The movement for equal educational rights was the first step to the emancipation of women. The issue of higher education for women was extremely acute in Siberia, as it was very remote from the center of the country. The article presents the results of research on the activities of the Siberian Higher Courses for Women and of the Tomsk State University. Admission of women to these two institutions had another important consequence: It helped to alleviate the scarcity of doctors and teachers in Siberia.