Land in sand spread around university (5)
I believe the answer is:
sudan
'land' is the definition.
(I know that Sudan is African country)
'sand spread around university' is the wordplay.
'spread' indicates an anagram.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'sand' anagrammed gives 'sdan'.
'sdan' going around 'u' is 'SUDAN'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for sudan that I've seen before include "African country on the Red Sea" , "Country in NC Africa, capital Khartoum" , "Country south of Egypt" , "Country bordering the Red Sea" , "Country W. of Ethiopia" .)