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The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:
The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.
Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).
Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:
However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.
At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.
A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
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dissertation
[ dis-er- tey -sh uh n ]
/ ˌdɪsəˈteɪʃən /
Origin of dissertation 1
Thirteen years ago, while working on her PHD dissertation in Madagascar’s Masoala Peninsula, Borgerson encountered a problem.
At Harvard, he received a PhD in government and wrote his dissertation under Henry Kissinger, who became a lifelong friend.
I planned to go back to physics after a couple of years and then return to wrap up my dissertation.
My buba’s lived experience helped shape me into the girl who wrote her college dissertation on the gender pay gap, arguing for equal parental leave for dads and moms, almost 20 years before any major employer implemented any such thing.
My PhD dissertation was a highly theoretical model representing computer systems that were framed as a mathematical model, and if they were interconnected in such a way that these interconnected computers would communicate like cells in the body.
A terrific cultural studies dissertation awaits on how the fortunes of the Cheneys provide a mirror on a changing America.
Today, he visits online forums and bombards them with dissertation-length comments.
In her dissertation, McFate had asked whether ‘good anthropology’ might lead to ‘better killing.’
Heritage has distanced itself from Richwine and his dissertation.
No single dissertation will alter the status quo on its own.
I've never had time to write home about it, for I felt that it required a dissertation in itself to do it justice.
Dr. Pitcairn, published at Leyden his dissertation on the circulation of the blood through the veins.
Start not, reader, I am not going to trouble you with a poetical dissertation; no, no!
Dissertation sur les Assassins, Académie des Inscriptions, tom.
This dissertation, which is illustrated by several plates, will repay for the time spent in reading it.
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There are some obvious differences: an essay is relatively short – usually 1500 to 2500 words – and you are told clearly what to do by someone else. For example: Describe and evaluate major theories of globalisation.
A dissertation is a subject you chose for yourself. The first usage of the word in the English language in 1651 also gives a useful starting definition: “an extended written treatment of a subject”.
Another useful clue is found in the Latin origin of the word – dissertation comes from a Latin word ‘dissertare’ = ‘to debate’.
What does the word ‘debate’ imply? A discussion involving different points of view or sets of ideas. A dissertation will therefore not only examine a subject but will review different points of view about that subject.
Here’s another definition that underlines some more important characteristics of a dissertation: “a substantial paper that is typically based on original research and that gives evidence of the candidate’s mastery both of her own subject and of scholarly method.”
A dissertation will show that the writer knows her subject, the key facts and different points of view in it – but it also advances a point of view resulting from original research. Remember that ‘original’ does not mean ‘something that’s never been done before’ but rather ‘something that you do for yourself’.
A dissertation also “gives evidence of the candidate’s mastery […] of scholarly method”. This sounds terribly daunting but don’t be put off. The phrase is telling you that you will have to lift your game to write a successful dissertation. ‘Scholarly method’ means that you will be expected to do more and better reading and research than for a standard undergraduate essay. It means that your work will display accuracy and skill in its investigation and discussion of a subject. It means that your discussion will give evidence of critical analysis i.e. standing back from your subject and weighing up pros and cons. It means you will show that you understand that, for example, aspects of particular theories or viewpoints are open to question.
Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > Tips for Students > Dissertation Explained: A Grad Student’s Guide
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Updated: June 19, 2024
Published: March 10, 2020
Higher education is filled with milestones. When completing your PhD , you will be required to complete a dissertation. Even if you’ve heard this word thrown around before, you still may be questioning “What is a dissertation?” It’s a common question, especially for those considering to join or are already in a graduate program. As such, here’s everything you need to know about dissertations.
A dissertation is a written document that details research. A dissertation also signifies the completion of your PhD program. It is required to earn a PhD degree, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy.
A PhD is created from knowledge acquired from:
A PhD program consists of academic courses that are usually small in size and challenging in content. Most PhD courses consist of a high amount and level of reading and writing per week. These courses will help prepare you for your dissertation as they will teach research methodology.
For your dissertation, it is likely that you will have the choice between performing your own research on a subject , or expanding on existing research. Likely, you will complete a mixture of the two. For those in the hard sciences, you will perform research in a lab. For those in humanities and social sciences, research may mean gathering data from surveys or existing research.
