also: はかせごう
noun
doctorate; PhD; doctoral degree
Refers to the academic degree itself, not the person. Commonly used in phrases like 博士号を取る (earn a doctorate) or 博士号を持つ (hold a doctorate).
彼は去年、物理学で博士号を取得した。
He earned a doctorate in physics last year.
博士号を持っている
Having a PhD makes it easier to get a research position.
Compound of 博士 (doctor, from Chinese-derived terms for a learned scholar) and 号 (title, designation). The reading はくし is the standard modern on'yomi; はかせ is an older go-on reading still used in some traditional contexts.