View an example
When you place an order, you can specify your field of study and we’ll match you with an editor who has familiarity with this area.
However, our editors are language specialists, not academic experts in your field. Your editor’s job is not to comment on the content of your dissertation, but to improve your language and help you express your ideas as clearly and fluently as possible.
This means that your editor will understand your text well enough to give feedback on its clarity, logic and structure, but not on the accuracy or originality of its content.
Good academic writing should be understandable to a non-expert reader, and we believe that academic editing is a discipline in itself. The research, ideas and arguments are all yours – we’re here to make sure they shine!
After your document has been edited, you will receive an email with a link to download the document.
The editor has made changes to your document using ‘Track Changes’ in Word. This means that you only have to accept or ignore the changes that are made in the text one by one.
It is also possible to accept all changes at once. However, we strongly advise you not to do so for the following reasons:
You choose the turnaround time when ordering. We can return your dissertation within 24 hours , 3 days or 1 week . These timescales include weekends and holidays. As soon as you’ve paid, the deadline is set, and we guarantee to meet it! We’ll notify you by text and email when your editor has completed the job.
Very large orders might not be possible to complete in 24 hours. On average, our editors can complete around 13,000 words in a day while maintaining our high quality standards. If your order is longer than this and urgent, contact us to discuss possibilities.
Always leave yourself enough time to check through the document and accept the changes before your submission deadline.
Scribbr is specialised in editing study related documents. We check:
Calculate the costs
The fastest turnaround time is 24 hours.
You can upload your document at any time and choose between four deadlines:
At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.
Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.
Yes, in the order process you can indicate your preference for American, British, or Australian English .
If you don’t choose one, your editor will follow the style of English you currently use. If your editor has any questions about this, we will contact you.
One of the biggest turning points of any PhD student’s journey is the submission of a research writing project in the form of either a PhD thesis or a PhD dissertation. From an academic perspective, the thesis/dissertation is in many ways a major indicator of the abilities and expertise that you have gained as a doctoral candidate.
The mere task of understanding the requirements and compiling a PhD dissertation/thesis is in itself huge. However, what may be confusing to understand, especially if you are just embarking upon your doctoral journey, is the difference between thesis and dissertation.
Similarities in phd dissertation vs. thesis, 1. understanding differences in the meaning of the two terms, 2. difference between thesis and dissertation based upon geographical location, 3. understanding a difference in content for a phd thesis v/s phd dissertation.
These two terms are often used interchangeably when referring to doctoral studies as there are a number of similarities between them:
Owing to the above-mentioned similarities, the confusion between the correct usage of dissertation vs. thesis is quite understandable. In order to ensure the proper usage of these two terms, it’s crucial to understand the differences in a PhD thesis v/s PhD dissertation. Here are some quick pointers that may be useful.
Since most academic institutions will continue to use these terms interchangeably, it is imperative that you confirm the intricate details regarding the expected structure of a PhD thesis/dissertation with your respective institution. However, for now, we hope that the above article helps in clarifying some of the major doubts that you may have had regarding a PhD thesis v/s dissertation.
In order to better understand the meaning of thesis vs dissertation, let us go back to the origin of the terms. The term ‘thesis’ originates from the Greek word ‘tithenai’, which means ‘to place a proposition’, while the term ‘dissertation’ has a Latin origin, which essentially means ‘disserere’/’dissertare’, i.e., ‘to (continue to) examine and discuss’. 1 To simplify further, a thesis by itself may simply represent an argument that you put forth and describe in depth, while a dissertation may represent a written summary/discussion of a particular work. 2
In countries/institutions that follow the British education system, it is common to term the final doctoral research writing project as a PhD thesis, while the countries/institutions that follow the American education system prefer to call it a PhD dissertation. In case you are unsure which education system is followed by your institution, it may be a good idea to verify this with the respective personnel, so that you can plan your doctoral journey effectively.
While the above two points may be useful to understand the differences between thesis and dissertation on a surface level, as a PhD student it is crucial for you to understand the deeper differences in the content and the type of work that goes into each of them. Let us do this by revisiting the differences in the origin of the two terms: ‘dissertare’ or to discuss (dissertation) v/s ‘to place a proposition’ (thesis). In my experience, the content of a PhD dissertation often comprises peer-reviewed publications that are published by the doctoral candidate during their doctoral work, along with supplementary chapters. This is followed by a dissertation defense , an presentation by the student on the main aspects of the research reported in the dissertation.
On the other hand, while compiling a PhD thesis, a doctoral candidate may need to describe the doctoral work in detail with the help of distinct chapters comprising: abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and bibliography/references. Thus, the main difference between thesis and dissertation, lies in the way the written document is being presented although the doctoral work done by the candidate will mostly remain the same .
