Student that is getting university place (4)
I believe the answer is:
lieu
'place' is the definition.
(as in the phrase 'in lieu of')
'student that is getting university' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'L' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'that is' becomes 'ie' (abbreviation for id est, 'that is' in Latin).
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'l'+'ie'+'u'='LIEU'
(Other definitions for lieu that I've seen before include "In ... of; in exchange for" , "'In ..., instead (4)'" , "In - of means instead of" , "Stead - place" , "The substitute" .)