this was an unconventional decision; two years earlier, the academic senate of the university had declared that allowing mixed-sex education would "overthrow all academic order". one of only two women in a university of 986 students, noether was only allowed to audit classes rather than participate fully, and required the permission of individual professors whose lectures she wished to attend. despite these obstacles, on 14 july 1903 she passed the graduation exam at a "realgymnasium" in nuremberg.