Journal profile · EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning
ISSN 1492-3831 · Athabasca University Press · Canada
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning: CAS Zone 3 · Education (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.44; diamond open access (no APC); no APC; review about 29 weeks (community reports); acceptance rate 5% (journal website); 57 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus; the journal's website says submissions are paused or closed.
The journal's website says submissions are paused or closed: Yes. If authors are found to be plagiarizing or submitting the same article to multiple journals simultaneously, we maintain a record and will no longer accept submissions from them. Source ↗Publisher website ·
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is published by Athabasca University Press and is in Zone 3 of Education in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Online and Blended Learning, Online Learning and Analytics and Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods, together about 51.9% of its articles. Its main subfields are Computer Science Applications. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is a refereed, open access e-journal that disseminates original research, theory, and best practices in open and distributed learning worldwide. IRRODL is freely available to anyone with Internet access and does not charge article submission or access fees, supporting equitable participation in scholarly publishing. The journal serves both researchers and practitioners of open and distance education systems. Its mission is to enhance the quality of basic and applied research while ensuring that scholarly insights are translated into policies and practices that expand educational opportunity for students and teachers globally. Now in its 25th year, IRRODL has solidified its role as a leading platform for the global open and distributed learning community. It has contributed meaningfully to academic discourse, informed educational policy and practice, and supported innovation in digital pedagogy across diverse international contexts. The journal continues to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and shape the future of accessible, flexible learning. Important Submission Policy:Since 2020, IRRODL no longer accepts articles solely describing teaching interventions or surveys on pedagogical approaches unless they include evidence of student achievement, performance, or retention. For more information, please review our policy on evidence of achievement.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Editor-in-chief Rory McGrealPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 9%); most named Canada 12, Mainland China 2, United Kingdom 1, Germany 1, Australia 1 (22 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Online and Blended LearningSocial Sciences25.9%
- Online Learning and AnalyticsComputer Science14.7%
- Innovative Teaching and Learning MethodsPsychology11.3%
- Open Education and E-LearningComputer Science8%
- E-Learning and Knowledge ManagementComputer Science6%
- Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSocial Sciences3.1%
- Knowledge Management and SharingSocial Sciences2.8%
- Mobile Learning in EducationComputer Science2.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Education Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Education Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Education Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
ERICERIH PLUSPublisher website
Other: Cabell Publishing Inc., EBSCOhost, Érudit, Google Scholar, H.W. Wilson Company, Index Copernicus International, OCLC Education Index, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis, Ulrich's Web
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.44LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.41Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher) 2025
- 6.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.12LetPub ·
- SJR (publisher)
- 1.12Publisher website ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.41LetPub ·
- SNIP (publisher)
- 1.41Publisher website ·
- h-index
- 134OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,083OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 7.77OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 2.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 26.57%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 46LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher) 2025
- 53Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,799 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 45 | 45 | 15 |
| 2025 | 57 | 57 | 210 |
| 2024 | 60 | 60 | 1,033 |
| 2023 | 60 | 60 | 390 |
| 2022 | 56 | 56 | 681 |
| 2021 | 61 | 61 | 1,173 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 29 weeksLetPub ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher) 2025
- 5%Publisher website ·
- Submission to publication 2025
- 986 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 29 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Diamond open access (no APC)DOAJ
Every article is open access and authors pay no article processing charge.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | No APC | No | CC BY | |
| LetPub | No APC | No | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 7,000 words
Article types accepted6, with length limits
- book reviewheses following the quotes. Word Count: Book reviews should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words. IRRODL SPECIAL ISSUES Special Issues in IRRODL are collectmain text ≤ 1,500 words
- book reviewsBook reviews should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words.Length not stated
- literature reviewsLiterature Reviews with analyses may be acceptable if they include a large number of references that exceed the word limit; however, the body of the paper must …Length not stated
- notesNotes sections are normally below 4,000 words.Length not stated
- research articlerosoft Word format (.doc or .docx). For Research Articles, the word count is between 4,000 and 7,000 words and is indicated on the front page. For Notes, Litera…main text ≤ 7,000 words
- research articlesResearch Articles must have a word count within 4,000–7,000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use AI Use/Nonuse Declaration Statement
References: Provide an unnumbered reference list in APA 7th edition format.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright Notice
Authors retain copyright; CC BY 4.0 license. Model summary
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The copyright for all content published in IRRODL remains with the authors. This copyright agreement and usage license ensure that the article is distributed as widely as possible and can be included in any scientific or scholarly archive. You are free to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium o…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open Access Policy
Diamond Open Access journal. Model summary
The copyright for all IRRODL articles remains with the author(s). As a condition of publication, authors agree to release their work under the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY) License. This licence permits anyone to reproduce, share, print, or distribute IRRODL articles at no cost, without requiring additional permission, as long as proper attribution is provided to the autho…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer Review Process
English only. Model summary
All submissions to the Research Articles section of IRRODL undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This ensures that neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other’s identities, maintaining objectivity and fairness. Before articles are sent for review, the Journal Editors screen them for relevance, quality, and meaningful contributions to the field of open and distributed learn…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Athabasca University Press
- Country or region
- Canada
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1492-3831
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 27, Issue 3 (2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning
What CAS zone is International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is in Zone 3 of Education, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Education & Educational Research. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Education. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.44; CiteScore 6.8, h-index 134.
How long does peer review take at International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning?
Authors report an average review time of about 29 weeks; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 5% (2025). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 7,000 words. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning based?
Of the 22 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 9%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Canada (12), Mainland China (2) and United Kingdom (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is indexed in SSCI, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists ERIC and ERIH PLUS; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning open access, and what is the APC?
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is a diamond open-access journal (no APC). It charges no article processing charge.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .