Gives the fellow a different seat (7)
I believe the answer is:
donates
'gives' is the definition.
(donating is a kind of giving)
'fellow a different seat' is the wordplay.
'fellow' becomes 'don' (both can mean an academic).
'a different' is an anagram indicator (letters placed in a different order).
'seat' with letters rearranged gives 'ates'.
'don'+'ates'='DONATES'
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for donates that I've seen before include "Offers free" , "Gives to good cause" , "gifts" .)