In January, 1876, Convocation reiterated its desire to see the degree examinations of the University extended to women. But this only happened after another debate which revolved around whether or not the University should offer, to women, degrees in Arts alone. And as before, it would seem that the apparent repetition of a proposal to seek entry to degrees in Arts only was due to a conviction that there was a real chance that pressure from the schools lobby would be enough to swing Senate behind it, and an equal conviction that progress could not be made if any desire for medical degrees was expressed.

Hensman’s motion, on 18 January 1876, raised the idea of a new Charter. This may have indicated eagerness for a wider constitutional revision of the relationship between Senate and Convocation. But the debate it sparked was kept strictly to the issue of women’s entry to examinations. The motion read:

The first amendment offered was a lengthy declaration devoted to the concept of not rocking the boat. The essential support for the admission of women to degrees was combined with appreciation of the moves made so far by Senate; and Convocation was invited to be ‘earnestly desirous to see the extension of these advantages to women further carried out’. This cautious advice was rejected, but only by thirty-three votes to twenty-six. The next amendment was also intended to soften Hensman’s approach, but did not remove its essence; it aimed to take out any reference to Convocation, and simply to ask that ‘such Charter should contain provisions enabling the University to grant Degrees in Arts to Women’. This was readily accepted by Hensman: it became the main motion, and may well have seemed to the movers highly likely to carry the day.

But a final amendment was moved by Osler, to remove the words ‘in Arts’. By ‘a large majority on a show of hands’ it was carried, so that Convocation was on record as wishing for a new Charter which ‘should contain provisions enabling the University to grant degrees to women’.