also: はかせごう
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).
He earned a doctorate in physics last year.
Having a PhD makes it easier to get a research position.
修士号 is a master's degree, one level below a doctorate.
honorary doctorate
Standard kanji spelling; the reading はくしごう is the most common modern pronunciation.
Older reading; still encountered in some contexts but はくしごう is preferred today.
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.