PhD (9)
I believe the answer is:
doctorate
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">phd</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for doctorate that I've seen before include "High degree" , "Postgraduate degree" , "Academic qualification" , "Highest degree in university" , "Highest academic degree" .)