Dissertation vs Thesis: Difference and Comparison

Earning a degree at a college or university involves different types of writing assignments and for those who seek to earn a master’s or doctoral degree, the biggest project they have to work on is a thesis or dissertation.

The academic world involves a lot of writing, most importantly for graduate students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. For graduate students to complete their degree, they need to present a major research and writing project.

It’s a dissertation for those pursuing a doctoral degree and a thesis for a master’s degree program. It’s sometimes confusing to understand the difference between these two projects.

What are the differences between dissertation vs thesis?

While these two projects share a few similarities, there are key differences between dissertation and thesis. We will be discussing the major differences and similarities between these two projects and more in this article.

What Is a Thesis?

According to the University of the People, a thesis is a scholarly piece of writing, an academic paper completed by a graduate student near the end of their course of study for a master’s degree program.

Generally, most master’s degrees require students to complete a thesis before graduation. At the undergraduate level, there are some bachelor’s degree programs that require students to commit and write an undergraduate thesis.

An undergraduate thesis is usually shorter and less in-depth compared to a master’s degree thesis.

A thesis provides an opportunity for students to show their knowledge within the subject matter they have learned.

Graduate students choose a specific topic of interest in their field in other to write a master’s thesis.

According to Grand Canyon University, a student pursuing a degree in nutrition science may have to examine the effects of varying compositions of pregame meals on athletic performance.

The student will need to conduct an in-depth review of existing research on that specific topic. The next step is to formulate an academic argument i.e. high crab pregame meals are being of advantage for endurance athletes.

With the existing research, the student can easily prove their assertion.

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What Is a Dissertation?

Unlike a thesis, a dissertation is a piece of written work that incorporates original research. Doctoral student working on a dissertation usually conduct their own expanded research on a new or existing topic.

The aim of writing a dissertation is not just to prove the student’s knowledge, but to contribute to the existing knowledge in their field.

Doctoral student working on a dissertation may present a new theory or hypothesis in their own field. The students may also present research to disapprove a previously presented theory.

Doctoral students are given the opportunity to choose what they want to write about in their own field. The requirement for a researcher to earn a doctoral degree includes submitting and defending a dissertation.

Dissertation vs Thesis: Difference between Dissertation and Thesis

A dissertation is a lengthy piece of scholarly writing required from doctoral students pursuing a PhD, while a thesis is an academic paper completed by a master’s student near the end of their course of study.

The key difference between a dissertation and a thesis is the academic degree programs that need these two projects.

A thesis is a scholarly writing required from students to complete their master’s degree program. In contrast, doctoral students are required to submit and defend their dissertations to earn their Ph.D. degree.

Another difference between a dissertation and a thesis is the need for an oral defence. Doctoral students are required to submit and defend their dissertation in order to earn a PhD, whereas not all master’s degree programs require students to orally present their thesis.

Doctoral student are required to submit their completed dissertation to their dissertation committee. After that, they will schedule dates for the oral presentation of their dissertation.

The students will be questioned by the dissertation committee about their work. They must be prepared to justify the interpretation and methodology of their work.

A dissertation is a lengthy scholarly written work compared to a master’s thesis. Generally, the average dissertation is between 100 to 300 pages of written work compared to a master’s thesis which is somewhere around 100 pages depending on the degree.

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Dissertation vs Thesis: Comparison Chart

	Dissertation	Thesis
Definition	Dissertation is a piece of written work that incorporate original research.	A thesis is a scholarly piece of writing, an academic paper completed by a graduate student near the end of their course of study for a master’s degree program.
Function	To test the researcher’s ability to conduct independent research and understand the subject.	The purpose is to claim a hypothesis.
Objective	To test the master’s student’s understanding and knowledge in the specialization subject.	To test the master’s student understanding and knowledge in the specialization subject.
Length	A dissertation is a lengthy piece of written work with about 100 to 300 pages.	A master’s thesis is at least 100 pages in length.

Dissertation vs Thesis: Similarities between Dissertation and Thesis

Dissertation and thesis are two distinct projects for master’s and PhD students. Although these two projects differ, dissertation and thesis share some similarities.

Dissertation and thesis are scholarly writings that require intensive research as well as the completion of a paper made up of original writing.

These two projects at the graduate level require the following.

Critical thinking and analytical reasoning.
The willingness to rewrite and edit the written work after a review from professors, committee members, or fellow students.
In-depth knowledge of the subject area.
Investing more time, dedicating years for dissertations as well as months for theses.
Both dissertation and thesis require analytical skills for students to support their findings.
Plagiarism is not tolerated in these two projects.
A dissertation and a thesis are considered final projects and all graduate students must complete them in their respective degree programs.
In these two final project committees, the committee chair is the main point of contact for all students.
Both master’s students and Ph.D. students work with a committee that consists of faculty members, advisors, and similar professionals.

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Dissertation vs Thesis: More Differences

Dissertation	Thesis
Content is mostly attributed to the student as the author	Expands upon and analyse existing research
About two to three times lengthier than a master’s thesis	At least 100 pages in length

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions about the difference between a dissertation vs thesis.

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a piece of written work that incorporates original research. Doctoral student working on a dissertation usually conduct their own expanded research on a new or existing topic.

What is a thesis?

A thesis is a scholarly piece of writing, an academic paper completed by a graduate student near the end of their course of study for a master’s degree program.

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What is the difference between dissertation vs thesis?

While these two projects share a few similarities, there are key differences between a dissertation and a thesis.

A dissertation is a lengthy piece of scholarly writing required from doctoral students pursuing a PhD, while a thesis is an academic paper completed by master’s students.

How long is a thesis?

Depending on the master’s degree program and other factors such as research top, institution, and country, a thesis should be at least 100 pages.

How long is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a lengthy scholarly written work that is usually two to three times lengthier than a master’s thesis. On average, a dissertation should have 100 to 300 pages.

Conclusion

Although these two projects differ, dissertation and thesis share some similarities. Both dissertation and thesis require analytical skills for students to support their findings.

Master’s students and PhD students work with a committee that consists of faculty members, advisors, and similar professionals.

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References

University of the People: Dissertation vs Thesis: The Differences that Matter
Grand Canyon University: Dissertation vs. Thesis: A Comparison
Enagoacademy: Thesis Vs. Dissertation — Know the difference and similarities!
Postgrad: What is the Difference Between a Dissertation and a Thesis?
Keydifferences: Difference Between Thesis and Dissertation