References:
1. What is the Difference Between a Dissertation and a Thesis? | Postgrad.com. https://www.postgrad.com/advice/exams/dissertation-and-theses/difference-between-a-dissertation-and-a-thesis/
2. The PhD Thesis | FindAPhD.com. www.FindAPhD.com https://www.findaphd.com/guides/phd-thesis.
The time it takes to write a PhD thesis vs. dissertation can vary depending on several factors, including the research topic, the scope of the project, the research methodology, and the specific requirements of the academic program. However, in general, a dissertation is typically longer and more comprehensive than a thesis, and therefore may take longer to complete.
A dissertation for doctoral programs is typically required after the completion of required coursework, passing comprehensive exams, and hitting any other specific milestones outlined by the program. This means PhD students usually devote years in developing their dissertation, which demonstrates your ability to conduct independent research and make original contributions to the field
A thesis statement is used in academic writing to provide a concise summary of the main argument or point being made in an essay or paper. It should be used at the introduction at the beginning of the paper to guide the reader and provide focus for the writing. A thesis statement can be used in academic essays, research papers, analytical papers and literature reviews and presents readers with a clear roadmap of the research being conducted.
Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.
Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$19 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed.
Experience the future of academic writing – Sign up to Paperpal and start writing for free!
Manuscript submission: get your pre-submission checks right with paperpal , you may also like, phd qualifying exam: tips for success , ai in education: it’s time to change the..., 9 steps to publish a research paper, self-plagiarism in research: what it is and how..., 6 tips for post-doc researchers to take their..., 8 most effective ways to increase motivation for..., how to make your thesis supervision work for..., how to write a conclusion for research papers..., ethical research practices for research with human subjects, 5 reasons for rejection after peer review.
Keep up-to-date on postgraduate related issues with our quick reads written by students, postdocs, professors and industry leaders.
Confusingly, the terms dissertation and thesis are often used interchangeably within higher education and university environments (or graduate school in the USA). Depending on the context, someone may refer to a project write up as a thesis while another person may call the same document a dissertation. In another scenario, both terms may refer to very specific and different things. If we take a look at the meaning of dissertation’ and thesis’ in the Cambridge English Dictionary, we find their definitions to be:
The dictionary definitions of these two words are almost identical! Technically and historically this has been the correct however if we look at the definition of ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ in the Collins English Dictionary, we start to get a sense of the modern interpretation of the two words, particularly as they’re used in the United Kingdom:
The definition above succinctly sums up the differences between the terms dissertation and thesis in the UK and much of Europe. Most often students will be asked to write an undergraduate or Master’s dissertation whilst if you continue on to in to a PhD doctoral program, you’ll be writing up a thesis.
The distinction here is that a PhD (also referred to as a doctoral degree) requires the development of a novel body of work that adds new knowledge based purely on original research, whilst an undergraduate or Master’s project follows a period of taught modules and does not require novel research; for example it could consist solely of a review of existing research literature.
A well written dissertation project as part of a Masters degree would be closer in length and formatting to a research paper.
Imperial College London is a good example of an institution where this distinction between the terms is clear; the terminology used for students undertaking original research degrees is that they will be asked to submit a PhD, MPhil, MD(Res) or EngD thesis. Conversely, students enrolled in a taught Masters postgraduate degree are asked to submit Master’s dissertations.
As part of a doctoral degree, it’s also common to write research papers which go through a peer review process and help make your thesis defence that much easier. Publishing papers during a Masters degree is less common (but not impossible) than with a doctorate degree, simply because the emphasis with these is less on performing original research/contributing new knowledge, but more on equipping a student with the ability to do so in the future (i.e if they do eventually pursue a PhD degree).
An important structural difference between the two is that the Masters dissertation structure is usually centred around one primary research question whereas a Ph.D. is likely to contain each chapter to a separate research topic and research methodology.
A Masters degree can be a good way to develop basic research skills such as how to critically review existing literature and previously published papers. You’ll get a sense of what independent research is like and how to formulate a research plan. You’ll be required to submit coursework or another written report format on a given topic throughout the year, in addition to the final 10,000-20,000 word dissertation.
The difference here is that whilst you may perform your subject research, data collection and writing across several months for a Masters project, your PhD thesis work will take much longer. Your data collection alone for doctoral study can take in excess if two years and ideally you should be working towards your thesis writing over much of the three years of your project.
Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.
Whilst this naming convention in the UK and the rest of Europe is used consistently across the vast majority of universities and departments, this is not necessarily the case at graduate schools in the United States of America.
