Crossword Genius

House not ever needed as college (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

seminary

'college' is the definition.
(college for priests)

'house not ever needed' is the wordplay.
'house' becomes 'semi' (short for semi-detached).
'not ever' becomes 'nary' (variant of 'never').
'needed' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'semi'+'nary'='SEMINARY'

'as' is the link.

(Other definitions for seminary that I've seen before include "College for trainee priests" , "Religious training college" , "Training college for priests" , "Theological school" , "School of theology" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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