Approach continuous period at university (3-2)

I believe the answer is:

run-up

'approach' is the definition.
(I know that run-up is a type of approach)

'continuous period at university' is the wordplay.
'continuous period' becomes 'run' (run can mean a sequence of things).
'at university' becomes 'up' (slang term meaning at university).
'run'+'up'='RUN-UP'

(Other definitions for run-up that I've seen before include "Approach - preliminaries" , "Preliminary period" , "Cricketing approach?" , "Bowler's approach?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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