The key thing to be aware of is that in the USA, the definitions are essentially reversed; a Masters degree in the United States is earned following the completion and submission of a Master thesis, whilst a doctoral dissertation is written by a graduate student as part of the journey towards a PhD degree.
Regardless of the precise term used to describe the body of academic work you produce, both of these will be substantial written documents. They will range in length from around 20,000 word dissertation for a Masters degree project write up, to over 50,000 words for a PhD submission; a 100,000 word thesis is usually the maximum permitted by most universities.
Click here to view PhD thesis examples that have been made available online by the University of Warwick
Some element of research work and independent learning will be key to both, however of course for PhDs, the research element will be the core focus that the work is centred on whilst the Maser’s (or undergraduate) project will have flexibility as to the extent of research work conducted.
Both a thesis and dissertation will conclude with the student taking part in a viva to defend the work of their research project. A dissertation defence for a masters degree will involve at least one faculty member and the student. A doctoral candidate will on the other hand have their thesis defense with at least one external examiner.
The confusion for students between the precise meaning of the term thesis and dissertation is completely understandable; this is due to the very similar dictionary definitions of the words combined with the different context they can refer to depending on what part of the world you’re in. Both require a substantial amount of academic writing, forming part of a graduate program to earn the academic degree of a PhD or Masters.
As I’m in the UK, I’ll conclude by saying that a dissertation is typically associated with the work of an undergraduate or Master’s degree, whilst a thesis is written as part of a research project leading to the award of a PhD degree or an equivalent research degree.
See below for a recap of answers to common questions about the differences between the a dissertation and thesis.
Theoretically you should be able to write up the work presented in either document as a research paper or even several papers. You stand a better chance of making it through peer review if your research work contributes new knowledge to the subject matter. This is certainly possible at the Masters level and essential for a doctorate program. An undergraduate dissertation is less likely to lead to an academic paper unless this is something that has specifically been planned for before starting the project.
Both documents are written at the graduate level. In the UK, a dissertation is written at the Masters levels whilst a doctorate dissertation is written to earn a Ph.D.
You will be required to defend your scholarly work in a viva format as part of your postgraduate studies.
As a masters student you will be required to take part in a dissertation defense; the general idea of this is to ensure you’ve understood your chosen topic and have learnt the skills to perform extensive research on a subject. These usually involve giving a 5 to 10 minute presentation, followed by a round of questions and answers with an internal examiner lasting up to 30 minutes (the exact process may vary depending on the educational institution).
A thesis defense or viva however requires a PhD student to present substantial information and supporting evidence to demonstrate how their research has built on previous work to contribute new information to the subject. For this reason, a viva to earn a doctorate degree can often last several hours.
Yes you do. The main difference is that a literature review for a master’s thesis may be 1,000 to 2,000 words in length whilst for a doctoral thesis, it will be a standalone chapter of around 10,000 words.
PhD stress is real. Learn how to combat it with these 5 tips.
This article will answer common questions about the PhD synopsis, give guidance on how to write one, and provide my thoughts on samples.
The purpose of research is to enhance society by advancing knowledge through developing scientific theories, concepts and ideas – find out more on what this involves.
Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.
A concept paper is a short document written by a researcher before starting their research project, explaining what the study is about, why it is needed and the methods that will be used.
Multistage sampling is a more complex form of cluster sampling for obtaining sample populations. Learn their pros and cons and how to undertake them.
Jay is in the third year of his PhD at Savitribai Phule Pune University, researching the applications of mesenchymal stem cells and nanocarrier for bone tissue engineering.
Carina is a PhD student at The University of Manchester who has just defended her viva. Her research focuses on dermal white adipose tissue regulates human hair follicle growth and cycling.
Why you should or shouldn’t get a phd, what is self-plagiarism and how can you avoid it, what’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis, trending tags.
Theses in the uk and eu, who would write a thesis, dissertation in the uk and eu, who would write a dissertation, dissertation vs thesis: purpose and scope, thesis vs dissertation: scale, dissertation vs thesis: academic level, dissertation and thesis: contribution, thesis and dissertation: the research process, dissertation and thesis: defense, choosing between a dissertation and a thesis.
While in many fields, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to achieve many career goals, some industries and positions require a candidate to hold a post-graduate degree. The ability to conduct research and present information effectively is a big part of getting your master’s degree or doctorate.
Before you graduate from a post-graduate program, you need to provide a thesis or a dissertation. Understanding the core differences between these two documents can help you get closer to getting the degree you need.
Let’s take a closer look at the difference between thesis and dissertation and explore what it entails.
Before defining a thesis, it’s important to understand that the definition varies depending on the country you are getting your education in. The United States and the United Kingdom have different definitions. So does the European Union.