Once you have collected the data you need to prove your point, you will have to analyze and interpret the information. PhD programs will prepare you for how to conduct analysis, as well as for how to position your research into the existing body of work on the subject matter.
The process of writing and completing a dissertation is bigger than the work itself. It can lead to research positions within the university or outside companies. It may mean that you will teach and share your findings with current undergraduates, or even be published in academic journals. How far you plan to take your dissertation is your choice to make and will require the relevant effort to accomplish your goals.
In essence, a dissertation is what moves a doctoral student into becoming a scholar. Their research may be published, shared, and used as educational material moving forwards.
Basic differences.
Grad students may conflate the differences between a thesis and a dissertation.
Simply put, a thesis is what you write to complete a master’s degree. It summarizes existing research and signifies that you understand the subject matter deeply.
On the other hand, a dissertation is the culmination of a doctoral program. It will likely require your own research and it can contribute an entirely new idea into your field.
When it comes to the structure, a thesis and dissertation are also different. A thesis is like the research papers you complete during undergraduate studies. A thesis displays your ability to think critically and analyze information. It’s less based on research that you’ve completed yourself and more about interpreting and analyzing existing material. They are generally around 100 pages in length.
A dissertation is generally two to three times longer compared to a thesis. This is because the bulk of the information is garnered from research you’ve performed yourself. Also, if you are providing something new in your field, it means that existing information is lacking. That’s why you’ll have to provide a lot of data and research to back up your claims.
Dissertation length.
The length of a dissertation varies between study level and country. At an undergraduate level, this is more likely referred to as a research paper, which is 10,000 to 12,000 words on average. At a master’s level, the word count may be 15,000 to 25,000, and it will likely be in the form of a thesis. For those completing their PhD, then the dissertation could be 50,000 words or more.
Format of the dissertation.
Here are the items you must include in a dissertation. While the format may slightly vary, here’s a look at one way to format your dissertation:
This is the first page which includes: title, your name, department, degree program, institution, and submission date. Your program may specify exactly how and what they want you to include on the title page.
This is optional, but it is where you can express your gratitude to those who have helped you complete your dissertation (professors, research partners, etc.).
The abstract is about 150-300 words and summarizes what your research is about. You state the main topic, the methods used, the main results, and your conclusion.
Here, you list the chapter titles and pages to serve as a wayfinding tool for your readers.
This is like the table of contents, but for graphs and figures.
If you’ve constantly abbreviated words in your content, define them in a list at the beginning.
In highly specialized work, it’s likely that you’ve used words that most people may not understand, so a glossary is where you define these terms.
Your introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance. It’s where readers will understand what they expect to gain from your dissertation.
Based on the research you performed to create your own dissertation, you’ll want to summarize and address the gaps in what you researched.
This is where you define how you conducted your research. It offers credibility for you as a source of information. You should give all the details as to how you’ve conducted your research, including: where and when research took place, how it was conducted, any obstacles you faced, and how you justified your findings.
This is where you share the results that have helped contribute to your findings.
In the discussion section, you explain what these findings mean to your research question. Were they in line with your expectations or did something jump out as surprising? You may also want to recommend ways to move forward in researching and addressing the subject matter.
A conclusion ties it all together and summarizes the answer to the research question and leaves your reader clearly understanding your main argument.
This is the equivalent to a works cited or bibliography page, which documents all the sources you used to create your dissertation.
If you have any information that was ancillary to creating the dissertation, but doesn’t directly fit into its chapters, then you can add it in the appendix.
As with any paper, especially one of this size and importance, the writing requires a process. It may begin with outlines and drafts, and even a few rewrites. It’s important to proofread your dissertation for both grammatical mistakes, but also to ensure it can be clearly understood.
It’s always useful to read your writing out loud to catch mistakes. Also, if you have people who you trust to read it over — like a peer, family member, mentor, or professor — it’s very helpful to get a second eye on your work.
There are a few main differences between a dissertation and an essay. For starters, an essay is relatively short in comparison to a dissertation, which includes your own body of research and work. Not only is an essay shorter, but you are also likely given the topic matter of an essay. When it comes to a dissertation, you have the freedom to construct your own argument, conduct your own research, and then prove your findings.
