University exceptionally stern as the result of disturbance (6)
I believe the answer is:
unrest
'disturbance' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'university exceptionally stern' is the wordplay.
'university' becomes 'u' (abbreviation for university).
'exceptionally' indicates anagramming the letters.
'stern' anagrammed gives 'nrest'.
'u'+'nrest'='UNREST'
'as the result of' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for unrest that I've seen before include "State of agitation" , "Feeling of anxiety or turmoil" , "Disorder" , "State of uneasiness" , "Discontent, disturbance" .)