In the USA, a thesis is an extensive research paper, the goal of which is to demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research and put it into a digestible form. This scholarly document must contain a clear and focused hypothesis. You have to come up with an argument and use existing research to prove it.
The components of a thesis are:
The goal of the thesis is to allow you to demonstrate the skills you’ve mastered throughout the program. You will show that you can analyze information critically and present logical arguments.
In the United Kingdom and the European Union, the term “thesis” can mean a different document. Instead of being a part of obtaining the master’s degree, it’s part of the doctoral degree program.
In the UK and EU, there is a concept of the “Ph.D. thesis.” You will be submitting it to confirm the skills and knowledge you gained while in the Ph.D. program.
Unlike the master’s thesis in the USA, this Ph.D. thesis would require you to conduct original research and may require several years to be completed. You would be conducting investigations, analyzing data, and presenting your findings in a structured manner. The purpose of this thesis is to confirm your right to receive a Ph.D.
In the United States, students who are enrolled in master’s programs have to present a thesis. Some bachelor programs may also require you to write an undergraduate thesis. However, this thesis is likely to be less in-depth than the thesis for the master’s program.
In the UK and EU, you would have to write a thesis if you want to earn your doctoral degree. This thesis is similar to the document, which is called the dissertation in the United States.
In the United States, a dissertation is a comprehensive research project, that students work on as part of their Ph.D. program. It’s presented to the committee of professionals in the area of your studies. This original piece demonstrates your ability to bring new knowledge to a chosen field.
The components of a dissertation are:
A dissertation is a scholarly document that requires extensive research. Some students write dissertations for several years. They do it under the guidance of a faculty advisor or several professionals. Similarly to a thesis, the goal of the dissertation is to show your right to earn a Ph.D.
In the UK and EU, a dissertation is a smaller research project that students usually complete as part of their master’s program. In some cases, undergraduate programs also require a short dissertation. While the scale of this scholarly document is smaller, it still requires original research and analysis.
Once you defend your dissertation, you can get the degree you are working for.
Depending on the country, you would write a dissertation while studying to earn your master’s or doctoral degree. In some cases, undergraduate programs in the UK and EU also require a small-scale dissertation.
The thesis and dissertation appear similar at first. However, they have several differences. Let’s discuss these differences between a thesis and a dissertation in the United States. In the UK, these two concepts are reversed.
The key differences between these two scholarly documents are their purpose and scope. While the purpose of each one of them is to evaluate the person’s ability to think critically, do research, and present findings, the goal is two different degrees.
The thesis usually requires you to demonstrate your ability to use the existing research to back your arguments. Meanwhile, the dissertation requires a significant original contribution to the current body of knowledge.
While both projects require significant time and effort, the results are different. In most cases, the thesis is shorter than the dissertation. The former is usually between 80 and 100 pages long. Meanwhile, the latter can easily exceed 200 pages. The difference in the size reflects the depth of the research and analysis.
Depending on the country, the academic level at which you will complete your thesis or dissertation is different. In most cases, a thesis is something you do when studying to get a master’s degree. Meanwhile, a dissertation is part of your Ph.D. studies.
In the majority of situations, a dissertation helps you achieve the highest level of academic confirmation.
Both the dissertation and thesis have to become a contribution to the existing body of knowledge. However, the expectations for their originality are different. A thesis uses the existing research and theories to support an idea. At the same time, a dissertation should provide an original contribution. A dissertation can become the basis of a thesis. However, a thesis can’t help with a dissertation.
The research process for the thesis and dissertation are similar. For both of them, you would need to:
However, the depth of the research process for the thesis isn’t as significant as for the dissertation. For the dissertation, you must use advanced research methodologies that you don’t need to master to write a thesis.
Both the thesis and the dissertation require an evaluation and defense. However, these processes can vary. Sometimes, you would only need an advisor to evaluate a thesis. Meanwhile, a dissertation requires a more formal format with several experts in the field conducting an evaluation.
The choice between a dissertation and a thesis isn’t available to a student. It depends on the type of program you decide to enroll in. If you are studying to get a Ph.D., you will have to write and defend a dissertation. If you are in a master’s program, you have to be prepared to complete a thesis.
Both a dissertation and a thesis are integral parts of reaching higher levels of academic achievement. Faculty and advisors will help you with the process to make sure you earn the respective degree successfully.
PHD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of Business Process Management, Faculty of Market Technologies IOM
Dba vs. phd: what’s the difference, related posts, scholarship opportunities for online phd students.
Written by Ben Taylor
A PhD thesis is a work of original research all students are requiured to submit in order to succesfully complete their PhD. The thesis details the research that you carried out during the course of your doctoral degree and highlights the outcomes and conclusions reached.