You can choose what type of dissertation you complete. Often, this depends on the subject and doctoral degree, but the two main types are:
This relies on conducting your own research.
This relies on studying existing research to support your argument.
More things you should know.
A dissertation is certainly no easy feat. Here’s a few more things to remember before you get started writing your own:
The process of completing a dissertation is self-directed, and therefore can feel overwhelming. However, if you approach it like the new experience that it is with an open-mind and willingness to learn, you will make it through!
There are countless people around to offer support. From professors to peers, you can always ask for help throughout the process.
The process of writing a dissertation will further hone your writing skills which will follow you throughout your life. These skills are highly transferable on the job, from having the ability to communicate to also developing analytical and critical thinking skills.
You can work backwards from the culmination of your program to break down this gargantuan task into smaller pieces. That way, you can manage your time to chip away at the task throughout the length of the program.
It’s okay to change subject matters and rethink the point of your dissertation. Just try as much as possible to do this early in the process so you don’t waste too much time and energy.
A dissertation marks the completion of your doctoral program and moves you from being a student to being a scholar. While the process is long and requires a lot of effort and energy, you have the power to lend an entirely new research and findings into your field of expertise.
As always, when in the thick of things, remember why you started. Completing both your dissertation and PhD is a commendable accomplishment.
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Sabrina Collier
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Skills you need to show, how long is a dissertation, oral examinations (vivas), don’t cheat.
The majority of degrees end with this assignment, but just what is a dissertation?
Sometimes known as a thesis (in some countries, this term is used only for the final assignments of PhD degrees, while in other countries ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ are interchangeable), a dissertation is a research project completed as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Typically, a dissertation allows students present their findings in response to a question or proposition that they choose themselves. The aim of the project is to test the independent research skills students have acquired during their time at university, with the assessment used to help determine their final grade. Although there is usually some guidance from your tutors, the dissertation project is largely independent.
For most students this will be the longest, most difficult and most important assignment completed at university, requiring months of preparation and hard work (the library might become a second home). However, it can also be very rewarding, particularly if you’re passionate about your choice of topic. It’s therefore definitely a good idea to make sure you choose a subject you’re genuinely interested in.
The type of dissertation you complete will vary depending on your course of study. One of the main differences is between empirical and non-empirical dissertations.
Empirical dissertation s are dissertations which involve collecting data, for example in a psychology degree. This may mean putting into practice professional and ethical guidelines when collecting data from members of the public. Empirical dissertations in natural and life science subjects may involve or be entirely centered on laboratory work.
Non-empirical dissertations are based on existing data and arguments in the work of others. This is likely to mean spending a lot of time with your head in a book! In this type of dissertation, you need to make sure you don’t just describe what others are saying, but critically analyze the work and explore its practical applications.
No matter what type of dissertation you write, and what topic you choose, you’ll need to demonstrate the following skills:
The length of a dissertation varies between study level and country, but is generally around 10,000-12,000 words at undergraduate level, 15,000-25,000 words at master’s level and up to 50,000 words or more at PhD level.
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For some advanced degrees (particularly PhDs) you may need to attend an oral examination, which is known as a viva in some countries (short for viva voce, which is Latin for ‘live voice’). The viva will usually start with you giving a short presentation of your work to two or three professors, which is then followed by a questioning/answering period which could last up to two hours.
Finally, it pretty much goes without saying, but it’s definitely not advisable to pay someone to write your dissertation for you or otherwise cheat in any way. It’s not worth the risk, and the dissertation is meant to be your chance to let your skills shine through. However, asking a supervisor, friend or family member to take a look at your dissertation is fine. Your supervisor is on hand to guide you, so don’t worry if you need to ask for help.
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The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.
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A dissertation is a long written piece of academic research completed as part of a university degree.
The dissertation will be the longest thing you write at university. It might be anywhere from:
Your dissertation will explain the processes and results of research that you conducted. You would also write an analysis of the results and recommendations for further research.
You usually complete your dissertation at the end of your degree, so in North America you might hear people calling it the “capstone project”.
We often use the terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ interchangeably. I’ve also read a lot of articles out there on the internet that claim that there are clear differences between the two. There aren’t.
