Started to study at college around North (5,2)
I believe the answer is:
taken up
'started' is the definition.
('take up' can be a synonym of 'start')
'study at college around north' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'take' ('take' can be a synonym of 'study').
'at college' becomes 'up'.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'north' becomes 'n' ('N' can be a synonym of 'north').
'take'+'up'='takeup'
'takeup' enclosing 'n' is 'TAKEN UP'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for taken up that I've seen before include "Agreed" , "Adopted; accepted" .)