Crossword Genius

State of a university (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

peru

'state' is the definition.
(Peru is an example)

'a university' is the wordplay.
'a' becomes 'per'.
'university' becomes 'u'.
'per'+'u'='PERU'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for peru that I've seen before include "S American country, capital Lima" , "Country of Lima, Cuzco and Paddington Bear" , "Lima's country" , "Mario Vargas Llosa's native land" , "South American republic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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