For the woman who wanted some form of "higher education," attending a college or university wasn't the only option. A variety of programs provided college-level courses for women without requiring them to actually attend a college. These included college and university extension courses, home study programs, correspondence courses, and courses held by other organizations such as the YWCA.

What Is Meant by University Extension (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

Cambridge System of Instruction by Correspondence (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Help for Study at Home (Girl's Own Paper, 1881, 1887)

An 1881 article about the Students' Branch of the Christian Women's Education Union, with an update in 1887.

How to Improve One's Education (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Tips on improving one's education outside of the classroom.

Instruction by Correspondence (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Among the advantages of this system is the fact that "we can work for our correspondence teacher without infringing in the least upon our household duties"!

University Extension in East London (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

The Y.W.C.A. (Girl's Own Paper, 1883, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890)

Various articles on the purpose and activities of the YWCA, including its classes for women.

A Boston Society (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1885)

The Boston (U.S.) Society for the Encouragement of Study at Home.

Teaching by Correspondence (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1885)

The Extension of University Education (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1886)

The London Society for the Extension of University Teaching (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

A form of continuing education for women who are not attending a formal college or university.

The Summer Meeting at Oxford (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

More on extension classes.

What is the London County Council Doing for Girls? by Lily Watson (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

A look at some of the educational opportunities being made available to London women.

After-School Education in America, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

A look at women's "clubs" in America, and the education curricula these provided. ("After-school" means "after graduation.")