The PhD thesis is the most important part of a doctoral research degree: the culmination of three or four years of full-time work towards producing an original contribution to your academic field.
Your PhD dissertation can therefore seem like quite a daunting possibility, with a hefty word count, the pressure of writing something new and, of course, the prospect of defending it at a viva once you’ve finished.
This page will give you an introduction to what you need to know about the doctoral thesis, with advice on structure, feedback, submission and more.
There are lots of choices, let us help you to make the right one. Sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest advice and guidance from our team of experts.
Beginning your phd thesis.
The first stage of your PhD thesis will usually be the literature review . We’ve already written a detailed guide to what the PhD literature review involves , but here’s what you need to know about this stage of your PhD:
After finishing your literature review, you’ll move onto the bulk of your doctoral thesis. Of course, you’ll eventually return to the lit review to make sure it’s up-to-date and contains any additional material you may have come across during the course of your research.
What sets your PhD thesis apart from previous university work you’ve done is the fact that it should represent an original contribution to academic knowledge . The form that this original contribution takes will largely depend on your discipline.
Depending on the nature of your research, you may ‘write up’ your findings as you go, or leave it until the dedicated ‘writing-up’ period, usually in the third year of your PhD. Whatever your approach, it’s vital to keep detailed notes of your sources and methods – it’ll make your life a lot easier when it comes to using references in your dissertation further down the line.
It’s common to use the terms ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ interchangeably, but strictly speaking there is a difference in meaning between them:
Put simply, you submit a dissertation, but it’s the thesis it attempts to prove that will form the basis of your PhD.
What this also means is that the writing up of your dissertation generally follows the formulation of your doctoral thesis (it’s fairly difficult to write up a PhD before you know what you want to say!).
However, it’s normal for universities and academics to use either (or both) terms when describing PhD research – indeed, we use both ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ across our website.
If you’re studying an MPhil, it’s normal to ‘ upgrade ’ it into a PhD. Find mroe information on our guide.
Having completed your initial literature review and conducted your original research, you’ll move onto the next phase of your doctoral dissertation, beginning to sketch out a plan that your thesis will follow.
The exact structure and make-up of your doctoral thesis will vary between fields, but this is the general template that many dissertations follow:
The length of a PhD thesis varies from subject to subject, but all are far longer than those for undergraduate or Masters degrees. Your university will usually set an upper limit – typically between 70,000 and 100,000 words, with most dissertations coming in at around 80,000 words.
Generally speaking, STEM-based theses will be a little shorter than those in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Different universities (and departments) will have different policies regarding what counts towards the PhD thesis word count, so make sure you’re aware what is expected of you. Check with your supervisor whether references, the bibliography or appendices are included in the word count for your dissertation.
There’s no hard and fast rule for the numbers of chapters in a PhD thesis, but most will have four or five chapters (in addition to the introduction and conclusion). This is the sort of thing you’ll discuss with your supervisor when planning out your research.
Once you’ve conducted your research and settled upon your thesis, there’s only one thing left to do: get it down on paper. Appropriately enough, this final part of a PhD is often referred to as the ‘ writing up period ’.
This is when you produce the final dissertation, which will be submitted as the basis for your viva voce exam. The nature of this task can vary from PhD to PhD.
In some cases you may already have a large amount of chapter drafts and other material. ‘Writing up’ therefore becomes a process of re-drafting and assembling this work into a final dissertation. This approach is common in Arts and Humanities subjects where PhD students tend to work through stages of a project, writing as they go.
Alternatively, you may have spent most of your PhD collecting and analysing data. If so, you’ll now ‘write up’ your findings and conclusions in order to produce your final dissertation. This approach is more common in STEM subjects, where experiment design and data collection are much more resource intensive.
Whatever process you adopt, you’ll now produce a persuasive and coherent statement of your argument, ready to submit for examination.
Your supervisor will usually give you feedback on each chapter draft, and then feedback on the overall completed dissertation draft before you submit it for examination. When the thesis is a work-in-progress, their comments will be a chance for them to make sure your research is going in the right direction and for you to ask their advice on anything you’re concerned about. This feedback will normally be given in the form of a supervisory meeting.
Although your PhD supervisor will be happy to give you advice on your work, you shouldn’t expect them to be an editor – it’s not their responsibility to correct grammatical or spelling mistakes, and you should make sure any drafts you submit to them are as error-free as possible. Similarly, they won’t be willing to edit your work down to fit a particular word count.
When you’ve finished the final draft of your doctoral thesis and it’s been approved by your supervisor, you’ll submit it for examination. This is when it’s sent to the examiners who will conduct your viva.
Submitting your thesis involves printing enough copies for your examiners and the university’s repository. Don’t leave this until the last minute – printing multiple copies of a 300-page document is a substantial undertaking and you should always allow enough time to account for any possible glitches or issues with the printing process.
