Scholar can expect to be keeping secret (6)
I believe the answer is:
arcane
'secret' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'scholar can expect to be keeping' is the wordplay.
'to be keeping' indicates a hidden word.
'ARCANE' is hidden in the letters of 'scholar can expect'.
(Other definitions for arcane that I've seen before include "Secret, hidden" , "Recondite" , "cryptic" , "Mysterious - an acre (anag)" , "deep" .)