Brainless creature needs a second English degree (6)
I believe the answer is:
amoeba
'brainless creature' is the definition.
'amoeba' can be an answer for 'creature' (I have seen 'Microscopic animal' mean 'amoeba' so perhaps 'animal' could also mean 'amoeba'). I'm unsure of the 'brainless' bit.
'a second english degree' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 'mo' (both are short periods of time).
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'degree' becomes 'BA' (Bachelor of Arts).
'a'+'mo'+'e'+'ba'='AMOEBA'
'needs' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amoeba that I've seen before include "Microscopic life form" , "Unicellular organism" , "very simple life-form" , "Tiny organism consisting of single changing cell" , "Microscopic organism of single cell constantly changing shape" .)