Country chap taking a degree externally (7)
I believe the answer is:
america
'country' is the definition.
(United States of America)
'taking a degree externally' is the wordplay.
'taking' becomes 'eric' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'degree' becomes 'MA' (Master of Arts is a type of degree).
'externally' is an insertion indicator (some letters go on the outside of others).
'a'+'ma'='ama'
'eric' inserted within 'ama' is 'AMERICA'.
'chap' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
(Other definitions for america that I've seen before include "Camera I turn on the continent" , "The superpower" , "Curious camera I take to the continent" , "Song title shared by Sondheim-Bernstein and Paul Simon among others" , "Care and aim badly for the continent" .)