I’ve completed an undergraduate and a doctoral dissertation. I’ve supervised well over 100 dissertation students at undergraduate, masters and PhD level. I’ve taught at universities in Europe, Australia and North America. In all my time, it’s been quite apparent to me that people use the terms interchangeably.
Now, there is also another time we use the term ‘thesis’. A thesis is also known as your main argument in an essay and/or dissertation.
So, technically, a dissertation contains a thesis . The dissertation is the written report that you can pick up and carry around. The thesis is the key argument you’re making within the written report.
But save yourself the stress of trying to differentiate between the two: in 90% of all situations, when someone says ‘dissertation’ or ‘thesis’ they mean the same thing: they just mean “that big project you’ve been working on for the past 2 years of your life and you want to throw out the window.”
When you start your dissertation, you’ll be allocated a dissertation supervisor. Your supervisor will guide you through the process.
For undergraduate students, this may be the first time you’ve worked closely in a one-to-one environment with a university professor before. You’ll meet up for regular meetings and they’ll look over drafts of your work and tell you how to improve it.
Dissertations can be written during undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Here are the three different levels:
You may be asked to write a dissertation to get your undergraduate degree. Outside of North America, this is a requirement if you want to graduate “with honors”.
An undergraduate dissertation will range from about 5,000 to 30,000 words. Most undergraduate dissertations that I’ve come across usually come out at about 10,000 words and take their full senior to complete. However, different universities have different standards.
Undergraduate students are not usually asked to do complicated research studies. It’s an introduction to academic research, so you’re likely only going to do a small pilot study, but it’s good for learning how research happens and getting your toes wet.
You’ll also get to zoom-in on a topic of your choice, so it’s a chance to show future employers what your interests are and how you’ve pursued them at university level.
A masters dissertation is completed by people who choose to do a masters degree “by research”. Some masters by coursework degrees don’t have a dissertation component, so you may not have to do a dissertation at all.
At masters level, you’ll need to step up your game a little. Masters-level dissertations typically range from 15,000 to 50,000 words and involve a small but rigorous research study.
Many of the masters students who I have supervised in the past have conducted case study or ‘action research’ projects where they did a study in their own workplace.
Others have done standalone studies where they’ve come up with a topic to research and gone ahead to conduct the research over about a 12 to 24 month period.
A PhD or doctorate dissertation is the big kahuna of dissertations. If you successfully write one of these, you can call yourself ‘Doctor’ for the rest of your days (but you won’t be one of those doctors – you know, the ones with stethoscopes).
Most PhD dissertations are 80,000 to 100,000 words long – or about the length of your average novel. Now that’s a lot of words!
Your PhD absolutely has to (at a minimum) make a unique contribution to knowledge. That means you need to study something no one else has ever studied before and convince experts in the field that it was a well-done and valid study. Ideally you should also be able to tell people that you’re a world-leading expert in the topic you studied.
There are many different ways you can structure your dissertation. Different disciplines have different expectations and standards.
Many of my students freak out that they have to write such long pieces of work. But, by splitting the dissertation up into sections like I have done below, they come to realize that it’s just a whole lot of short pieces all glued together to make a coherent, interesting story.
Here’s one of the most common structures that 95% of all of my students in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences follow:
The introduction gives an overview of the topic to readers and lets them know of its importance. It will introduce the reader to the research topic and the question you’re studying. It might also introduce some key terms and give an overview of the structure of the piece to come.
A literature review will give a detailed overview of everything that’s currently known about the topic. It’ll show the reader that you have deep knowledge of the topic and that you’re qualified to conduct the study.
Ideally, you’ll also use the literature review to show how your study builds upon what’s already known. You don’t want to just do a study that’s already been done, but you can learn a lot from previous studies and use their knowledge to make your work better.
This section isn’t always used (you’ll probably skip it for an undergraduate dissertation), but it is common in some Masters and PhD level studies. It outlines what lens you’re using to critique concepts. Maybe you’ll use a theory like ‘grounded theory’, ‘ postmodernism ’, ‘ critical theory ’ or ‘feminist theory’ to study something from a particular perspective. You’ll need to show your reader that you have deep knowledge of that theory that you’re using, and why the theory is worth employing in your study.
If this is all too confusing to you now, never mind: you may not even need to use a theoretical framework , depending on the requirements of your course.
