If you study it you may become an expert in time (8)
I believe the answer is:
horology
'it you may become an expert in time' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'if you study' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'study' could be 'orology' (I have seen 'Study of mountains ' mean 'orology' so perhaps 'study' could also mean 'orology') and 'orology' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'h' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for horology that I've seen before include "Art of designing and making clocks" , "The art of clock-making" , "The art of measuring time, or of making clocks and watches" .)