GKS Type A vs Type B Universities: The Full 2026 List
"I picked my three GKS universities, but I just found out one of them has to be 'Type B.' Which schools even count as Type B?"
If you are building your Embassy Track university list right now, this question is probably keeping you up at night. The rule is easy to miss and easy to get wrong, and getting it wrong can put your whole application at risk.
GoKorea Study is an information service. We publish what the official notices actually say, so you can decide for yourself. This guide is free information in simple English, based on the 2026 GKS-U (undergraduate) guidelines published by NIIED. GKS university lists, quotas, and rules can change every year, so always verify the newest information on the official Study in Korea website (studyinkorea.go.kr), NIIED, or the university's own admissions page.
This article is information only. It is not legal, immigration, or admissions advice. For your own case, confirm with NIIED, your Korean embassy or consulate, or the university's official international office.
The Short Answer
For 2026 GKS-U Embassy Track, universities are split into two groups: Type A and Type B.
- General and Overseas Koreans applicants can choose up to 3 universities, but at least 1 of the 3 must be a Type B university. You cannot list 3 different departments from the same single university. If you fill a Type A university into a Type B slot, your application can be excluded from evaluation.
- R-GKS applicants can choose up to 2 universities, and both must come from the Type B list. There is no Type A option for R-GKS.
- University Track applicants (Associate Degree and UIC) apply to only 1 university, so the Type A/Type B split does not apply to them in the same way.
There are 30 Type A universities and 39 Type B universities in the 2026 GKS-U guideline, plus 9 more universities that only appear in the University Track's Associate Degree program. Full lists are below.
Why the Type A / Type B Rule Exists
Don’t want to miss an update?
Join GoKorea Insider — one email when it matters, nothing else.
The Type B rule is the clearest built-in incentive toward universities outside the most competitive, mostly Seoul-based schools. By requiring at least one Type B choice, the guideline pushes every General and Overseas Koreans applicant to consider at least one regional university alongside their top picks.
The guideline also gives a warning worth repeating: choosing all 3 universities among "highly competitive universities" can mean failing all 3 in the final round, even after passing an earlier round. Type A schools are not automatically better fits for every applicant — they are simply more competitive on average, and Type B choices are a required part of a balanced Embassy Track list, not a fallback for weak applicants.
Type A and Type B are not a ranking of quality. They describe the built-in choice structure of the Embassy Track application, nothing more.
University Choice Rules by Track
| Track / Program | How many universities can you choose? | Type A/Type B rule |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy Track — General | Up to 3 | At least 1 must be Type B |
| Embassy Track — Overseas Koreans | Up to 3 | At least 1 must be Type B |
| Embassy Track — R-GKS | Up to 2 | Both must be Type B |
| University Track — UIC | 1 | Not applicable — 1 university, 1 department |
| University Track — Associate Degree | 1 | Not applicable — 1 university, 1 department |
Always double-check this rule against the newest official guideline before you submit your list. Guidelines are reissued every year and details can change.
GKS Type A Universities (30 total)
These are the 30 Type A universities in the 2026 GKS-U Embassy Track. Most are large, well-known universities, and many are located in or near Seoul.
| # | University | Also offers University Track UIC? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajou University | Yes |
| 2 | Chung-Ang University | No |
| 3 | Dankook University | No |
| 4 | Dongguk University | No |
| 5 | Duksung Women's University | No |
| 6 | Ewha Womans University | No |
| 7 | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies | No |
| 8 | Hansung University | No |
| 9 | Hanyang University | No |
| 10 | Hongik University | No |
| 11 | Incheon National University | No |
| 12 | Inha University | No |
| 13 | Konkuk University | No |
| 14 | Kookmin University | Yes |
| 15 | Korea University | No |
| 16 | KyungHee University (Kyung Hee University) | No |
| 17 | Myongji University | No |
| 18 | Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) | No |
| 19 | Seokyeong University | No |
| 20 | Seoul National University | No |
| 21 | Seoul National University of Science and Technology | No |
| 22 | Shinhan University | No |
| 23 | Sogang University | No |
| 24 | Sookmyung Women's University | No |
| 25 | Sungkyunkwan University | No |
| 26 | Sungshin Women's University | Yes |
| 27 | Tech University of Korea | No |
| 28 | Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) | No |
| 29 | University of Seoul | No |
| 30 | Yonsei University | No |
For exact application procedures, majors, and language requirements, always check each university's official admissions page — details differ by school and can change each year.
