Elite academia (8)
I believe the answer is:
oxbridge
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">elite academia</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for oxbridge that I've seen before include "centres of academic excellence" , "location for privileged education" , "Elitist universities" , "Elite academia" , "The two most famous British universities regarded like 32 Across" .)