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.