Your viva will usually take place within three months of submitting your thesis. You can find out more in our dedicated guide to the PhD viva . After your viva, your examiners will give you a report that confirms whether or not you need to make any changes to your thesis, with several different potential outcomes:
Most PhD students will need to fix some corrections with their thesis (hopefully not major ones). It’s very rare for a dissertation to be failed.
Once you’ve made any necessary changes to your thesis, you’ll submit it one last time (usually electronically).
If you have plans to publish all or part of your work, you may want to request an embargo so that it won’t be visible to the public for a certain time. 12 months is a fairly standard time period for this, although you may want to ask for a longer embargo if you know that you want to turn your thesis into a book or monograph.
Take a look at our programme listings and find the perfect PhD for you.
Ben worked in the FindAPhD content team from 2017 to 2022, starting as an Assistant Content Writer and leaving as Student Content Manager. He focused on producing well-researched advice across a range of topics related to postgraduate study. Ben has a Bachelors degree in English Literature from the University of Sheffield and a Masters from the University of Amsterdam. Having also spent a semester at the University of Helsinki through the Erasmus programme, he’s no stranger to study abroad (or cold weather!).
The PhD is the most common variety of doctorate, but others are awarded in specific disciplines or sometimes particular countries.
Joint PhD programmes involve collaboration between two (or more) different universities. So how does that work? Who can apply? And what are the advantages (and disadvantages) of researching in this way?
Integrated PhD programmes consist of a one-year Masters followed by three years of PhD research. Find out more about what it's like to study an integrated PhD, how to apply and the funding options available.
Thinking of applying for the Doctor of Engineering (EngD)? Our guide covers everything you need to know about the qualification, including costs, applications, programme content, and how it differs from a PhD.
A PhD isn't the only option for postgraduate researchers. Our guides explain professional doctorates, joint degrees and compare other qualification types.
How does the value of an MPhil compare with a PhD, and why might you choose the Masters over the doctorate?
FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.
Unknown ( change )
Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?
You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:
Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com
or begin browsing FindAPhD.com
*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.
Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .
Elite Editing
You write it. We right it.™
In the academic world, students are often required to complete a research project such as a thesis or a dissertation in order to earn their degree. Depending on your field of study, you might need to submit—and then defend—a thesis or a dissertation before you can graduate.
Although these two academic research projects might seem interchangeable, there are key differences between the two. And understanding these differences is essential for both students and their academic institution.
A thesis is a formal paper that presents original research and findings on a particular topic. It is typically submitted as part of the requirements for a master’s degree, although some doctoral programs may also require a thesis. A thesis is usually shorter in length than a dissertation and focuses more on original research and findings.
Conversely, a dissertation is a longer, more comprehensive piece of research that is written as part of the requirements for a doctoral degree. Dissertations are usually around 100 to 300 pages in length—and they require a great deal of original research and analysis. Unlike a thesis, a dissertation is not just focused on presenting findings but also on offering new insights and contributions to the field. In fact, the requirements of each project are folded into their definitions.
A thesis is often a requirement for a master’s degree. While it’s usually shorter and more focused than a dissertation, your thesis will be expected to demonstrate your mastery of the subject and your ability to conduct original research. On top of that, you’ll have to analyze your findings—and present an organized, thoughtful argument! Thesis projects typically involve the collection and analysis of data, as well as the presentation of the findings.
On the other hand, a dissertation is a longer piece of research that is written as part of the requirements for a doctoral degree. Students pursuing their PhD might need to submit a dissertation in order to graduate.
Similar to a thesis, a dissertation must demonstrate the student’s mastery of their chosen research subject. Additionally, a dissertation must show the student’s ability to conduct original research and their ability to contribute new insights and knowledge to the field. Dissertations usually involve a great deal of research, data collection, and analysis and are typically 100 to 300 pages in length. In other words, these are major projects that take a lot of time to complete!
Perhaps the biggest differences between a thesis and a dissertation are the length and scope of each project. Theses are shorter, laser-focused pieces of research that are typically submitted as part of a master’s degree. Conversely, dissertations are longer, more comprehensive pieces of research that are submitted as part of a doctoral degree.
Another key difference between the two projects is the level of original research and analysis that is expected and required of the student. Theses are expected to demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct original research and present their findings; dissertations are expected to not only present findings but also to offer new insights and contributions to the field.
In terms of the academic requirements, the difference between a thesis and a dissertation is largely based on the level of the degree being pursued. Master’s programs typically require a thesis, while doctoral programs require a dissertation. The specific requirements and expectations for each project will vary depending on the institution and academic field. In other words, the higher your degree, the more intensive your research project. Perhaps that’s why the dissertation is the longer of these two academic research projects.
