It is paid as Further Education expenses, at first (3)
I believe the answer is:
fee
'it is paid' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'further education expenses at first' is the wordplay.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'further education expenses' is 'FEE'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fee that I've seen before include "Charge for professional services" , "price" , "Amount paid for job" , "Money paid for professional services" , "Sum payable to, say, barrister" .)