Possible Clues:

• Stage
• Award conferred on a 1 across
• Step, jade green, worn away at edges
• The German admits key middle speech needs to be conferred
• Doctorate or master's
• School paper?
• [Extent of revolution in BA?]
• Level for one river entering north-western estuary
• Gradation on a scale
• Student's goal of French grant initially withheld