Length is one of the most noticeable differences between a thesis and a dissertation. A thesis is typically shorter than a dissertation, with an average length of around 50 pages. On the other hand, a dissertation is a much longer piece of work, typically around 100–200 pages in length.
However, length isn’t the only difference between these two academic research projects. The purpose can be largely different too!
The purpose of a thesis and a dissertation will vary according to your field of study. However, here’s a look at the main purpose of each:
In other words, a thesis researches a topic, and a dissertation might add a new research source because it helps position you as a thought leader .
Completing your thesis or dissertation is a huge accomplishment. However you’re not done when you turn in your paper. You’ll need to defend your research before you can earn that degree.
The defense of a thesis and a dissertation is another difference between the two projects; however, it’s common for both projects to have an oral dissertation. In a thesis defense, the student is usually required to present their research and findings to a committee of professors within the institution. After the presentation, the committee will ask the student questions about their research and their findings. If the student demonstrates their mastery of the subject, there’s a good chance they’ll pass with flying colors!
Dissertation defense is more intensive—and more intimidating for the student. Your institution might assemble a committee of professors, peers, and other experts in your field. The committee will ask difficult questions to ensure that you not only have a firm grasp of the topic but have a well-developed argument with evidence to support your dissertation’s conclusion.
Regardless of whether you’re defending a thesis or a dissertation, you’ll probably have the moral support of your academic advisor in the room with you. A student’s advisor is with them every step of the way throughout the project, so it’s helpful and comforting when they attend the defense!
The academic world is fun—but it’s also extremely challenging! As you write your thesis or dissertation, you might need a little professional assistance to proofread it. You’ve poured your heart and soul into this project, so make sure it’s perfectly proofread and ready for your defense committee!
Elite Editing offers proofreading services for students, businesses, and individuals. Visit our website to learn more!
Get elite updates straight to your inbox..
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
Published on September 14, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on April 16, 2024.
A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master’s program or a capstone to a bachelor’s degree.
Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation , it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete. It relies on your ability to conduct research from start to finish: choosing a relevant topic , crafting a proposal , designing your research , collecting data , developing a robust analysis, drawing strong conclusions , and writing concisely .
You can also download our full thesis template in the format of your choice below. Our template includes a ready-made table of contents , as well as guidance for what each chapter should include. It’s easy to make it your own, and can help you get started.
Download Word template Download Google Docs template
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
Thesis vs. thesis statement, how to structure a thesis, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your thesis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about theses.
You may have heard the word thesis as a standalone term or as a component of academic writing called a thesis statement . Keep in mind that these are two very different things.
The final structure of your thesis depends on a variety of components, such as:
Humanities theses are often structured more like a longer-form essay . Just like in an essay, you build an argument to support a central thesis.
In both hard and social sciences, theses typically include an introduction , literature review , methodology section , results section , discussion section , and conclusion section . These are each presented in their own dedicated section or chapter. In some cases, you might want to add an appendix .
We’ve compiled a short list of thesis examples to help you get started.
The very first page of your thesis contains all necessary identifying information, including:
Sometimes the title page also includes your student ID, the name of your supervisor, or the university’s logo. Check out your university’s guidelines if you’re not sure.
Read more about title pages
The acknowledgements section is usually optional. Its main point is to allow you to thank everyone who helped you in your thesis journey, such as supervisors, friends, or family. You can also choose to write a preface , but it’s typically one or the other, not both.
Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces
Discover proofreading & editing
An abstract is a short summary of your thesis. Usually a maximum of 300 words long, it’s should include brief descriptions of your research objectives , methods, results, and conclusions. Though it may seem short, it introduces your work to your audience, serving as a first impression of your thesis.
Read more about abstracts
A table of contents lists all of your sections, plus their corresponding page numbers and subheadings if you have them. This helps your reader seamlessly navigate your document.
Your table of contents should include all the major parts of your thesis. In particular, don’t forget the the appendices. If you used heading styles, it’s easy to generate an automatic table Microsoft Word.
Read more about tables of contents
While not mandatory, if you used a lot of tables and/or figures, it’s nice to include a list of them to help guide your reader. It’s also easy to generate one of these in Word: just use the “Insert Caption” feature.
Read more about lists of figures and tables
If you have used a lot of industry- or field-specific abbreviations in your thesis, you should include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations . This way, your readers can easily look up any meanings they aren’t familiar with.
Read more about lists of abbreviations
Relatedly, if you find yourself using a lot of very specialized or field-specific terms that may not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary . Alphabetize the terms you want to include with a brief definition.
