Part 3

In the Civil Service (which is the general name for the various departments of work under the Government), University women are employed in some numbers under the Board of Education, the Home Office, the Ministry of Health and the Local Government Board, as Inspectors and Medical Officers. The Ministry of Labour and the Post Office, while employing large numbers of women, offer very few posts suitable for University graduates. During the war many women held in Government offices positions of importance and responsibility; but most of them have now been dispensed with under the plea of economy, or of providing employment for discharged soldiers. A very few of these women, however, still retain their posts, and there is a fairly powerful movement for opening the higher positions in the Civil Service to women. Hitherto all women employed have been engaged by individual selection; it is now proposed that after three years from 1921, they shall be eligible to compete for posts in the same examinations as men, though power is to be retained to appoint to any given post either a man or a woman, as may seem best, from among the successful candidates. It remains to be seen to what extent this provision may be used to nullify the chances of women. There is powerful opposition in many Government departments; but the Treasury is said to be favourable to the gradual introduction of women in higher administrative positions. At present, such openings for them are few. It is not at present even proposed to open to them positions in diplomacy or in the consulate.

A considerable number of educated women find administrative positions as Heads of University Colleges, Halls of Residence, and Training Colleges for Teachers. Some of the older Training Colleges are still presided over by men as Principals; but it is the policy of the Board of Education to replace these upon retirement by women. All Heads and Assistants in Elementary and Secondary Schools for girls only are women; but in schools open to both boys and girls, it is customary to appoint a man as Head, with or without a senior woman in special charge of the girls. In Scotland it is still common for a girls' school to have a Headmaster.

Secretarial work is a career coveted by many University graduates unwilling to enter upon the occupation of teaching. The Universities do not, however, provide a professional training for this; nor are the openings suited for University women very numerous. Some occasionally find congenial posts as foreign correspondents in banks and commercial firms; many become organising secretaries for philanthropic or kindred organisations; a favoured few become private secretaries to literary, scientific, or political personages. The demand, however, for secretaries of University education is not at this moment equal to the supply.

The Church offers at present very little scope for women: except in one or two of the free sects, the ministry is not open to them. The Law has only within the last year or two been opened to them.

Librarianship offers a very limited number of opportunities. Some College and University libraries employ a few women in comparatively subordinate positions; the ordinary City Library does not offer any opening to women of University education. An attempt has recently been made to provide a professional training for Librarians, following the example set long ago by the United States; but for women the prospects seem at present precarious.

Home Economics and Domestic Science being (with the exception noted above) still outside the purview of the Universities, practically no University women are qualified to undertake posts either as teachers or as practical workers in this sphere. There is, however, a very large demand for highly qualified Institutional Managers, Matrons, Superintendents, etc., and good salaries can be earned in such positions. It is to be hoped that with the return of better financial prospects in the Universities, advanced training in work of this kind, eminently suitable for educated women, may be undertaken.

It will be seen that, though many careers are open to University women, the prizes are few; and in very many of these careers the openings are so rare, or the initial income offered so low, that only those who are adventurous or independent financially, can afford to run the risk involved in choosing them. By far the most usual occupation for them, apart from medicine, is the profession of teaching; although it is now by no means, as at one time, the only avenue open. During the war, women teachers entered boys' schools in considerable numbers, but, except for quite young boys, few of these are now retained. Upon the whole, the outlook is discouraging to those who looked for a permanent increase in the number of openings for women as a result of women's varied services in the war. Only a few positions of importance have been retained, and throughout the whole field of labour women have lost the greater part of the advance made. All that seems to be definitely gained at present is the breaking down of the bar of absolute exclusion.

WOMEN STUDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

Women students wishing to enter any University in Great Britain should have complete command of the English language, since this is pre-supposed in all University studies. In none of the Universities is any course arranged specially for foreign students (though occasionally summer schools suitable for foreigners are held); but, provided they can pass the Entrance Examinations, foreigners are accepted as students in the ordinary courses. It is not, however, as a rule very practicable for a foreigner to pass one of these Entrance Examinations—planned as they are for British boys and girls leaving school. By far the best plan is to study first at a home University and resort to this country only for post-graduate work. The student should forward to the proper authority (usually the Registrar) an application for admission giving full information as to her previous University studies, with examinations passed, etc.; and each application is usually considered entirely upon its merits. As a rule, any candidate who can give proof of having attained a standard equivalent to that of the first degree examination may hope for admission without further test. The studies of all such post-graduate students are directed individually by the Professor of the subject concerned; and it is advisable to communicate with him before actually applying for admission to the College or University. The most suitable degree for such students to work for is the Ph.D., open in any Faculty. Nearly all Universities publish special prospectuses giving details as to the facilities provided for research and advanced work.

