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Dissertation vs Thesis: Meaning, Difference, and Similarities

Read this blog to know the meaning of thesis and dissertation with their differences and similarities.

Dissertation vs Thesis | Assignment Desk
25 Aug 2025 3636
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As you know, the academic world is filled with various complicated types of writing. One of them that makes you confused is Dissertation vs Thesis. The terms dissertation and thesis are often used as synonyms, which adds to the confusion for you. However, they are completely different in the world of academics. This blog will address the differences and meaning of a dissertation and a thesis. So, what are you waiting for? Explore this blog for in-depth knowledge.

What Is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is an independent research project that is a part of your undergraduate or master's degree. It consists of multiple sections and follows a set of guidelines to earn a degree. The most interesting fact about a dissertation is that it is one of the longest pieces of academic work.

Now that you are familiar with the dissertation meaning, let's understand its difference in American and British English. In American English, it is used for doctorates and in British English, it is utilized for bachelor's and master's degrees. Furthermore, if you face a problem in writing dissertations for your degree, you can seek assistance from dissertation writing services experts. They are well-experienced in solving the issues that you face.

Now that you have understood what is a dissertation, let's understand what a thesis is, to know their potential difference.

Dissertation Examples in PDF

Review dissertation examples in PDF so you can start working on your dissertation

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Undergraduate

Dissertation Example

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Masters

Dissertation Example

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PhD

Dissertation Example

What is a Thesis

 A thesis is a type of research paper required for a PhD degree. The length of the thesis varies according to needs. For example, for an undergraduate, it's around 10,000 words, and for a graduate, it can be around 20,000 words. It is usually submitted at the end of a PhD program. So, writing a PhD thesis can be a disturbing experience.

Hope you are now aware of the thesis definition. As discussed above, there is a difference between American and British English in the dissertation. In the thesis, it's reverse. In American English, it is used for bachelor's and master's degrees, and in British English, it is used for doctorates. Additionally, thesis is a singular form of document while thesis plural is theses which refers to multiple documents.

Now you are aware with dissertation meaning and thesis definition. Let's learn how to structure them in academics.

Structure of a Dissertation and a Thesis

As you know, the structure of a dissertation and a thesis plays a vital role in creating a logical flow and demonstrating your findings.

Structure of Dissertation VS Thesis

Section

Purpose

Title Page

Mention Your Name, Date, Course, Teacher's Name, University Name and Dissertation Title.

Abstract

Give a small idea about your topic and mention key aspects.

Table of Contents

It should contain all your headings, Subheadings and Page Numbers.

List of Figures

List all the figures and tables that you have used with the page number.

List of Abbreviations

Add all the abbreviations that you have used throughout. For example: Dr for Doctor

Introduction

Provide a brief about your topic and add a fun fact that no one has mentioned.

Literature Review

Find mistakes in the literature in your findings

Methodology

Justify your research and approach based on quality, quantity or both.

Results

Present your findings in tabular or bullet points for clarity and understanding.

Discussion

Don't just simply show results; explain their importance.

Conclusion

Summarize all your key pointers and topics.

References

Mention all the sources from which you have borrowed info or taken an idea.

Now you must be thinking that there is no difference in their structure, so what can be the difference in terms of academics? It is the reason why many of you get confused in Dissertation vs Thesis. Let's understand their difference in the upcoming section.

Difference Between Thesis and Dissertation

One of the primary difference between Dissertation and Thesis is that dissertation is used for a master's degree, and a thesis is required for a PhD. In addition, the purpose of a PhD thesis is to present original research that has not been published before. Let's understand their difference in tabular form for clarity.

Feature

Dissertation

Thesis

Degree Level

Master's or Undergraduate Degree

PhD

Purpose

To check your research ability

To present an original work based on existing knowledge

Length

Comparatively shorter than the thesis. 10000 to 20000 words

It carries a 70,000 to 100,000+ word limit.

Scope of Research

It is based on already existing research.

It promotes independent research.

Complexity

As you can see from the word count, it focuses on less complex issues.

It addresses all the complex topics for better understanding.

Oversight

In this, you can seek guidance from advisors and internal reviews.

As it promotes independent research, it needs self-ideas.

Hope you have now understood the difference between thesis and dissertation. In case you face any issues regarding both these terms, you can seek support from online experts. They will help you solve your doubts within minutes. Our assignment help UK services carry the best professionals among all.

Commonalities Between a Dissertation and Thesis

 In the above sections, you have learned about dissertation meaning, its structure and how it is different from a thesis. However, they carry similarities in terms of academics. Let's know where they are similar for better understanding.

Category

Description

Purpose

Both are considered the final projects to analyze your knowledge.

Research

Writing both of these requires in-depth research and information.

Academic Writing

Both are required to follow the academic guidelines and meet standards.

Structure

They carry a similar structure. They include the Page title, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and references.

Ethical Conduct

As discussed, both are required to follow the guidelines such as avoiding plagiarism, AI and more.

Defence

Most importantly, you are required to defend your thesis or dissertation to gain a degree.

Topic Selection

Both are required to choose a relevant topic that addresses the subject mastery.

Final Result

The final result of a thesis and a dissertation is formal and lengthy.

Hopefully, now you are aware of the similarities between them. In addition, if you fail to complete your task on time, you will be given guidelines. You can simply buy dissertation from our experts, who can provide you with structured documents with detailed information.

Dissertation vs Thesis UK

Thesis vs Dissertation, these two are often confused. Let's understand the meaning of these two terms from the UK perspective.

1. Thesis

  • In the UK, a thesis is generally submitted by PhD-level students to gain a degree.
  • It is generally longer than a dissertation.
  • Additionally, you can find these from the university library services.

2. Dissertation

  • It is typically submitted at the end of an undergraduate or a master's degree.
  • They are typically shorter than a thesis.
  • Furthermore, dissertations are independent projects as you are required to conduct your own research and writing.
  • Furthermore, if you want to save you time while writing thesis/dissertation, you can use grammar checker UK to save your time in proofreading.
  • Hopefully, now you are aware of the difference between a Thesis vs Dissertation in the UK.

We Commit to Well - Researched & Genuine Dissertation

Key Takeaways

  • A dissertation is an independent research project completed at the end of your undergraduate and master's degree.
  • A thesis is the major component of a PhD degree based on original research.
  • The primary difference between Dissertation vs thesis is that a dissertation is an undergraduate project, whereas a thesis is a PhD degree task.
  • The structure of these two is similar but carries differences in academics.
  • They both require in-depth research, choose a relevant topic and follow guidelines.
  • Hopefully, by the above sections, you are aware of the differences, similarities and structure of a thesis and a dissertation.

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    FAQs:

    • How long is a thesis?
    • When to use a dissertation or a thesis?
    • Is a dissertation only for a PhD?
    • How to write a dissertation methodology?

     
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