Documentation: Students admitted, rejected, admitted

Below is the e-mail correspondence between a University of Copenhagen administrator, his colleague in another university and two students. Names have been anonymised and put in brackets [ ]. To follow the thread, you have to scroll down to the bottom, and read upwards. In other words, the concluding, latest e-mails are first, the earliest, last.

See the accompanying article, with comments from the former head of the International Office here :
Staff e-mails reveal exchange frustration

—–Original Message—–
From: [UCPH administrator]
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 10:34 AM
To: [Foreign university’s administrator]
Cc: [UCPH administrator 2]
Subject: Re: Erasmus Copenhagen

Dear [Foreign university’s administrator],
This is fine then, we will give him the place right away. He will get the
official confirmation later but he should not worry.
Kind regards,
[UCPH administrator]

On 31/05/12 09.21, [Foreign university’s administrator] wrote:

> Dear [UCPH administrator],
>
> Thank you for good news! [Student A] is still interested in coming
> to Copenhagen. It was difficult to find hom another place so late.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> [Foreign university’s administrator]
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: [UCPH administrator]
> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 9:55 AM
> To: [Foreign university’s administrator]
> Cc: [UCPH administrator 2]
> Subject: Re: Erasmus Copenhagen
>
> Dear [Foreign university’s administrator]
> I have been allowed to give a few extra erasmus places, so I am able
> to offer one place to [Student A] . Could you please confirm that he
> is still interested in coming to Copenhagen and that he has not been
> allocated another erasmus place elsewhere?
> Kind regards,
> [UCPH administrator]
>
>
> On 11/05/12 10.52, [Foreign university’s administrator] wrote:
>
>> Dear colleague,
>>
>> Our priority is [Student B] .
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
[Foreign university’s administrator]
>>
>> —–Original Message—–
>> From: [UCPH administrator]
>> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 4:37 PM
>> To: [Unknown e-mail recipient from foreign university’s country]; [Unknown e-mail recipient from foreign university’s country]; [Foreign university’s administrator]
>> Subject: Erasmus Copenhagen
>>
>> Dear [Unknown recipient from foreign university’s country], [Unknown recipient from foreign university’s country] and [Foreign university’s administrator]
>>
>> We have received 53 erasmus application this year, but we can only
>> offer 43 places. We are giving priority to universities that have
>> attracted some of our students in the past 3 years, and [named foreign country] is
>> unfortunately not among them.
>>
>> I am able to offer you one place for 2012-2013, but I received two
>> applications from [named foreign country]([Student A] and [Student B]). Could I ask you to tell
>> me which of the two students you wish to give priority to? I hope
>> that it is not too late to find an alternative solution for the other
student.
>>
>> I am truly sorry about this situation, but there is little I can do.
>> Please note that given the trend of the past few years, the same
>> problem can be expected next year (even though it is impossible to
>> predict
> exactly).
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> [UCPH administrator]

[Editor: the following is a separate e-mail]

[Official at UCPH international administrator’s office]
May 21

to [Student A]

Dear [Student A]

I am afraid that I do not have good news for you. The Department of [Anonymised] has declined your application:

Dear student,
Our department is compelled to reach a balance between incoming and outgoing erasmus students. This year, we have received 53 applications for only 43 erasmus places. I have decided to give priority to partner universities that have received some of our students in the past 3 years. Your department is unfortunately not among them, and I am therefore not able to give you one erasmus place. I hope that you will be able to find a place elsewhere and I wish you good luck in your future studies.
Best regards,

[UCPH department’s administrator2]

The International Office will generate the official letter of decline later.

Best regards

[UCPH department’s administrator2]

[Editor: The above correspondence has been anonymised to protect the students involved]

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

Stay in the know about news and events happening in Copenhagen by signing up for the University Post’s weekly newsletter here.