidable submission errors.
We help PhD scholars:
- Cross-check university requirements against current ABDC categories
- Shortlist 3–5 realistic journal options based on your research stage and timeline
- Structure manuscripts to match journal-specific expectations
- Plan a realistic submission timeline that doesn’t collide with your thesis deadline
Not sure which ABDC category fits your research and timeline? Reach out to Mindscape Research for a free journal-shortlisting consultation.
How to Get Started with Mindscape Research
Getting started is straightforward:
1. Visit: www.mindscaperesearch.com
2. Call/WhatsApp: +91 81227 40901
3. Email: Support@mindscaperesearch.com
4. Schedule a Quick Call or Request a Demo through their website
5. Discuss your research needs with their expert team
6. Receive a customized research assistance plan
Leave a Reply