The General Examination for Women was an examination of the University of London first held in May 1869 that enabled women to receive a Certificate of Proficiency from the university but not a degree. It was a precursor to the award of degrees to women by the university which did not happen until a decade later. The first nine candidates to take the exam are sometimes known as "the London Nine".
Developer / administrator | University of London |
---|---|
Knowledge / skills tested | Humanities and sciences |
Purpose | Degree level qualification for women |
Year started | 1869 (admission 1868) |
Year terminated | 1878 |
Languages | English |
Candidates for the General Examination for Women were admitted to study at the University of London from 1868.[2] The examination was first held in May 1869 with nine candidates participating. The results were assessed on 15 May 1869, at Somerset House on the Strand, by 17 male examiners.[2] Although the exam could be taken from the age of 17, the average age of the candidates was 21.[3]
In order to receive their certificate, the candidates had to pass a minimum of six papers from, "Latin, English Language, English History, Geography, Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, two from Greek, French, German and Italian, and either Chemistry or Botany".[2] The questions included an essay on the character of Queen Elizabeth I, a request to enumerate "the principal rivers in North America", and the calculation of the square root of 384524.01. On the advice of the Home Office, a "female attendant" or matron was made available in case the candidates should become over-excited by being brought to London for examination.[1][2]
Despite the examination being as difficult as the existing Matriculation Examination, only a Certificate of Proficiency was issued to the successful candidates, rather than a degree.[2]
The first nine candidates in 1869, sometimes known as "the London nine", were:[2][4]
All passed with honours apart from Belcher, Lawrence, and Baker-Watson who did not pass. Belcher re-sat and passed in 1870.[2]
The suffrage campaigner and translator Henrietta Frances Lord passed the exam in 1872.[5]
Over the subsequent decade until the exam was last held in 1878, over 264 candidates took the exam, some of whom were re-takes or additional qualifications meaning that the actual number of individual women who participated was somewhat lower than 264.[2][3] Of these 139 passed, of whom 53 passed with honours.[2]
Of the 139:[3]
In 1878, there were 42 candidates of whom 24 passed.[1]
The certificate ceased to be offered from 1878 as it provided evidence that there was no necessity to examine men and women separately.[3] Women were allowed to study for University of London degrees from that year and the women-only colleges of Westfield and Royal Holloway were founded in 1882 and 1886 respectively. In 1895, 10% of the university's graduates were women, and 30% by 1900.[2]