How do I access and use Scopus?
Answer
What is Scopus?
Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database developed by Elsevier, covering peer-reviewed literature across all major research disciplines. It includes journals, conference proceedings, books, patents, and other scholarly content.
Scopus integrates directly with tools such as:
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SciVal (for advanced research analytics);
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Pure (the University of Manchester’s current research information system).
What does Scopus cover and what are its strengths?
Scopus includes over 97 million records from:
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28,000+ active journal titles;
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7,000+ publishers;
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330+ subject areas, including science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
Its historical coverage includes:
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Full references from 1970 onwards.
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18.8 million records from 1970–1995.
Scopus is especially strong in:
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Author disambiguation: Each author has a detailed, automatically-generated profile;
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Citation tracking and analysis;
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Coverage of interdisciplinary research.
Key features of Scopus
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Author profiles: View metrics such as total citations, h-index, co-author networks, and contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Advanced search options: Create custom Boolean searches to explore topics, authors, or institutions. These can be saved, exported (CSV), or transferred into SciVal for further analysis.
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Custom publication sets: Build and export sets of publications for review, collaboration mapping, or benchmarking.
How do I access Scopus?
You can access Scopus via Library Search or go directly to www.scopus.com (University login required).
To make the most of the platform, such as saving searches, setting alerts, or syncing with SciVal, we recommend creating a free Elsevier account using your University of Manchester email address.
Can I access Scopus programmatically?
Yes. Scopus offers API access via the Elsevier Developer Portal. To use it:
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Request an API key from the Elsevier Developer Portal.
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You must be on the University network or request an institutional token from Elsevier Dev Support.
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Access is subject to Elsevier’s terms and rate limits.
How do I use Scopus effectively?
We recommend the following resources to familiarise yourself with Scopus and learn to use the system most effectively:
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Scopus Search Guide: Learn how to search by author, document, affiliation, and topic using basic and advanced strategies.
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Scopus Metrics Guide: Access metrics for individual articles, authors, and journals. Includes responsible interpretation of citation and impact data.
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Scopus Tutorials: Short videos explaining key features such as:
More information
The Library’s Office for Open Research can help you:
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Navigate Scopus;
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Interpret bibliometric data responsibly.
Contact the Office for Open Research.