A methodology section outlines how you will conduct your study. What methods, procedure and ethical guidelines will you use? How will you ensure your work is honest, trustworthy, reliable or accurate?
The results section outlines what you found out. Particularly in quantitative work (that’s a study that uses methods that measure things using numbers and algorithms), you’ll have a results section separate from the analysis section. In qualitative work , often the results and analysis are blended together.
The analysis is the section where you critique the results. What do the results reveal about your topic? How do your results show us something new or provide fresh insights into an old topic?
The conclusion will usually sum up what you’ve said and explain its relevance for researchers or practitioners. You will give recommendations to future researchers on what studies they might want to undertake, or you might tell practitioners how your findings could be used to improve their workplace.
Conclusions also often outline weaknesses or challenges you faced. This is important to show that you’ve reflected on your blindspots and acknowledged them. No study is perfect.
You’ll have to choose a research topic, study it in depth, and conduct original research on it. It seems like a daunting task, but with your dissertation supervisor, you’ll work together to break it down into manageable chunks.
Let’s say Laura has to write a 10,000 word undergraduate dissertation in her Education Studies degree. This would be pretty common if she wants to graduate with honors. Here’s what she might do:
1. Choose a Topic
Laura needs to choose a topic to write about. She is really interested in play-based learning , so she chose this as her topic for her dissertation.
>>>RELATED POST: 51 BEST EDUCATION DISSERTATION TOPIC IDEAS
2. Conduct a Literature Review
Laura started reading up about the topic and write a 2,500 word review of all of the literature that’s out there on play-based learning. She found a few themes in the articles she read, so she split it up into 6 sections for the 5 themes she found, with 500 words in each section.
3. Come up with a Research Question
Now that Laura has some in-depth knowledge about her topic, she’s going to have to conduct some original research of her own to prove her expertise in the topic. Usually, we ask students to do research that no one has done before so that it is unique and tells us something new about the topic. Fortunately, because she’s done her literature review, Laura will now have deep knowledge of the topic and know things about play-based learning that haven’t been researched in the past.
Let’s say Laura decided that she wanted to interview teachers about the challenges they face during play-based learning lessons. She has decided to go out and interview, say, 10 teachers at the local school.
4. Devise a Methodology
Because it’s an academic study, Laura needs to prove that she did the research systematically. If she doesn’t have a procedure to follow, her results won’t be valid. So, she has to write a section in her dissertation about how she conducted the research to ensure it is reliable. This might be another 2,500 words and explain her methodology (procedure) and how she did it ethically (didn’t cheat or harm anyone).
5. Get Approval to Conduct the Study
Before Laura conducts the study, she’ll have to get it approved by:
Usually, she’ll have to present a written research proposal that outlines her plans and shows she’s thought about her methodology and literature review. This can be a long process, but it’s helped by the fact that he’s already conducted her literature review, written her methodology, and gotten them checked by her supervisor on a regular basis.
6. Conduct the Study
Once she’s gotten approval, Laura will have to go out and conduct the study!
She’ll go out to schools and interview the 10 teachers using a recording device – asking them all the same questions – and then come back to university and look over their answers.
7. Analyze the Results
Laura will have to look through the interviews to see what key points were that kept coming up in her interviews. We call these recurring points ‘key themes’.
The first thing Laura will do is transcribe the interviews. This means she’ll listen to the interviews and type them up word-for-word (‘verbatum’). Then, she’ll print them out and highlight important or revealing quotes that she thinks appeared multiple times in each interview.
Sometimes, people use software to help them find these themes.
8. Write up the Results
Now that Laura thinks she has some key themes from the interviews, she’ll write her ‘analysis’ and /or ‘results’ sections of her dissertation. She will write about all the themes she found and provide some quotes from the teachers to back up her points.
9. Write an Introduction and Conclusion
Lastly, Laura needs to write her introduction and conclusion . These come last when everything else was written. The introduction will give the reader a fly-by of what is said throughout the dissertation. The conclusion will highlight the importance of the results, maybe discuss some weaknesses of her study, and make recommendations for practitioners or future researchers based on her newfound knowledge.
I’ve got a ton of resources on this website to help you write your dissertation. My goal is to show you how to do it in easy to understand language – no academic B.S.! I recommend you get started with your dissertation by reading my post on how to choose a dissertation topic .
