The Difference Between A Dissertation and Thesis

Many Universities and accredited educational institutions clarify the difference between a dissertation and thesis paper in this way, a dissertation is written as an application to for acceptance into a faculty in their field of study, while a thesis is a report on a particular area of study. Although both formal writing assignments have many service similarities it is their ultimate intentions that set them apart.

On one hand these difference are extremely obvious, while on the other they can be difficult to clarify on paper. Whether you are tackling your dissertation or thesis here are some things that you can keep in mind.

Understanding The Technical Difference

A thesis is meant to reveal research on a particular field of study. Your final thesis will result in the reception of a doctorate or PhD degree. Writing a dissertation however is the only way that you can receive a postgraduate degree, MPhil and enrolls you into your master’s program.

Another big difference is the typical subject choice for dissertations versus final thesis papers. While a thesis should always be composed on an original subject and include your hypothesis, while working alongside an advisor. Dissertations are made up of original insights and collected knowledge that you have accumulated throughout your studies. Dissertations are usually written separate from your studies and are only reviewed when you submit a draft to one of your peers.

To clarify this a bit further a thesis needs to be supported with original research material that you collect while with a dissertation the original material is something that you come up with. Although both require supporting evidence the dissertation is based more on opinion than subject research, while a thesis puts conclusive research ahead of author opinion.

Occasionally when discussing these final projects dissertation and thesis may be used interchangeably. However because they are written for different reasons, they have a few characteristics that set them apart. Don’t become overly concerned whether or not your writing a dissertation transcript or a thesis paper because it will typically depend on your graduating goal which type of report you will be writing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that both these papers are extremely important to your academic career, and you will need to be prepared to invest the time into them if you are aspiring to become an expert in your field.