The verdict in three sentences
A private business school in Dublin aiming for more applications must treat its website as an admissions funnel, not a brochure. A redesign with online application, an admissions CRM and dedicated international student journeys costs 40,000 to 70,000 EUR in 2026, delivered in 12 weeks. The financial stake shows in cost per application, which can fall from 140 to 60 EUR when campaigns land on programme pages that convert.
The admissions funnel at the heart of the redesign
A school leaver in Cork, a career changer in Dublin or an international student in Lagos or São Paulo compares 4 to 6 schools on mobile. They drop out if the form asks them to download a PDF, print it and email a scan.
| Step | Old site | Redesigned site | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programme page | Generic copy, 12-page PDF | Outcomes, fees, intakes, testimonials, FAQ | +30 to 50% clicks to apply |
| Application form | Printable PDF | 4-step online form with saved drafts | Completion rate from 25% to 60% |
| Documents | By email | Upload (transcripts, passport, English test) | Complete files twice as fast |
| Application fee | Bank transfer | Online card payment | Fewer ghost applications |
| Applicant follow-up | Manual calls | CRM with email, SMS and WhatsApp nurturing | Response within 48 h |
| Advisory appointments | Phone | Online booking across time zones | +20% appointments attended |
The admissions CRM is the centrepiece: every application comes with its source (Meta, Google, fair, education agent), so you can finally cut campaigns and agents that do not produce enrolments.
Detailed budget for an international redesign
| Item | 2026 price (EUR, excl. VAT) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| UX, design and digital brand | 8,000 to 13,000 | Mobile mock-ups, programme pages, applicant journey |
| Development and CMS | 12,000 to 20,000 | Next.js, 40 to 80 pages, programme and intake management |
| International student section | 3,500 to 6,000 | Visa and Stamp 2 guidance, accommodation, country pages |
| Additional language versions | 3,000 to 6,000 | Portuguese or Spanish for key recruitment markets |
| Application module and document upload | 6,000 to 11,000 | Multi-step form, secure storage, fee payment |
| Admissions CRM and automations | 5,000 to 9,000 | Pipeline, nurturing, dashboards per programme |
| Migration, SEO and staff training | 2,500 to 5,000 | 301 redirects, SEO, 2-day training |
Under GDPR and the Irish Data Protection Commission's guidance, applicant documents must be stored securely, accessed only by admissions staff and deleted on a defined schedule. If you recruit through education agents, data sharing agreements must also be in place. QQI-recognised programmes should show their NFQ level clearly, as international applicants and visa officers check it.
Mini case study
Siobhan, director of admissions at a private business school in Dublin (1,800 students), spends 168,000 EUR a year on campaigns for 1,200 applications, or 140 EUR each. After a 62,000 EUR redesign, the same budget produces 2,800 applications, 60 EUR each. At an 18% enrolment rate, potential new students rise from 216 to 504. Even if only 100 extra students actually enrol, at an average annual fee of 9,500 EUR, that is 950,000 EUR in first-year revenue for 62,000 EUR invested.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is 12 weeks realistic before the admissions cycle?
Yes if launch happens by March for a September intake. Programme content must be signed off before week 6, otherwise the timeline slips to 14 or 16 weeks.
Do we need an education-specific CRM?
Not necessarily: a CRM configured for admissions costs 5,000 to 9,000 EUR and handles up to 5,000 applications a year. Dedicated education platforms make sense for multi-campus groups.
Can we collect application fees online?
Yes, by card through Stripe or a local acquirer, at around 1.5 to 2.9% per transaction. A 50 to 100 EUR fee paid online sharply reduces non-serious applications.
Do extra languages really help recruitment?
They reassure families who fund much of international tuition. Schools adding key-market language pages often see appointment requests from those countries rise by 10 to 20%.
How do we protect documents uploaded by applicants?
Encrypted storage hosted in the EU, access limited to admissions staff and automatic deletion of unsuccessful files after 12 to 24 months. These rules belong in the privacy notice and the records of processing.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your programmes, application volumes and target markets: we price an admissions-focused redesign between 40,000 and 70,000 EUR, delivered in 12 weeks. 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.
