Dissertation vs Thesis: What Are the Differences and Similarities?

The debate of dissertation vs. thesis is quite common among graduate and postgraduate students. At the higher level of study, students get writing assignments with huge word counts. Many of them don’t understand whether they get a dissertation paper to write or a thesis. So, they must understand the similarities and differences between both types of writing. Dissertations and theses have certain similarities, while both of them are also quite different from each other. Here, you can get answers to all your confusion and get help to write well.

What Is a Dissertation Paper?

A dissertation paper is assigned to students at the doctoral level. So, you must conduct thorough research to establish your new point of view. The goal of writing a dissertation paper means you are going to establish new theories based on the previous research work. Thus, you can leave a specific mark in your genre. Writing a dissertation means you need to explore new questions and find answers that have never been done before.

What Is a Thesis Paper?

A thesis is a type of writing assignment that is assigned to students of a master’s degree. Here, the author researches a particular part of the topic and presents the information he finds. To be precise, students get a topic to write their thesis paper. Then, they conduct thorough research. Finally, they write a detailed report on their findings to demonstrate their understanding of the subject.

What Are the Similarities between a Dissertation and a Thesis?

Now, many students don’t understand the differences and similarities between the two types of writing. So, first, we will focus on the similarities between the two types of writing. Read on to know more:

Both Are Research-based Writing

Whether you write a dissertation paper or a thesis, you need to conduct thorough research for both types of writing. Students must use different resources, like books, journals, previous research works, government resources, news articles, and many more. All these sources can enrich you with enough information to write either a dissertation paper or a thesis.

High Academic Standards Are Maintained

In both types of writing, students must maintain high academic standards. This means they must collect information from authentic sources. Also, they should utilise their analytical power and critical thinking ability. Besides, they must focus on the use of formal language, maintaining grammar and spelling, the right formatting methods, and the proper citation techniques.

Students Can Contribute to Their Field

This is another similarity between the two types of writing. In both sectors, students can contribute to their field of study. By writing a dissertation, students can bring new ideas and theories to their field. On the other hand. They can show their deeper understanding of the topic and the subject by writing a thesis paper.

Students Work under Supervision

In both types of writing, students work under the special supervision of their professors or mentors. They get proper guidance from them whenever needed. Also, they help to understand the methodologies, find proper resources, and write a thorough dissertation or thesis to score higher.

Both Writing Requires Oral Defence

A thesis or a dissertation paper requires an oral defence. You can write any of these writings, but before that, you must present your research work and justify your topic in front of a committee. Thus, you can show how well you have prepared for both kinds of writing.

So, here you get some similarities between a dissertation and a thesis. If you find any difficulty in writing any of these papers, you can consult the best dissertation writing service, like InstantAssignmentHelp.com. Now, you must understand the differences between both types of writing so that you never mix things up.

What Are the Differences between a Dissertation and a Thesis?

After paying attention to the similarities between the two types of writing, it is time to understand the differences. Then only you can write each paper properly. Read on to know more:

Level of Study Is Different

This is the biggest difference between a dissertation and a thesis. A Ph.D. student writes a dissertation paper as part of his curriculum. On the other hand, a student of a master’s degree writes a thesis before getting their final degree.

The Purpose and Objective Are Different

The purpose of a thesis is to show your understanding of the subject and the existing research. Also, your objective is to analyse it critically. The dissertation paper aims at the original work of the student on the topic that adds more value to the field of study.

Difference on the Basis of Length

A thesis is shorter in length. Usually, students need to write around 60 to 100 pages while writing a thesis paper. On the other hand, a dissertation is much longer than a thesis paper. Here, students must write around 150 to 300 pages, as per the guidelines of your institution.

Difference on the Basis of Research

While writing a thesis, students may not need to find original data collection. They can research the existing literature. However, writing a dissertation is always about finding something new and exclusive. Whether in data collection or analysing the information, the aim of a dissertation is always to establish a new theory.

Both Take Different Times to Finish

A thesis is shorter than a dissertation paper. So, it takes less time than the latter. Usually, a thesis takes 1 to 2 semesters to complete. On the other hand, a dissertation is longer than a thesis paper. So, it takes 2 to 5 years to complete, based on its difficulty level.

So, here you get the differences between a thesis and a dissertation. These are the basic differences that you must pay attention to before writing any of those. In different countries, both writings have different meanings. For example, in the UK, a dissertation is for master’s level, while a thesis is written at the Ph.D. level. So, make sure you know the terms well as per your institution and go ahead with it.

Conclusion

Today, you get a thorough overview of the distinctions and similarities between a dissertation and a thesis paper. If you go through it thoroughly, you will never be confused. Also, both writings are different in different countries. So, you must know what your institution wants from you. Once you understand both types of writing well, there will be no debate between dissertation vs. thesis. If required, you can take professional help too.