_Scholarships and Fellowships._—There is only one Fellowship definitely set aside to be awarded to foreign students—the John W. Garrett International Fellowship in Bacteriology, offered by the University of Liverpool to students from the United States or other foreign countries. In several Universities, however, scholarships and fellowships exist which are not limited to students in Great Britain; and particulars of these can be obtained from their Scholarship Prospectuses. Candidates from other countries must, however, produce ample proof of their qualifications, and are probably at some disadvantage unless they have studied under professors of world-wide reputation. In many of the Universities there are endowments for research open to persons, whether British born or not, who have already begun work at the University in question.

APPENDIX.

THE BRITISH FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

_President_:

Professor Caroline Spurgeon, Doc. Univ. Paris, Hon. Litt.D. (Michigan).

The British Federation of University Women was formed in 1910, for the purpose of furthering the interests of University women.

_Aims of the Federation._

1. To create an organisation which shall represent University women in _all_ professions, and enable them to take concerted action on matters affecting their interests in public and private life.

2. To promote co-operation between the University women of Great Britain, and to stimulate friendship between University women throughout the world.

3. To encourage independent research work by University women.

4. To stimulate the interest of University women in municipal and public life.

5. To keep a Register of University women and to notify them of suitable appointments.

_Constitution._

The British Federation is composed of Local Associations of University women, the country being divided for this purpose into areas around different large centres. Local Associations have been formed in eleven areas, the centre in each case being a University town. Twenty members is the minimum required to form a Local Association. These Associations are free to adopt any objects which are in accord with the "Aims of the Federation."

_Membership._

Membership is restricted to women who hold a University degree or its equivalent. Registered medical women or registered dentists are qualified for membership.

In addition to regular members the Federation admits as associates, in certain cases, women who have studied for not less than two years regularly at a University. Students in their last year may be admitted as temporary associates, at the discretion of the Local Association, on the understanding that they become members after taking their degree.

Women who have not studied at a University, but who have advanced the higher education and the interests of women, may be admitted by the Local Associations as honorary members.

Neither associates nor honorary members have voting power.

_Annual Meeting._

An Annual Meeting of the General Committee is held during the summer term for the election of the officers of the Federation and other business. This General Committee is composed of the members of the Executive Committee and delegates from each Local Association.

Special meetings may also be called at the request of the delegates of any three branches.

_Executive Committee._

The Executive Committee consists of the President, Hon. Secretaries, Hon. Treasurer, the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the Secretaries of the British Federation and of the Committee on International Relations, eight members elected by the General Committee at the Annual Meeting, and representatives of each Local Association. The Executive may co-opt four additional members.

The President may not hold office for more than five years, and the eight elected members of the Executive retire annually. No member of the Executive Committee, other than the officers, may hold office for more than four consecutive years.

_Finance._

Members are admitted to Local Associations on payment of a small entrance fee (6d.) and either an annual subscription, varying slightly within the different Associations, or a uniform life membership subscription of £3 10s. Annual subscriptions are paid to the local secretaries or treasurers. Life subscriptions are paid to the central Treasurer. Each Local Association contributes out of its annual subscriptions a minimum capitation fee of 4s. per member to the general funds of the Federation. The financial year runs from June 1st to May 31st.

The Central Office of the Federation is at 73, Avenue Chambers, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1.

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Printed by John Roberts Press Ltd., 14 Clerkenwell Green, London, E.C.1.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

The first Conference of the Federation was held at Bedford College for Women, London, in July, 1920. Fifteen countries were represented. Articles of a constitution and bye-laws were adopted which are calculated to provide effective machinery for ensuring co-operation between the national associations of University women in the various parts of the world. An account of the Conference, including full reports of speeches by Professor Caroline Spurgeon, Dean Virginia C. Gildersleeve, President M. Carey Thomas and other speakers, together with reports on the higher education of women in the countries represented and the text of the constitution and bye-laws, will be found in the Report, Bulletin No. 1. Copies may be obtained from the Secretary (price 1s., postage 3d.). In the United States copies may be obtained from Miss Virginia Newcomb, Institute of International Education, 419, West 117th Street, New York.

Transcriber's Note:

Possible printer errors have been changed.