Most universities focus on fixing inefficiencies. TU Berlin and Corvinus University of Budapest are doing something more strategic. They have redefined admissions, not as a series of tasks to process, but as an institutional advantage to design.
Their insight is simple: admissions is not just a pipeline. It is your institution’s first impression and its frontline. The way it is built shapes everything from applicant experience to institutional growth.
To address this, both universities adopted DreamApply, an admissions software used by European universities. It is not only applicant-first, but also supports the operational complexities of modern admissions teams.
“We can’t use a template forever,” says Kester von Kuczkowski, Head of Degree Programme Operations at TU Berlin’s TUBS GmbH. “We have to adjust it again and again, because we have such high dynamics in the processes. That is really a plus… DreamApply adapted to us, not the other way around.”
“The status change feature is a game-changer,” says Adriana Villalobos, International Admissions Executive at Corvinus. “You change a status, and the email is automatically sent. It’s one of my favorite features.”
This isn’t merely about implementing a new software. It is a mindset shift, one in which admissions becomes a competitive strength rather than a procedural burden. The caveat is that DreamApply is already built with this in mind.
How TU Berlin turned flexibility into a competitive advantage
Kester von Kuczkowski of TU Berlin says country-based personalization and flexibility are essential
At TU Berlin’s TUBS GmbH, where Kester von Kuczkowski oversees degree programme operations, no two admissions cycles are ever the same. The university runs a portfolio of international postgraduate programs that attract experienced professionals, not just undergraduates.
These programs attract mid-career professionals with diverse academic and industry backgrounds. Applicants often submit detailed CVs, professional references, statements of purpose and records of international qualifications. Many apply while working full-time, across different time zones, while in parallel being busy with visa preparation. For TU Berlin, the challenge isn’t just volume – it’s managing nuance, ensuring fairness and maintaining clarity across every interaction.
“The platform adjusts based on the applicant’s country,” says Kuczkowski. “That’s a great feature. It saves us time and improves communication, especially with students who go through the visa process.”
This adaptability allows TU Berlin to customize templates, manage multiple program tracks and serve a globally diverse cohort.
“We’re getting more familiar with each other,” Kuczkowski says, referring to the collaboration with DreamApply’s support team. “We can rely on each other. That’s a plus.”
How Corvinus used automation to save time and unlock strategic value
Adriana Villalobos explains how DreamApply supports faster decisions and better cross-team coordination
Corvinus University handles thousands of international applications each year. Before DreamApply, their team spent hours sending exam invitations and follow-ups manually. The work was repetitive and error-prone.
Adriana Villalobos, International Admissions Executive, describes the shift.
“We used to either send a mail merge or do one email at a time,” she says. “A task that would have usually taken us a couple of hours now only takes maybe ten minutes.”
That change came from automating applicant communication. Now, a single status update sends out tailored emails instantly.
This small adjustment did more than save time. It reduced pressure during peak periods and minimized mistakes.
It also created something unexpected: better data.
“We can see where applicants come from, what programs they’re choosing, and when they drop off,” Villalobos says.
Her team now shares that insight with recruitment and marketing. Campaigns get adjusted. Messaging gets sharper. Gaps get noticed early.
“It has helped us shape our recruitment and marketing strategy,” she adds. “DreamApply made that possible.”
“It’s not just user-friendly,” she says. “It’s strategically useful.”
What modern universities can learn from TU Berlin and Corvinus
Both TU Berlin and Corvinus University realized that admissions is no longer a back-office function. It is where institutional reputation, student experience and strategic growth converge.
The takeaway is clear: universities that treat admissions as a living, evolving system, not just a form, gain more than speed. They gain visibility, coordination and control.
From TU Berlin, the lesson is adaptability. When your programs are dynamic, your platform must be too. Templates, workflows and communications must flex to match real-world variation, not the other way around.
From Corvinus, the insight is to scale through intelligence. Automation frees up hours, but what you do with that time defines your competitive edge. Adriana’s team didn’t just save time, they used that space to analyze applicant behavior, support recruitment and adapt marketing to what actually works.
For institutions across Europe, this means rethinking what your admissions platform is actually for. It’s not just about collecting applications. It’s about creating alignment between people, processes and purpose.
If your admissions process still runs on PDFs, spreadsheets and workarounds, the competitive gap is widening. But it doesn’t take a transformation project to start closing it.
Before you upgrade your tools, upgrade your approach
You don’t need to rip out your current system to rethink your admissions strategy.
Start with a low-effort, high-impact first step: the DreamApply strategy booster. It’s not a demo. It’s not a sales call. It’s a fast, focused check-in on how your admissions process stacks up, and where small changes could unlock big wins.
You’ll receive:
- A quick discovery form tailored to your goals
- Strategic feedback grounded in real use cases
- Optional follow-up if you want to go deeper
If it makes sense, we’ll show you how other European universities are using DreamApply to modernize, personalize and align their admissions workflows.
And if it doesn’t? You’ll still walk away with actionable insights.
Learn how DreamApply can help transform your admissions process and make your institution the top choice for the current and next generation of students.
About DreamApply
Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply is an innovation-driven EdTech organization that improves access to education around the globe. DreamApply’s admissions software helps more than 300 educational institutions across 40 countries improve admissions, marketing, financial and other internal processes.
DreamApply’s easy-to-use and customizable software increases student enrollment by 30% and reduces application processing time by 40%. With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.
Request a live walk-through of DreamApply with an expert.