Academic bypassed university to gain apartments (7)

I believe the answer is:

studios

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'apartments' is the definition.
(studio is a kind of apartment)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for studios that I've seen before include "makers of movies" , "Ateliers" , "Artists' workrooms" , "Places where artists or TV performers work" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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