Dissertation or thesis, What is the difference?

You are confused too, right?

Don’t worry you are not alone.

Most people don’t know the difference between both.

Simply we can say that dissertation and thesis are different with lots of similarities. But the debate doesn’t end here. Their meaning might change in different regions of the world.

To remove this confusion and make your mind clear UK Academic Help has created this article that will help you get answers to all your questions regarding dissertation Vs thesis.

What Is The Meaning Of A Dissertation and A Thesis?

Although their meaning may differ depending on your location, we will discuss their meaning in the UK.

In the UK, a dissertation is typically written at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. While a thesis is written at the end of a PhD degree.

A thesis or a dissertation are lengthy research papers that are written to graduate a degree like bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD. Without them you can not get your degree because they are the most important project of your academics.

People may confuse both the terms but in academics they have different meanings and definitions. However, some universities might have their own definitions according to the regulations of the institutes. So, it is better to read your university’s guidelines carefully. If you don’t get the solution there then you can always get dissertation writing services and make your life easy.

Let’s discuss the meaning in detail to have a broader idea.

What Is A Dissertation In The UK?

In the UK, a dissertation is a detailed research paper that bachelor’s and master’s students write as a requirement of their degree. It is written at the end of the degree as a research project.

The main purpose of writing a dissertation is to test the skills of the students in research and analysis. It is a lengthy paper and requires a considerable amount of effort. If you are struggling to write your dissertation then you can also learn how to write a dissertation by clicking on the link.

What Is A Thesis In The UK?

In the UK, a thesis is the more advanced level of lengthy research writing. It is a basic requirement of a Doctorate degree. Mostly, it contains 300 or more pages.

New discoveries and research in the field is required to write it. In the science fields, empirical research is conducted based on data collection. On the other hand, in non-scientific fields the research is mostly non-empirical based on literature, philosophy, and already available data.

Similarities in a Dissertation and a Thesis

Although, dissertation and thesis both are different yet there are many similarities between them too. Let’s check out the basic similarities between them.

  • A dissertation and a thesis both are the major final projects. Without them a student can not graduate.
  • The table of contents is mostly the same unless any institute has some specific requirements.
  • Both of them require deep knowledge and understanding of the problem.
  • Both of them must include the research questions, that is the base of any research.
  • Both of them require excellent academic writing skills to draft a quality paper.
  • Both require analytical skills to support their research findings.
  • Both of them shall give importance to ethical considerations.
  • Both of them do not accept plagiarised content.
  • Both require editing and proofreading before the final submission.

Differences in a Dissertation and a Thesis

Now that you have already read the similarities it’s time to have a look at the major differences between a dissertation and a thesis. As mentioned earlier in this article both of them have different meanings and definitions. So let’s see which factors make them so different from each other.

  • The key difference between a dissertation and a thesis is the level of education. A dissertation is the final project of bachelor’s and master’s level. While a thesis is the final project of doctorate level.
  • A dissertation represents the knowledge and skills of the student about the specific topic learned during the degree. On the contrary, a thesis gives the student the opportunity to present new ideas or contribute something new to the existing literature in the respective research field.
  • A dissertation is based on existing literature, on the other hand, a thesis is the presentation of new concepts defended both theoretically and practically.
  • A dissertation is shorter with respect to a thesis.
  • A dissertation is about 100 pages, while a thesis is almost 3 times its length which is approximately 300 pages.
  • A dissertation is like a lengthy research paper, however, a thesis is more like a book.

Still Confused What Your University Requires?

Are you still confused and don’t know what actually your university demands?

Don’t worry it happens a lot.

Many students don’t have any idea about the requirements of their degree or university.

Sometimes there are miscommunications because both a dissertation and a thesis are often used interchangeably. You might hear the word thesis from your fellow student when actually you have to write a dissertation.

So, no need to panic. If you are confused too then you can always consult an expert. We provide the best consultation for all the academic problems. So feel free to contact us any time.