Change university having left to be a model (4)

I believe the answer is:

vary

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'change' is the definition.
(I know that change can be written as vary)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vary that I've seen before include "Change according to circumstances" , "Differ in size" , "Differ; change" , "Alter, diverge" , "Make or become different" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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