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If you’re confused about the meaning of dissertation versus thesis , you’re not alone. These two types of academic writing have a lot in common, but their meanings are reversed in American and British English. Depending on where you are in the world, the differences between a dissertation and a thesis might change!
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In American English, a dissertation is a research paper that’s required to earn a doctorate degree, while a thesis is a research paper required to earn a master’s degree. Dissertations and theses (the plural of thesis ) are often mixed up because they’re both lengthy research papers written for higher education, especially as part of a master’s or doctorate program. A thesis or dissertation is often a requirement for obtaining an academic degree, and both are usually seen as a gatekeeper for becoming eligible to graduate.
Informally the words dissertation and thesis are often used interchangeably, which only adds to the confusion. However, in the formal academic world, their meanings are different, although some universities occasionally have their own unique definitions. Let’s take a look at what dissertation and thesis actually mean.
In American English, a dissertation is a highly involved research paper written as a requirement to earn a doctorate degree. When we say “highly involved,” we mean it; dissertations run 300 pages or more, essentially becoming a book-length research paper.
The central attribute of a dissertation is original research: To earn a doctorate, a person must submit new discoveries and data to their chosen field. This is symbolic of becoming part of a body of academic knowledge, and a systemic way to encourage the advancement of science.
In scientific fields of study, dissertations are empirical , drawing on data collected by the writer. In less-scientific fields, like literature or philosophy, dissertations are nonempirical : Instead of new data, “original research” is replaced by innovative new ideas, interpretations, analyses, or perspectives.
Dissertation may also involve what’s known as a dissertation defense , an oral presentation in front of a panel of experts, in addition to the paper. In a dissertation defense, the experts ask questions about the findings to test their validity, and the student must “defend” their research by explaining their methods and reasoning. The panel then decides whether or not the student graduates and earns their degree.
In American English, a thesis paper is a lengthy research paper written as a requirement to earn a master’s degree (or sometimes a bachelor’s degree, depending on the university). Also referred to as a “senior thesis” for undergraduate courses, these papers are written at the end of a program as a culmination of their studies, similar to dissertations.
Unlike a dissertation, a thesis doesn’t necessarily involve original research or ideas, although many master’s theses do. Generally, a thesis is less about adding to a body of knowledge, and more about testing a student’s skills in research, comprehension, or analysis. Regardless, a thesis paper is still a considerable amount of work and requires more effort than a standard academic paper.
We’ve talked before about how British English and American English are different , and the definitions of dissertation versus thesis are just another example.
In short, the meanings are reversed: In British English, the term dissertation is used for bachelor’s and master’s programs, whereas thesis is used for doctorates. Keep in mind that academic institutions are very different in the US and the UK, not to mention in each individual English-speaking country, so what’s involved in a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate program is also different.
for doctorates | for bachelor’s and master’s | |
for bachelor’s and master’s | for doctorates |
It’s important to remember that the words dissertation and thesis are frequently used interchangeably, so the technical definitions are just for formal situations—like when submitting one or the other. If you’re confused, you can also ask your adviser. Each school or institution may have their own definitions of the terms.
What is a dissertation versus a thesis .
Dissertations and theses (the plural of thesis ) are often confused because they’re both lengthy research papers written for higher education. In American English, a dissertation is written to earn a doctorate whereas a thesis is written to earn a master’s (or sometimes a bachelor’s). In many informal situations, however, the terms dissertation and thesis are used interchangeably.
In British English, the meanings of dissertation and thesis are reversed: A thesis is written to earn a doctorate, and a dissertation is written to earn a master’s or bachelor’s. Keep in mind that academic institutions are very different in the US and the UK, not to mention in each individual English-speaking country, so what’s involved in a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate program is also different.
It’s important to remember that the words dissertation and thesis are frequently used interchangeably, so the technical definitions are just for formal situations—like when submitting one or the other. If you’re confused, you can also ask your adviser; each school or institution may have their own definitions of the terms.
Dissertation.
Other forms: dissertations
A dissertation is a long piece of writing that uses research to bring to light an original idea. Don't go to grad school unless you're prepared to write, say, a 300-page dissertation on some topic.
