New Yoshitaka Amano CE Artwork

[Catapult]

I'm on the side of "arcanist is the XIV name for scholar" since the arcanists of Maelvan's gate often get called "scholarlies" by people around town. It also wouldn't be the first time they've bent the name. "Secretary" springs to mind.

But yeah, back on topic. If it's not Hydaelyn, it's Nymeia.

[Bowen]

I'm on the side of "arcanist is the XIV name for scholar" since the arcanists of Maelvan's gate often get called "scholarlies" by people around town. It also wouldn't be the first time they've bent the name. "Secretary" springs to mind.

Pretty much this.

There's no denying that it looks like Scholar. It has the hat and everything. The thing is though, Arcanists are Scholars. Just look at this quest text from the quest "Seal Rock":

Shortly after the island first appeared, the Knights of the Barracuda and the scholars at Mealvaan's Gate [Arcanist's Guild] began to suppress the rumors as well as possible while limiting access to the area for investigation, an authority immediately challenged by pirate and Sahagin alike.

And some dialog as well!

Sthalmann
There's little we can do about that now. Though it would have been nice to join the scholars on this trip.

Source

In the end, both sides are right. It's just Arcanist, but the Arcanists of FFXIV are Scholars.