Not even degree students can be eccentric (7)
I believe the answer is:
oddball
'eccentric' is the definition.
('oddball' can be a synonym of 'eccentric')
'not even degree students' is the wordplay.
'not even' becomes 'odd' ('odd' is the opposite to 'even').
'degree' becomes 'ba' (Bachelor of Arts).
'students' becomes 'll'.
'odd'+'ba'+'ll'='ODDBALL'
'can be' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for oddball that I've seen before include "Strange, bizarre" , "eccentric type" , "case" , "Eccentric person (colloq.)" , "Bold lad may be eccentric" .)