University exam rejected from the start (6)
I believe the answer is:
outset
'the start' is the definition.
('outset' can be a synonym of 'start')
'university exam rejected' is the wordplay.
'university' becomes 'ou'.
'exam' becomes 'test' ('test' can be a synonym of 'exam').
'rejected' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'test' backwards is 'tset'.
'ou'+'tset'='OUTSET'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for outset that I've seen before include "Inception" , "Opening stage" , "Starting point" , "Kickoff time?" , "origin" .)