In everyday speech, we sometimes accuse people of delivering dissertations when they overload us with dull information. If you're annoyed with a long memo from your office manager about keeping the kitchen clean, you could mutter to a coworker, “How’d you like that dissertation Felix posted about rinsing out our mugs?”
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Set in Afghanistan during a time of political and social upheaval, this novel traces the decades-long friendship of two boys from different social classes.
A group of extraordinarily talented African-American women help NASA achieve some of its greatest successes, even as they face discrimination and oppression.
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Did you know.
In high school, college, or graduate school, students often have to write a thesis on a topic in their major field of study. In many fields, a final thesis is the biggest challenge involved in getting a master's degree, and the same is true for students studying for a Ph.D. (a Ph.D. thesis is often called a dissertation ). But a thesis may also be an idea; so in the course of the paper the student may put forth several theses (notice the plural form) and attempt to prove them.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
in sense 3, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)
the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children
thesis novel
“Thesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thesis. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
Kids definition of thesis, more from merriam-webster on thesis.
Nglish: Translation of thesis for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of thesis for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thesis
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The purpose of these Formatting Guidelines is to make all dissertations and theses legible, accessible, preservable, and uniform in presentation. The steps you take now to format your dissertation and thesis will improve the file for future readers.
See The Mardigian Library’s Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation with Microsoft Word for video tutorials designed to help you get most of the formatting of your thesis correct the first time. It is recommended that you use the dissertation/thesis template available in this guide which has most of the guidelines already incorporated.
For questions about formatting beyond what is covered in these resources, please check with your dissertation or thesis advisor.
Techniques for creating accessible documents, including adding alternative text for images, can be found on this website.
Set Document Title: Set the document title (note: this is a document property, not the filename) as your dissertation or thesis title.
Set Document Language
Set the Language of Parts (Quotations, Sections) That Are Different from the Main Language (required if applicable)
Use Correct Headings: Use appropriate heading levels for section and subsection titles. Use “Heading 1” for main section titles (e.g. a Chapter), “Heading 2” for subsection titles (e.g. a Chapter section), and so on.
Create Lists, Columns, and Other Structures by Using the Appropriate Structural Element. Do not use space bar, tab, or enter to arrange text in apparent tables, lists, or columns.
Text, Fonts, Color, Spacing
Numbering and Page Numbering
Include the following components, in the following order. All required components must be included.
Use the page numbering conventions given below. Every section below starts on a new page with 2-inch top margin.
Title Page (required)
No page number. No page count.
Frontispiece (Illustration or Epigraph) (optional)
Identifier/Copyright Page (required)
Dedication (optional)
Page numbers required. Lowercase Roman numerals.
Preface (optional)
Table of Contents (required)
List of Tables, List of Figures, etc. (required if applicable)
List of Illustrations/Photos (required if applicable)
List of Appendices (required if applicable)
List of Abbreviations, List of Acronyms, List of Symbols (optional)
Abstract (required)
Dissertation or Thesis Text (required)
Bibliography or Reference section(s). (required)
Page numbers required. Arabic numerals. Insert at the end of each chapter, or the end of the dissertation/thesis, in the format preferred by the discipline.
Title Page Components
Include the following components on the title page, in the following order. Begin each item on a new line.
A dissertation (thesis) submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Name of Degree (Name of Program) in The University of Michigan-Dearborn YEAR
Identifier/Copyright Page Components
Include the following components on the identifier/copyright page, in the following order. Begin each item on a new line, centered.
ORCID iD is a unique digital identifier that you control and that distinguishes you from other researchers.
Copyright notice notifies readers that you hold the copyright to this work and when it was established.
Use the following format: © Full Name YEAR
Before submission, double-check the following:
The thesis or dissertation is submitted as public evidence of your scholarly research and accomplishment. A thesis or dissertation and abstract is normally made publicly available upon degree conferral when it is deposited electronically in Deep Blue. If a student wishes to postpone public release of the final product, also called an embargo, the student should discuss this option with his or her faculty advisor. It has always been the university's expectation that every dissertation and abstract will be released upon conferral of the degree. Only in specific circumstances may release of a thesis or dissertation be deferred, and then only for a limited period of time. The student is responsible for requesting an embargo.
