Journal profile · Computer Science, Software Engineering
Requirements Engineering
ISSN 0947-3602 · eISSN 1432-010X · Springer London · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 1996
Requirements Engineering: CAS Zone 3 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.56; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,990; median 218 days to acceptance (32 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 20 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Requirements Engineering is published by Springer London and is in Zone 3 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Software Engineering Techniques and Practices, Advanced Software Engineering Methodologies and Software Engineering Research, together about 38.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Information Systems. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The journal provides a focus for the dissemination of new results about the elicitation, representation and validation of requirements of software intensive information systems or applications. Theoretical and applied submissions are welcome, but all papers must explicitly address: the practical consequences of the ideas for the design of complex systems how the ideas should be evaluated by the reflective practitioner The journal is motivated by a multi-disciplinary view that considers requirements not only in terms of software components specification but also in terms of activities for their elicitation, representation and agreement, carried out within an organisational and social context. To this end, contributions are sought from fields such as software engineering, information systems, occupational sociology, cognitive and organisational psychology, human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, linguistics and philosophy for work addressing specifically requirements engineering issues.Type of articles Research articles Research articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) evaluate existing problem situations or proposed solutions. Research articles must include some scientific means for evaluating the validity of the subject. Such means include by empirical studies, experiments, case studies, simulations, formal analyses, mathematical proofs, etc. Research commentary Research commentaries provide an analysis of current, and a roadmap to the future of, requirements research and practices. A literature survey is an example, which abstracts from the current state of the art and provides insightful observations, fruitful analogies, or proposes significant and novel research directions—especially for emerging or less-understood subjects. Research commentaries should be educational, provocative, or direction-setting. They must provide compelling argumentation for any conclusions drawn. Topics Topics include, but are not restricted to: Theories and models relevant to requirements engineering The intersection of requirements engineering with business engineering Elicitation techniques including ethnography and social studies, task analysis, HCI approaches, user centered approaches, participatory design, facilitation techniques, cooperative requirements engineering Analysis and valuation of cultural, political and organisational factors that affect require
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Software Engineering
Editor-in-chief Fabiano DalpiazPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 8, Canada 6, Sweden 6, United Kingdom 5, Spain 3 (53 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Software Engineering Techniques and PracticesComputer Science14%
- Advanced Software Engineering MethodologiesComputer Science12.6%
- Software Engineering ResearchComputer Science11.4%
- Legal and Regulatory AnalysisSocial Sciences10.8%
- Linguistic, Cultural, and Literary StudiesSocial Sciences10.8%
- Military Technology and StrategiesEngineering10.8%
- Service-Oriented Architecture and Web ServicesComputer Science5.4%
- Business Process Modeling and AnalysisBusiness, Management and Accounting3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexINSPECDBLPCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, ACM Digital Library, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
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
- 3.56LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 9LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.8LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.17LetPub ·
- h-index
- 48LetPub ·
- h-index
- 85OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 470OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.42OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 54.55%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 19LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 167,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,088 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 12 | 6 |
| 2025 | 20 | 10 | 62 |
| 2024 | 26 | 16 | 311 |
| 2023 | 14 | 10 | 228 |
| 2022 | 29 | 20 | 462 |
| 2021 | 25 | 9 | 398 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
218 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 154 days – 318 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 36 days (32 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 258 days
- Sample
- 32 articles with submission and acceptance dates (36 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 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 2,990 / EUR 2,390 / GBP 2,090 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
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)
Open calls for papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted8
- case studyResearch articles Research articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) e…Length not stated
- commentaryResearch articles Research articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) e…Length not stated
- editorialDouble-blind peer review This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout p…Length not stated
- research articleResearch articles Research articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) e…Length not stated
- research articlesResearch articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) evaluate existing p…Length not stated
- research commentResearch commentaries are shorter articles that offer an educational, provocative, or direction-setting analysis of requirements engineering research and/or pra…Length not stated
- systematic reviewResearch articles Research articles (1) present solutions for requirements-related problems that are novel or significantly improve existing solutions, or (2) e…Length not stated
- systematic reviewsSystematic reviews report insights from the current literature in a structured and verifiable manner.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use AI Policy
AI authorship policy Model summary
Please see Springer Nature's Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies at this link: https://www.springer.com/us/editorial-policies/artificial-intelligence--ai-/25428500 Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship Attribution and Accountability for Artificial Intelligence
Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, do not currently satisfy our authorship criteria. Notably an attribution of authorship carries with it accountability for the work, which cannot be effectively applied to LLMs. Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. The use of an …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data availability statement required Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Requirements Engineering, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Double-blind peer review
Double-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout peer review. It is the responsibility of the author to anonymize the manuscript and any associated materials. Author names, affiliations and any other potentially identifying information should be removed from the manuscript text and any accompanying files (such as …
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
- Springer London
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1996
- ISSN
- 0947-3602
- Electronic ISSN
- 1432-010X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Requirements Engineering
What CAS zone is Requirements Engineering in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Requirements Engineering is in Zone 3 of Computer Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Computer Science, Software Engineering / Computer Science, Information Systems. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Requirements Engineering?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.56; CiteScore 9, h-index 85.
How long does peer review take at Requirements Engineering?
Based on the dates recorded on 32 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 218 days (interquartile range 154–318 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. 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 Requirements Engineering?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX; Suggested reviewers: Optional. 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 Requirements Engineering based?
Of the 53 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (8), Canada (6) and Sweden (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Requirements Engineering?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Requirements Engineering is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, INSPEC, DBLP and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Requirements Engineering open access, and what is the APC?
Requirements Engineering is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .