Journal profile · Multiple
Learning and Instruction
ISSN 0959-4752 · eISSN 1873-3263 · Elsevier
Learning and Instruction: CAS Zone 1 · Education (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 5.68; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,580; review about 318 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 192 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Learning and Instruction is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 1 of Education in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods, Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes and Educational Strategies and Epistemologies, together about 28.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Developmental and Educational Psychology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI)Learning and Instruction is an international, multi-disciplinary, peer-refereed journal which provides a platform for the publication of the most advanced scientific research related to human learning in diverse instructional settings. It welcomes original empirical investigations focusing on development, intra and inter- individual differences, the science of learning and variability related to cultural and institutional contexts. Papers may reflect a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches examining any developmental phase from infants to adults and in diverse learning and instructional settings. Studies including laboratory experiments and field trials are welcome, including large-scale quantitative studies and qualitative case studies. Studies may contribute to general areas of learning and instruction or to specific domains, disciplines, or school subjects. The major criteria in the evaluation of submissions are the originality, rigour and significance of the contribution to its area of scholarship.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editor-in-chief Elsbeth SternPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 11 in mainland China (about 6%); most named Germany 32, United States 28, United Kingdom 14, Mainland China 11, Netherlands 10 (174 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Innovative Teaching and Learning MethodsPsychology13.3%
- Visual and Cognitive Learning ProcessesPsychology9.1%
- Educational Strategies and EpistemologiesPsychology6.1%
- Education, Achievement, and GiftednessPsychology5.9%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering5.7%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance5.5%
- Reading and Literacy DevelopmentPsychology5.2%
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skillsMathematics4.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Education Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Psychology, Educational | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Education Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Psychology, Educational | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Education Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Psychology, Educational | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 5.68LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.7Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 9.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 9.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.53LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.43LetPub ·
- h-index
- 202OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,549OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.55OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 56.85%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 169LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,439 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 141 | 90 | 81 |
| 2025 | 192 | 127 | 651 |
| 2024 | 168 | 106 | 2,549 |
| 2023 | 91 | 47 | 1,301 |
| 2022 | 111 | 54 | 3,072 |
| 2021 | 97 | 37 | 2,547 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
318 dayssubmission to acceptance
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 61 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 318 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 12 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
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
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,580 / EUR 4,280 / GBP 3,670 / JPY 568,060 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,060 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
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 prepare8 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 8,000 words
- Reference style
- APA
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted6
- analyses of large-scale surveysLearning and Instruction accepts manuscripts adopting a variety of methods, including laboratory experiments, field studies, analyses of large-scale surveys, an…Length not stated
- case studiesLearning and Instruction accepts manuscripts adopting a variety of methods, including laboratory experiments, field studies, analyses of large-scale surveys, an…Length not stated
- field studiesLearning and Instruction accepts manuscripts adopting a variety of methods, including laboratory experiments, field studies, analyses of large-scale surveys, an…Length not stated
- laboratory experimentsLearning and Instruction accepts manuscripts adopting a variety of methods, including laboratory experiments, field studies, analyses of large-scale surveys, an…Length not stated
- literature reviewRequired: A literature review covers all relevant concepts/constructs included in the research questions of your paper, relates these concepts to the relevant e…Length not stated
- registered reportLearning and Instruction welcomes the submission of registered reports. L&I accepts pre-registered studies, but does not provide its own pre-registration forum.…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Registered reports accepted Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
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
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 0959-4752
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-3263
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Learning and Instruction
What CAS zone is Learning and Instruction in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Learning and Instruction is in Zone 1 of Education, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Education & Educational Research / Psychology, Educational; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Education. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Learning and Instruction?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.68; CiteScore 9.2, h-index 202.
How long does peer review take at Learning and Instruction?
The publisher reports about 318 days (submission to acceptance). 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 Learning and Instruction?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Manuscript length: ≤ 8,000 words; Reference style: APA; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. 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 Learning and Instruction based?
Of the 174 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 11 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Germany (32), United States (28) and United Kingdom (14). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Learning and Instruction?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Learning and Instruction is indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Is Learning and Instruction open access, and what is the APC?
Learning and Instruction is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,580.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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: .