A student following doctor in emotive situation (5)
I believe the answer is:
drama
'emotive situation' is the definition.
(drama can mean an emotive or heated situation)
'a student following doctor' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'MA' (someone studying for a Master of Arts).
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'doctor' becomes 'dr' (abbreviation).
'a'+'ma'='ama'
'ama' after 'dr' is 'DRAMA'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for drama that I've seen before include "theatre performance" , "Emotional situation" , "Stage production" , "Hamlet, say" , "Exciting series of events" .)