The regents shall provide for the arrangement and selection of a course or courses of study in the university, for such students as may not desire to pursue the usual collegiate course, in the department of literature, science and the arts, embracing the ancient languages, and to provide for the admission of such students without previous examination, as to their attainments in said languages, and for granting such certificates at the expiration of such course or term of such students, as may be appropriate to their respective attainments.