STUDIENWAHL

Project Phases

The project was structured in three phases:

1. Document the API of Studienwahl
2. Make the event subpage of Studienwahl more user-friendly
3. Identify and implement unknown optimization opportunities

API Documentation

For this project, the Information Agency requested a detailed documentation of the website’s API. This was necessary to understand how the import process between databases functions. The resulting documentation provides a solid guide for similar future projects, enabling more efficient implementation without having to start from scratch. Due to the confidential nature of some governmental data, I will not elaborate on the first phase and will proceed directly to the second.

The Problem

A known problem at the agency was that the events page on Studienwahl was overflowing with listings, making it hard for students to find what they were searching for. Institutions like ETH and UZH, which only host information events twice a year, were buried under a flood of listings from schools like Kalaidos or ZHAW that hold sessions almost every week. This was a problem because, statistically, most users are primarily interested in the larger institutions.

Designing a Process

I started by mapping out a structured process to bring order to the chaos. This involved several key steps:

• Creating a clear framework to decide which events should actually appear on the site
• Grouping recurring events into concise quarterly overviews, so the page wouldn’t get clogged with dozens of similar posts by merging them into single entries that linked to multiple study programs, making them easier to find and understand

To keep everything consistent, I drafted a UX writing template that set the tone and ensured each event would give students the same kind of quick, useful snapshot.

Implementation & Results

Once the process was in place, I trained the team so they could maintain this clarity moving forward. I also thought carefully about how these events should appear on the site. Instead of long lists, I opted for a card-based UI, making it easier to scan and compare options.

The impact was immediate: the events page became much more manageable, and students could find the key information they were looking for without feeling overwhelmed.

Identifying the Problem

To identify additional friction points, I organized usability tests with representative users. They navigated the platform while thinking aloud. This revealed critical insights:

• The homepage filter produced too many broad results, often surfacing unrelated programs
• Key features like hiding options were locked behind account creation
• The idea generator tool produced vague results, failing to guide students effectively

Due to time restrictions, I decided to address the filtering system on the homepage, since it was the most pressing issue. The other two points were documented for future improvements.

Improving the Filtering System

I first needed to understand the root cause. I discovered that all study programs were tagged with the highest relevance level (3) for multiple subjects and interests, even if they were not the most relevant.

To address this problem, I collaborated with study advisors to review and adjust relevance levels for hundreds of programs. Finally, I built a detailed matrix to drive this reclassification, and once approved, I implemented it in the backend. This reduced irrelevant search hits, making the portal significantly more intuitive.

Reflection

Through this process, I learned how critical it is to balance reducing information overload while preserving essential data. Students can now filter more precisely, navigating Studienwahl with less frustration and greater confidence.

This project highlighted the power of small, data-informed UX adjustments to drive substantial improvements in user satisfaction.