Praised a university student in old-fashioned surroundings (8)
I believe the answer is:
adulated
'praised' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a university student in old-fashioned surroundings' is the wordplay.
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'student' becomes 'L' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'old fashioned' becomes 'dated' (I've seen this before).
'surroundings' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'l' put inside 'dated' is 'dlated'.
'u' going into 'dlated' is 'dulated'.
'a'+'dulated'='ADULATED'
(Other definitions for adulated that I've seen before include "given excessive praise perhaps" , "Praised" , "Flattered in an obsequious manner" .)