GKS Type B Universities (39 total)
These are the 39 Type B universities in the 2026 GKS-U Embassy Track. General and Overseas Koreans applicants must include at least one of these in their 3 university choices. R-GKS applicants choose only from this list.
| # | University | Also offers University Track UIC? |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Busan University of Foreign Studies | No |
| 32 | Cheongju University | No |
| 33 | Chonnam National University | No |
| 34 | Chosun University | No |
| 35 | Chungbuk National University | No |
| 36 | Chungnam National University | No |
| 37 | Daegu Catholic University | No |
| 38 | Daegu University | Yes |
| 39 | Daejeon University | No |
| 40 | Dong-A University | Yes |
| 41 | Dongseo University | No |
| 42 | Gyeongkuk National University (also spelled "Gyeongguk" in some sources) | No |
| 43 | Gyeongsang National University | No |
| 44 | Hannam University | No |
| 45 | Hoseo University | No |
| 46 | Inje University | Yes |
| 47 | Jeju National University | No |
| 48 | Jeonbuk National University | No |
| 49 | Kangwon National University (Chuncheon / Samcheok·Dogye campus) | No |
| 50 | Keimyung University | Yes |
| 51 | Kongju National University | No |
| 52 | Konyang University | Yes |
| 53 | Korea Maritime & Ocean University | No |
| 54 | Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) | Yes |
| 55 | Korea University Sejong Campus | No |
| 56 | Kunsan National University | No |
| 57 | Kyungpook National University | No |
| 58 | Kyungsung University | No |
| 59 | Mokwon University | No |
| 60 | Pai Chai University | No |
| 61 | Pukyong National University | No |
| 62 | Pusan National University | No |
| 63 | Semyung University | No |
| 64 | Silla University | No |
| 65 | Soonchunhyang University | No |
| 66 | Sun Moon University | No |
| 67 | Sunchon National University | No |
| 68 | University of Ulsan | No |
| 69 | Yeungnam University | Yes |
Note: Korea University Sejong Campus (#55) is listed separately from the main Korea University (Seoul) campus, which is Type A. Treat these as two distinct entries when you build your university list.
Associate Degree-Only Universities (9 total, University Track Only)
These 9 universities do not appear in the Embassy Track Type A or Type B lists at all. They only participate through the University Track's 2-year Associate Degree program, which is a separate application path from the 4-year Embassy Track universities above.
| # | University | Also offers University Track UIC (Associate)? |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Dong Eui Institute of Technology | Yes |
| 71 | Gumi University | No |
| 72 | Hanyang Women's University | No |
| 73 | Hosan University | No |
| 74 | Korea University of Media Arts | No |
| 75 | Kyungbok University | Yes |
| 76 | Osan University | Yes |
| 77 | Vision College of Jeonju | No |
| 78 | Yeungjin University | No |
If you are aiming for one of these 9, remember: University Track applicants choose only 1 university and 1 department, so this is a separate, more focused application path, not part of the Embassy Track Type A/Type B choice.
GKS-U vs GKS-G: Different Type A/Type B Lists
Everything above covers GKS-U, the undergraduate program. If you are researching GKS-G, the graduate program, be careful: GKS-G uses its own, separate Type A and Type B lists, and they are not the same size or the same universities as the undergraduate lists above.
