The a-index World University Rankings represent the university-focused segment of the broader a-index Rankings ecosystem, evaluating universities based on their a-index, i.e., an indicator of how rigorous they are in granting fully funded PhD positions. Now in its second year, the system ranks over 750 universities across 28 countries, including the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. The United States and the United Kingdom remain the most represented countries, with more than 200 and 90 ranked universities, respectively. For the second year, ETH Zurich leads as the world’s strictest institution for securing fully funded PhD opportunities. This global university rankings framework builds on the principles established by Applyindex in mid-2024.
a-index World University Rankings: Africa and Asia
Africa has one representative ranked among the 800 most competitive universities worldwide, i.e., the University of Cape Town in South Africa. It holds the 212th position in the a-index World University Rankings, with an a-index score of 74.4. The Middle East is represented solely by Israel among the 800 most competitive universities in the a-index World University Rankings. Leading the way is the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which holds an impressive a-index score of 76.2 in the 2025 rankings. Renowned for its cutting-edge research and international collaborations, it is the most selective Israeli university for offering PhD positions to international students with full financial support.
Asia is the second most represented continent in the a-index World University Rankings, showcasing the diversity and academic strength of 8 countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. With 61 ranked institutions, China leads the continent, reflecting its massive investment in research infrastructure, international collaboration, and the growing competitiveness of its universities in securing external research grants and publishing high-impact studies. Japan, in second place with 48 universities, maintains a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, particularly in engineering, materials science, and life sciences, supported by top-tier institutions like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.
South Korea and Singapore are known for their innovation-driven higher education systems. Singapore, despite its small size, consistently ranks among the world’s top countries in terms of research funding per capita and academic impact, with institutions like NUS setting global benchmarks. South Korea continues to push boundaries in technology and engineering, with universities tightly integrated into the country’s research and industrial ecosystems.
India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong contribute robustly to the continent’s research output. India has seen a sharp rise in PhD enrollments and international collaborations, while Taiwan’s universities focus strongly on semiconductor and electronic engineering research. Hong Kong institutions are globally respected for their interdisciplinary research and English-language graduate programs. Meanwhile, Malaysia has expanded its higher education sectors significantly over the last two decades, with increased funding for research, partnerships with global universities, and policies aimed at attracting PhD students worldwide.
a-index World University Rankings: Europe
As expected, Europe is the continent with the most represented countries in the a-index World University Rankings. The EU countries included are the following 11: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. With Université PSL (global rank: 37 and a-index: 87), France leads the EU countries in our ranking system, followed by the TU Munich in Germany (global rank: 41 and a-index: 86.7). Through programs like Horizon Europe, the EU funds thousands of research projects annually, encouraging cross-border collaboration and offering generous grants to institutions and researchers.
The non-European countries that have representatives in the a-index World University Rankings are the following 3: Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The University of Oslo leads Norwegian universities with an a-index of 81.7, placing it at 103rd. Switzerland has two universities among the top 20 strictest universities in our rankings, with ETH Zurich ranked 1st in the world with an a-index of 90. The UK boasts 90 representatives in the a-index World University Rankings, led by the University of Cambridge, which holds an excellent a-index of 89.8.
a-index World University Rankings: North America
The USA is the most represented country by the a-index World University Rankings system, with over 200 ranked universities. The most competitive American university for securing fully funded PhD positions is Stanford University, ranked 2nd with an a-index of 89.9. The University of Toronto ranks #19 as the most selective Canadian institution with an a-index of 88.7. The USA and Canada have 17 and 2 universities among the top 50 strictest universities worldwide when it comes to offering funded PhD positions. The close collaboration between universities, government, and industry in the US and Canada ensures that PhD students are engaged in cutting-edge research and prepared for impactful careers in academia, industry, and beyond.
a-index World University Rankings: Oceania
Oceania has five universities ranked among the top 50 most competitive universities in the world when offering PhD positions with full financial aid. Although New Zealand is home to several high-quality institutions, all five top-tier universities are located in Australia (Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney). The strictest Australian university is the Australian National University (ANU), ranked 20th with an a-index score of 88.6, while the most competitive university in New Zealand is the University of Auckland, ranked 85th with an a-index score of 83.1.
Conclusion
The a-index World University Rankings provide a fresh, data-driven perspective on global academic competitiveness, focusing specifically on how rigorous universities are in offering fully funded PhD positions. By evaluating over 750 institutions across 28 countries, the system sheds light on research intensity, selectivity, and funding access in ways traditional rankings do not. As demonstrated by leading institutions such as ETH Zurich, Stanford University, and Université PSL, the a-index highlights true PhD-level competitiveness rather than broad prestige-based indicators. With its expanding coverage and annual updates, the a-index continues to empower PhD applicants worldwide, offering clearer guidance on where meaningful, well-supported research opportunities are most realistically within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which university is the strictest PhD-awarding institution in the world?
ETH Zurich is ranked #1 by the a-index University Rankings, with an a-index of 90, making it the strictest university worldwide for securing fully funded PhD positions.
Which university is the most competitive in the US?
Stanford University is the strictest in the USA, ranking 2nd globally with an a-index of 89.9.
Which university is the strictest in Europe?
ETH Zurich leads Europe, followed by top institutions such as the University of Cambridge in the UK, EPFL in Switzerland, and Université PSL in France.
Which university is the strictest in Asia?
Among Asian institutions, the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University rank among the strictest, while Singapore’s NUS is also one of the continent’s top competitors for fully funded PhD positions.
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