Study year needing cash (5)
I believe the answer is:
ready
'cash' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'study year' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'read' ('read' can be a synonym of 'study').
'year' becomes 'y'.
'read'+'y'='READY'
'needing' is the link.
(Other definitions for ready that I've seen before include "game?" , "In addition" , "At hand" , "Prepare < dough" , "Fully-prepared" .)