Proper, a student being original (6)
I believe the answer is:
primal
'original' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'proper a student' is the wordplay.
'proper' becomes 'prim' (prim and proper).
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'prim'+'a'+'l'='PRIMAL'
'being' is the link.
(Other definitions for primal that I've seen before include "Sort of scream" , "Original or primitive" , "Primitive or fundamental" , "Relating to an early stage of evolution" , "First; primitive" .)