Academic boss is touring Oxford University (8)
I believe the answer is:
studious
'academic' is the definition.
(academic can mean studious or scholarly)
'boss is touring oxford university' is the wordplay.
'boss' becomes 'stud' (both can mean a metal decoration).
'touring' indicates putting letters inside (touring can mean going round).
'oxford university' becomes 'OU'.
'is' enclosing 'ou' is 'ious'.
'stud'+'ious'='STUDIOUS'
(Other definitions for studious that I've seen before include "working hard" , "Academic, diligent" , "Deliberate and painstaking - preparing for exam?" , "showing diligence" , "Diligent, assiduous" .)