Abysmal semester grade in advanced course (7,6)

I believe the answer is:

masters degree

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'advanced course' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'abysmal semester grade' is the wordplay.
'abysmal semester' becomes 'masters' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'grade' becomes 'degree' (synonyms).
'masters'+'degree'='MASTERS DEGREE'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

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

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