Scoundrel to go down after intervention by University (5)
I believe the answer is:
louse
'scoundrel' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'go down after intervention by university' is the wordplay.
'go down' becomes 'lose' (I've seen this before).
'after intervention by' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters intervene).
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'lose' placed around 'u' is 'LOUSE'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for louse that I've seen before include "Insect -- nasty character, undeserving of respect" , "Parasite; nasty person" , "Nit" , "Mean person" , "scum" .)