Embargo forms can be found at: "Thesis and Dissertation Release and Embargo Options”
Required for doctoral dissertations and highly recommended for Master’s Thesis. The final pdf document of your dissertation or thesis must be submitted electronically to the Mardigian Library. This digital PDF will be the copy of record and will be archived in Deep Blue . Deep Blue is a digital repository that is part of the University of Michigan Library.
To submit your document, you need to provide:
To maintain the usability and appearance of your document, please review the Best Practices for Producing High Quality PDF Files , available on Deep Blue.
If you have supplemental materials (such as data) that should also be made publicly available and associated with your dissertation or thesis, consider reaching out to [email protected] for help determining whether these should be deposited into one of the Deep Blue repositories.
Once your document is submitted to Deep Blue by the library, you will receive an email containing the DOI and a URL to access the document. It will also be added to the Mardigian Library catalog and made available on Google Scholar. If no embargo is requested, it may take three to four weeks for your document to become available.
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COMMENTS
A dissertation is designed to be your own. Meaning that what you write about should be a new idea, a new topic, or question that is still unanswered in your field. Something that you will need to collect new data on, potentially interview people for and explore what information is already available. Generally, an idea will need to be approved ...
The meaning of DISSERTATION is an extended usually written treatment of a subject; specifically : one submitted for a doctorate. How to use dissertation in a sentence.
DISSERTATION definition: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive…. Learn more.
Learn how to write a top-notch dissertation or thesis with Grad Coach's straightforward 8-step guide (including examples and videos).
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
A dissertation (or thesis) is a process. Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let's go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms. The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process - more specifically a ...
A dissertation is a large research project submitted to complete a degree. It involves independent research on a topic chosen by the student.
Dissertation definition: a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.. See examples of DISSERTATION used in a sentence.
A dissertation is a subject you chose for yourself. The first usage of the word in the English language in 1651 also gives a useful starting definition: "an extended written treatment of a subject".
What is a dissertation? Put simply, it's the culminating research project for every PhD program, but the types of dissertations and formats may vary based on your subject matter.
Dissertation Meaning in Research In Research, a dissertation refers to a substantial research project that students undertake in order to obtain an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. or a Master's degree.
Definition of dissertation noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Typically, a dissertation allows students present their findings in response to a question or proposition that they choose themselves. The aim of the project is to test the independent research skills students have acquired during their time at university, with the assessment used to help determine their final grade.
DISSERTATION meaning: a very long piece of writing done as part of a course of study: . Learn more.
A dissertation is a long written piece of academic research completed as part of a university degree. The dissertation will be the longest thing you write at university. It might be anywhere from: Shortest: 5000 words long (a baby undergraduate dissertation), up to. Longest: 100,000 words (a PhD dissertation in the social sciences).
DISSERTATION meaning: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive…. Learn more.
2 meanings: 1. a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree 2. a formal discourse.... Click for more definitions.
In American English, a dissertation is a research paper that's required to earn a doctorate degree, while a thesis is a research paper required to earn a master's degree. Dissertations and theses (the plural of thesis) are often mixed up because they're both lengthy research papers written for higher education, especially as part of a ...
A dissertation is a paper explaining the individual research that a student has conducted to earn a degree. It usually consists of several sections or chapters and follows the rules of formal academic writing. The degree candidate chooses the research topic. In the United States, a graduate student writes a dissertation to earn a doctorate degree.
Dissertation definition: A lengthy, formal treatise, especially one written by a candidate for the doctoral degree at a university; a thesis.
A dissertation is a long piece of writing that uses research to bring to light an original idea. Don't go to grad school unless you're prepared to write, say, a 300-page dissertation on some topic.
The meaning of THESIS is a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view; especially : one written by a candidate for an academic degree. How to use thesis in a sentence. Did you know?
A thesis or dissertation and abstract is normally made publicly available upon degree conferral when it is deposited electronically in Deep Blue. If a student wishes to postpone public release of the final product, also called an embargo, the student should discuss this option with his or her faculty advisor.
In computability theory, the Church-Turing thesis (also known as computability thesis, [1] the Turing-Church thesis, [2] the Church-Turing conjecture, Church's thesis, Church's conjecture, and Turing's thesis) is a thesis about the nature of computable functions.It states that a function on the natural numbers can be calculated by an effective method if and only if it is computable by a ...