Crossword Genius

Lecture I'd set up ahead of second programme of study (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

discourse

'lecture' is the definition.
(discourse is a kind of lecture)

'i'd set up ahead of second programme of study' is the wordplay.
'set up' is a reversal indicator (in a down clue, letters go up).
'ahead of' says to put letters next to each other (some letters go in front of others).
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'programme of study' becomes 'course' (academic course).
'id' back-to-front is 'di'.
'di'+'s'+'course'='DISCOURSE'

(Other definitions for discourse that I've seen before include "verbal communication" , "Conversation, dialogue" , "(Formal) talk" , "Speech - conversation" , "Written or spoken communication" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app