The verdict in three sentences
For a private school of 900 students in civil engineering, computing and energy in London, a redesign with an online admissions module costs 60,000 to 150,000 GBP in 2026 on the market (about 70,000 to 175,000 USD), with a 10 to 16 week timeline. The main gain comes from going paperless: no more email attachments scattered across inboxes, application fees of 50 to 100 GBP paid by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and each application tracked by the admissions team. Since 35 % of applications arrive between June and September, including clearing, the project must start by February at the latest to go live before the peak.
What the admissions module must cover
Applicants from Lagos, Delhi or Leeds apply mostly from their phones. The journey must therefore work on a mid-range smartphone and an unstable connection: short form, photo upload of documents (transcripts, passport, English test results), card payment, email and SMS acknowledgement. For international students, the module must also capture the information needed to issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) under UKVI rules. On the admin side, a dashboard sorts applications by programme and status.
| Feature | Problem solved | Indicative 2026 market cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Application form by programme | Incomplete files, manual data entry | 8,000 to 20,000 |
| Mobile document upload | Documents lost in email threads | 5,000 to 12,000 |
| Application fee payment (Stripe, wallets) | Manual invoicing and reconciliation | 4,000 to 10,000 |
| Admissions dashboard | Tracking by programme, status, reminders | 12,000 to 30,000 |
| SMS and email notifications | Applicants left without news, repeated calls | 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Offers, CAS data and results online | Paper letters, manual follow-up | 6,000 to 15,000 |
| Redesigned institutional site (programmes, careers, campus) | Dated image, scattered information | 20,000 to 55,000 |
Applicant data falls under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, supervised by the ICO. The form must collect consent, and hosting must be secure and backed up.
2026 budget: options compared
| Option | Scope | 2026 range (GBP) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple form on the current site | Application without payment or dashboard | 6,000 to 12,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Admissions software subscription | Generic tool, limited customisation | 800 to 2,500 per month | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Custom redesign and module | Full journey, payment, dashboard | 60,000 to 150,000 | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Integration with student record system | Automatic enrolment after acceptance | 10,000 to 30,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Hosting and monitoring | Server, backups, SSL certificate | 300 to 1,200 per month | Ongoing |
| Maintenance and support | Updates, security patches, minor changes | 500 to 2,000 per month | Ongoing |
A paid search and social campaign can support the June to September peak, especially for clearing, where applicants decide within days.
Mini case study
Helen, chief executive of a private engineering school in London, receives 1,600 applications a year with a 75 GBP application fee. She invests 95,000 GBP in a redesign and admissions module, plus 700 GBP a month for hosting, 103,400 GBP in year one.
Processing an application by email takes 45 minutes against 15 minutes online: across 1,600 files, the admissions team saves 800 hours, about 22,400 GBP at 28 GBP an hour. If the online journey lifts applications by 5 %, 80 files, and 30 % enrol on 14,000 GBP annual tuition, the school gains 24 students and 336,000 GBP in revenue: the investment is covered from the first intake.
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FAQ
How much does an engineering school website with online admissions cost in London?
On the market, budget 60,000 to 150,000 GBP in 2026 for a complete journey. Integration with the student record system adds 10,000 to 30,000 GBP.
Can applicants pay the application fee online?
Yes, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with automatic payment confirmation. Fees of 50 to 100 GBP are attached to the application, which removes manual reconciliation.
Does the journey work for international applicants?
Yes if it is designed for it: light pages, compressed uploads, saved progress if the connection drops. A complete application should take under 15 minutes, including the data needed for the CAS.
When should we start the project?
By February at the latest to go live in May, before the June to September peak that concentrates 35 % of applications. The average timeline is 10 to 16 weeks.
How do we protect applicant data?
By complying with UK GDPR: explicit consent, role-based access, encrypted backups. Secure managed hosting costs 300 to 1,200 GBP a month.
Let's scope your project. Share your programmes, application volume and fees: we will price the site, admissions module and payment flow with an indicative budget and a schedule aligned with your intake. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
