academy
n. countablen. a school or group for people who study a specific subject, like art, science, or sports. It can also mean the world of universities and higher learning in general.
n. a place of study or training in a special field; also used collectively to refer to the community of scholars and the environment of higher education. Often capitalised when referring to a specific institution or the historical school of Plato.
She applied to the local police academy.
The research was published in a journal that is highly respected within the academy.
While the military academy focuses on discipline and tactical training, the national academy of sciences promotes rigorous peer-reviewed research and policy advice.
Often used with the definite article ('the academy') to refer to the academic world as a whole.