The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MAGDALEN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
M
A
G
D
A
L
E
N
More clues leading to the result MAGDALEN
- Learner in badly managed Oxford college
- Degree information captivates youngster coming up, here?
- College managed with difficulty to accommodate learner
- A learner admitted to periodical study in Oxford college
- Mother angled craftily for a place at Oxford
- Mary mother, boy brought up, after good measure
- Periodical on literature primarily occupying eccentric dean of an Oxford college
Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.