For the 2026 round, GKS-G Embassy Track and University Track cover 74 total institutions, split into 33 Type A and 41 Type B — different numbers from the GKS-U 30/39 split above. Do not mix the two lists together when you build your application.
GKS-G also has two specialized University Track programs worth knowing by name:
- R&D program: covers 25 universities, including Ajou University, Cheongju University, Chonnam National University, Dong-A University, Ewha Womans University, Gyeongsang National University, Hannam University, Incheon National University, Inje University, Jeju National University, KAIST, Keimyung University, Konkuk University, Kookmin University, KOREATECH, Kunsan National University, Kyungpook National University, Pukyong National University, Pusan National University, Seoul Theological University, SeoulTech, Sogang University, Sunchon National University, Yeungnam University, and Yonsei University.
- Global Network program: covers 6 universities — Ajou University, Gyeongkuk National University, Hongik University, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Pusan National University, and Seoul National University.
A full GKS-G Type A/Type B breakdown deserves its own guide, so we will cover it in a separate article. For now, if you are a graduate applicant, do not use the GKS-U lists above to plan your university choices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Putting all 3 choices in Type A. This is the single most common mistake. If none of your 3 choices is Type B, your application can be excluded from evaluation.
Assuming Type B means "lower quality." Type A and Type B describe the choice structure of the Embassy Track, not a quality ranking. Many Type B universities are strong national universities with long track records.
Mixing up GKS-U and GKS-G lists. GKS-U has 30 Type A and 39 Type B universities. GKS-G has 33 Type A and 41 Type B universities. They are different lists — check which program guideline you are actually reading.
Confusing Associate Degree-only universities with the Embassy Track list. The 9 universities in the Associate Degree table above are not part of the 4-year Embassy Track Type A/Type B choice at all.
R-GKS applicants adding a Type A university. R-GKS applicants can only choose from the Type B list. There is no Type A option in R-GKS.
Using an old year's list. GKS participating universities, and their Type A/Type B status, can change between application rounds. Always verify against the current year's official guideline before finalizing your choices.
Related Guides
- GKS Embassy Track vs University Track: Which Should You Choose?
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): The Complete Guide
- GKS Country Quotas
CTA: Get the Free GKS Success Guide
Want a cleaner way to plan your GKS university list?
Join GoKorea Insider and get the free GKS Success Guide when it is released. We send clear, source-checked information about GKS, Korean universities, visa preparation, and study-in-Korea timelines.
카드뉴스 5포인트
Two university groups, one required choice Embassy Track universities are split into Type A and Type B, and General/Overseas Koreans applicants must include at least one Type B pick among their 3 choices.
30 Type A, 39 Type B The 2026 GKS-U guideline lists 30 Type A universities and 39 Type B universities in the Embassy Track.
R-GKS only picks Type B R-GKS applicants choose up to 2 universities, and both must come from the Type B list.
9 more universities, Associate Degree only Nine 2-year colleges appear only in the University Track's Associate Degree program, separate from the 4-year Embassy Track list.
GKS-U and GKS-G lists are different Graduate GKS-G has its own Type A/Type B split (33/41), not the same as the undergraduate 30/39 split.
Reel Script (30-45s)
Hook: "I picked my 3 GKS universities, but one of them has to be Type B. Which schools count?" Let's fix that.
Point 1: Embassy Track universities are split into Type A and Type B. General and Overseas Koreans applicants must include at least one Type B university in their 3 choices.
Point 2: There are 30 Type A universities and 39 Type B universities in the 2026 GKS-U guideline.
Point 3: R-GKS applicants choose up to 2 universities, and both must be Type B. There is no Type A option for R-GKS.
Point 4: Type A and Type B are not a quality ranking. They are just the choice structure of the Embassy Track application.
Send-CTA: Send this to a friend building their GKS university list. Join GoKorea Insider for the free GKS Success Guide. Just clear information.
Become a GoKorea Insider
Free email updates on GKS, universities, visas, and application deadlines — no agency, no spam.
