Journal profile · LINGUISTICS
Studies in Second Language Acquisition
ISSN 0272-2631 · eISSN 1470-1545 · Cambridge University Press
Studies in Second Language Acquisition: CAS Zone 1 · Literature (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 5.07; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,550; 84 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Studies in Second Language Acquisition is published by Cambridge University Press and is in Zone 1 of Literature in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning, Second Language Acquisition and Learning and Multilingual Education and Policy, together about 32.2% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Studies in Second Language Acquisition is a fully open access refereed journal of international scope devoted to the scientific discussion of acquisition or use of non-native and heritage languages. Each volume (five issues) contains research articles of either a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods nature in addition to essays on current theoretical matters. Other rubrics include Replication Studies, Critical Commentaries, Systematic Reviews, Methods Forum, Research Reports, and Data Report.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): LINGUISTICS
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 2%); most named United States 28, United Kingdom 4, Canada 4, Japan 2, Spain 2 (49 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- EFL/ESL Teaching and LearningArts and Humanities15.4%
- Second Language Acquisition and LearningPsychology9.1%
- Multilingual Education and PolicySocial Sciences7.7%
- Second Language Learning and TeachingArts and Humanities7.1%
- Legal case studies and regulationsSocial Sciences5.9%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance5%
- Linguistic Variation and MorphologySocial Sciences4.3%
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic VariationArts and Humanities4.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Literature Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Literature Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Literature Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | 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
- 5.07LetPub ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 10.8LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.51LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 3.06LetPub ·
- h-index
- 198OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,119OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.79OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 81.1%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 64LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,320 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 53 | 53 | 24 |
| 2025 | 84 | 80 | 336 |
| 2024 | 66 | 61 | 613 |
| 2023 | 67 | 56 | 1,015 |
| 2022 | 60 | 50 | 1,541 |
| 2021 | 100 | 55 | 2,319 |
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.
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 3,550 / GBP 2,460 | — | — | |
| 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)
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteOpen access
- Open access Open access articles
FirstView articles Latest issue All issues Most cited Most read
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
- Cambridge University Press
- ISSN
- 0272-2631
- Electronic ISSN
- 1470-1545
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Studies in Second Language Acquisition
What CAS zone is Studies in Second Language Acquisition in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Studies in Second Language Acquisition is in Zone 1 of Literature, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Linguistics; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Literature. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Studies in Second Language Acquisition?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.07; CiteScore 10.8, h-index 198.
Where are the editorial board members of Studies in Second Language Acquisition based?
Of the 49 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 2%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (28), United Kingdom (4) and Canada (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Studies in Second Language Acquisition?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Studies in Second Language Acquisition is indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Is Studies in Second Language Acquisition open access, and what is the APC?
Studies in Second Language Acquisition is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,550.
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: .