The verdict in three sentences
A multilingual website for a private higher education institution costs between 11,000 and 28,000 EUR excluding VAT in 2026 (120,000 to 300,000 MAD for a school in Rabat), and the gap mostly comes from the online application module and the integration with the student information system. A school website is no longer a brochure: it is the first admissions interview for a student in Dakar, Abidjan or Amsterdam comparing five institutions on their phone. Plan for 3 to 4 months and set a measurable goal, for example 40% more international applications over two intakes.
What the budget covers, line by line
Three languages do not triple the price, but they weigh on it: Arabic (or any right-to-left language) requires an RTL layout, suitable fonts and native proofreading. The programme catalogue must be structured as data (level, duration, fees, teaching language, career outcomes) so that it can be filtered and ranks well in search.
| Item | Essential version | Full version | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and mockups (3 languages, RTL) | 2,300 EUR | 5,100 EUR | Branding, 12 to 20 templates |
| Filterable programme catalogue | 1,850 EUR | 4,150 EUR | 15 to 60 programmes |
| Online application + document upload | 2,750 EUR | 7,400 EUR | Application tracking, reminders |
| Translation and native proofreading | 1,400 EUR | 3,700 EUR | About 0.08 to 0.13 EUR per word |
| Application fee payment | 750 EUR | 2,300 EUR | Local and international cards |
| Student information system / CRM link | 0 EUR | 3,200 EUR | API or scheduled export |
| International SEO + hreflang | 950 EUR | 1,850 EUR | 3 languages, 4 target countries |
| Indicative total excl. VAT | 11,000 EUR | 28,000 EUR | 2026 order of magnitude |
On top of that come hosting and maintenance, between 140 and 370 EUR per month depending on the uptime expected during admissions season (traffic peaks from March to September). In Amsterdam, agency day rates are roughly twice as high, so the same scope typically lands between 25,000 and 55,000 EUR.
The features that actually drive applications
A student from sub-Saharan Africa does not look for the same information as a European exchange student. The first wants the total cost of the year (fees, housing, visa), degree equivalences and payment options. The second looks for Erasmus+ agreements, English-taught courses and ECTS credits. The website must answer both without drowning either.
| Feature | Priority audience | Estimated impact | Additional cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-year simulator | Sub-Saharan Africa | 15 to 25% more complete applications | 1,100 EUR |
| Country pages (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon) | Sub-Saharan Africa | 20% more organic traffic | 550 EUR per country |
| ECTS sheets and international agreements | Europe | 10% more exchange requests | 750 EUR |
| WhatsApp admissions chat | All | Response time under 2 h | 280 EUR |
| Applicant portal with tracking | All | 30% fewer calls to admissions | Included in full version |
| Alumni video testimonials | All | Conversion rate x 1.3 | 900 to 1,850 EUR |
Timing matters as much as budget: a website delivered in October misses the recruitment campaign. Ideally, kick off in November or December for a March launch, before applications open.
Mini case study
Mr Bennani runs a private business school in Rabat with 900 students, 18% of them international. He receives 600 applications a year, 150 from abroad, with a 25% conversion rate and average annual fees of 65,000 MAD (about 6,000 EUR).
He chooses a mid-range version at 210,000 MAD excluding VAT (about 19,400 EUR) with online application, a cost simulator and three country pages. If international applications rise from 150 to 210 (+40%), at constant conversion that means 15 extra enrolments, or 975,000 MAD (about 90,000 EUR) of tuition in the first year. Even if only half the goal is reached (+20%), the site pays for itself in the first intake. The admissions office also saves around 6 hours a week thanks to online application tracking.
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FAQ
Do we really need a third language such as Arabic?
For a Moroccan school, yes: families and institutional partners often read Arabic, and ministry accreditation is better presented that way. Arabic adds roughly 15 to 20% to the design and translation budget.
Can we collect application fees online?
Yes, through a local acquirer for domestic cards and an international gateway for foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Expect fees of about 1.5 to 3% per transaction depending on the card.
How long does a trilingual website take?
Between 12 and 16 weeks: 3 weeks of scoping and content, 4 of design, 5 to 7 of development and 2 of testing and translation. The bottleneck is almost always the school delivering its texts.
How do we measure the 40% increase?
A dashboard tracks applications started and submitted by country of origin and traffic source. Comparing intake N with N-1, over the same campaign period, gives a reliable figure.
Must the site connect to the student information system?
Not at first: a daily export is enough below 300 applications a year. Beyond that, an API connection, around 3,200 EUR, avoids double entry and errors.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of programmes, languages and recruitment countries: we will price a scope between 11,000 and 28,000 EUR excluding VAT with a schedule aligned on your next admissions campaign. 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.
