Left university, not returning to see town (5)
I believe the answer is:
luton
'town' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'left university not returning' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'university' becomes 'u'.
'returning' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'not' in reverse letter order is 'ton'.
'l'+'u'+'ton'='LUTON'
'to see' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for luton that I've seen before include "City in Bedfordshire" , "Town north of London" , "English town and airport" , "Bedfordshire town and airport" , "Airport near London" .)