CWTS Leiden Ranking Open Edition
The Open Edition of the CWTS Leiden Ranking computes the Leiden bibliometric indicators from open OpenAlex data, so results can be fully reproduced. It covers far more universities than the Traditional Edition (over 2,800 in 2025).
- Reliability
- Grade B · 9/12
- Ranks
- Universities
- Editions
- 2 since 2024
- Method
- Data
- How items get in
- Compiled by the publisher
- Status
- New
Editions
| Edition | Published | Top of the list | On record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 29, 2025 | Not recorded | At the publisher |
| 2024 | 2024 | Not recorded | At the publisher |
How the ranking works
Same indicator framework as the Traditional Edition (output, field-normalized impact such as PP(top 10%), collaboration, open access), computed from an OpenAlex snapshot (August 2025 for the 2025 edition) and CWTS's organization registry, which draws partly on the Research Organization Registry (ROR). The 2025 update added non-core publications and many more universities. No composite score is published.
Scores only: Indicator scores are published without a single overall rank. No application or fee; universities are included automatically once they pass a minimum publication threshold in Web of Science.
How far to trust it
Superscout grades every ranking on six criteria, each scored 0 to 2. CWTS Leiden Ranking Open Edition scores 9 of 12, grade B.
- Transparency 2/2
- Open data and published methods allow reproduction.
- Independence 2/2
- Academic producer; automatic, free inclusion.
- Evidence 2/2
- Publication and citation data from OpenAlex.
- Stability 1/2
- Scope changed in its second edition (non-core publications, more universities).
- Coverage 2/2
- Over 2,800 universities.
- Track record 0/2
- Two editions (2024, 2025).
History
CWTS launched the Open Edition in 2024 as a fully transparent, reproducible alternative built on OpenAlex. The 2025 release (Oct. 29, 2025) expanded coverage to over 2,800 universities and included non-core publications.
How it is received
The Open Edition is positioned by CWTS as offering fully transparent analytics based on open data. It is too new for a track record of external assessment; its results depend on OpenAlex metadata quality, including affiliation matching.
Strengths
- Purely bibliometric, with no reputation surveys.
- Offers size-dependent and size-independent indicators instead of a single composite.
- Stability intervals and responsible-use guidance are published.
- Fully reproducible from open OpenAlex data.
Weaknesses
- No single ranking, which makes headline comparisons harder.
- Covers research publications only; no teaching, patents or startup outcomes.
- Depends on OpenAlex affiliation and metadata quality.
- Only two editions so far.
Open questions
Facts not verified yet. They stay visible so they are not mistaken for settled facts.
- Exact 2024 launch date not confirmed.
- Exact 2025 university count (stated as over 2,800) not confirmed.
- No entries transcribed.
Superscout describes CWTS Leiden Ranking Open Edition independently from the publisher’s own pages and outside coverage, linked below. The rankings belong to Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University.