antagning.se

2023-2024

Client

Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR)

Role

UX Designer and Researcher

Methods

User & stakeholder interviews, Workshops, Service design, Iterative prototyping, User flows, Problem framing, Function analysis, Concept development, Usability testing, WCAG compliance, Google Analytics, Figma

Imagine being a student, full of hopes and dreams, ready to apply for higher education. Yet, the very system meant to guide and support you feels complex, unclear, and overwhelming. This was the reality for hundreds of thousands of national and international students using Antagning.se and Universityadmissions.se.

The application process, while functional, was filled with challenges: from the confusing prioritisation of study choices to unclear status updates and a lack of guidance on next steps. For international applicants, the experience was even more daunting, as the process differed significantly from their home countries. The emotional weight of these applications—decisions that impact housing, relocation, and careers—further heightened the stress for users.

The goal of this project was to transform this experience into one that was intuitive, supportive, and empowering. By redesigning the application flow, we aimed to give students clarity, control, and confidence in their journey toward higher education.

  • Challenges Addressed

    • Complex Prioritisation System: Users struggled to understand how to prioritise courses and programmes and how their choices impacted outcomes.

    • Lack of Transparency: Unclear status updates created uncertainty about next steps and whether applications were complete.

    • International Applicants’ Challenges: Differences in admission processes between countries made it difficult for international users to navigate the system.

    • Stress and Emotional Impact: The process carried significant emotional weight as it influenced major life decisions such as moving, housing, and work.

    My Role

    As a UX designer and researcher, I led the user-centred design process, including:

    • Conducting user interviews, stakeholder workshops, and usability tests to identify pain points.

    • Developing wireframes and clickable prototypes to address user needs.

    • Designing a streamlined, visually modern interface aligned with WCAG accessibility standards.

    • Collaborating closely with stakeholders, including developers and legal teams, to ensure feasibility and compliance.

    Key Improvements

    • Enhanced Prioritisation Flow: Clearer guidance on how to prioritise and the impact of choices.

    • Transparent Status Updates: Users received clear, actionable updates on their application status and next steps.

    • User Empowerment: Step-by-step guidance reduced the need for support and helped users feel confident in their applications.

    • Emotional Support Through Design: Thoughtful design elements, such as colour-coded statuses, helped manage user expectations and reduce stress.

    Outcomes

    • Improved user understanding of eligibility and prioritisation.

    • Reduced support requests by empowering users to handle their applications independently.

    • Enhanced user confidence and satisfaction through transparency and clarity.

    • Streamlined administrative workflows for universities and colleges.