Completes studies but departs later (4)
I believe the answer is:
ends
'completes' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'studies but departs later' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'departs' could be 'd' (abbreviation used in transport schedules) and 'd' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ens' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ends that I've seen before include "Wanting goals" , "Stops in dens" , "They may justify the means" , "Terminates, concludes" , "Extremities" .)