Read more about glossaries
An introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance of your thesis, as well as expectations for your reader. This should:
In other words, your introduction should clearly and concisely show your reader the “what, why, and how” of your research.
Read more about introductions
A literature review helps you gain a robust understanding of any extant academic work on your topic, encompassing:
A literature review is not merely a summary of existing work. Rather, your literature review should ultimately lead to a clear justification for your own research, perhaps via:
Read more about literature reviews
Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework, but these are not the same thing. A theoretical framework defines and analyzes the concepts and theories that your research hinges on.
Read more about theoretical frameworks
Your methodology chapter shows your reader how you conducted your research. It should be written clearly and methodically, easily allowing your reader to critically assess the credibility of your argument. Furthermore, your methods section should convince your reader that your method was the best way to answer your research question.
A methodology section should generally include:
Read more about methodology sections
Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. These two sections work in tandem, but shouldn’t repeat each other. While your results section can include hypotheses or themes, don’t include any speculation or new arguments here.
Your results section should:
Additional data (like raw numbers or interview transcripts ) can be included as an appendix . You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results.
Read more about results sections
Your discussion section is where you can interpret your results in detail. Did they meet your expectations? How well do they fit within the framework that you built? You can refer back to any relevant source material to situate your results within your field, but leave most of that analysis in your literature review.
For any unexpected results, offer explanations or alternative interpretations of your data.
Read more about discussion sections
Your thesis conclusion should concisely answer your main research question. It should leave your reader with an ultra-clear understanding of your central argument, and emphasize what your research specifically has contributed to your field.
Why does your research matter? What recommendations for future research do you have? Lastly, wrap up your work with any concluding remarks.
Read more about conclusions
In order to avoid plagiarism , don’t forget to include a full reference list at the end of your thesis, citing the sources that you used. Choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your thesis, taking note of the formatting requirements of each style.
Which style you choose is often set by your department or your field, but common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA.
Create APA citations Create MLA citations
In order to stay clear and concise, your thesis should include the most essential information needed to answer your research question. However, chances are you have many contributing documents, like interview transcripts or survey questions . These can be added as appendices , to save space in the main body.
Read more about appendices
Once you’re done writing, the next part of your editing process begins. Leave plenty of time for proofreading and editing prior to submission. Nothing looks worse than grammar mistakes or sloppy spelling errors!
Consider using a professional thesis editing service or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect.
Once you’ve submitted your final product, it’s common practice to have a thesis defense, an oral component of your finished work. This is scheduled by your advisor or committee, and usually entails a presentation and Q&A session.
After your defense , your committee will meet to determine if you deserve any departmental honors or accolades. However, keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality. If there are any serious issues with your work, these should be resolved with your advisor way before a defense.
If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
Research bias
(AI) Tools
The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.
If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .
If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.
When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .
A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.
Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:
A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.
Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
George, T. (2024, April 16). What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis/
Other students also liked, dissertation & thesis outline | example & free templates, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, 10 research question examples to guide your research project, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".
I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”
What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.
A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours.
Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.
Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.
The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.
Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.
Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.
Critical Reading
Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:
http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf
Conversation
Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase , integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.
A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.
The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.
Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.
Accountability
Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.
Common Pitfalls
The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.
There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.
Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html
https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques
Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.
Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.
DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.
HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .
MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.
Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.
University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.
Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.
Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy
The academic world is filled with many different types of writing assignments, each with its own unique set of requirements and expectations. One common source of confusion for students is the distinction between a thesis and a dissertation. Both are long-form academic works, but there are several key differences between the two that are important to understand.
In Shakespeare’s day, a candidate for a master’s degree would write a thesis, an original paper in which he maintained a certain proposition. Whereas, completion of a doctoral program required submission and defense of a dissertation. He would read his thesis to his committee, after which he sat in silence while two faculty members gave point-by-point refutations of everything the candidate said.
The focus here was on the student’s ideas and his ability to arrange and express them clearly. If a student wished to advance further in academia he could pursue a dissertation. This was more of a literature review . He would read widely in a particular area and write up his findings, discussing the various authorities and their opinions. The point was to demonstrate that he was well-versed in the literature of the field. While the confusion between the two terms is understandable, we shall tackle the dissertation vs. thesis topic in this article and provide unambiguous insights on it.
Table of Contents
A thesis is a critically written scholarly piece of research work. Typically, it is submitted by students graduating from a master’s program. The purpose of a thesis is to allow students to showcase their knowledge and expertise within the subject matter they have been studying as part of the program.
A dissertation is a comparatively lengthier piece of scholarly writing that accounts for your research work throughout the doctoral program. A researcher earns the Ph.D. after submitting and defending his/her dissertation. It includes all information about the original research or expanded research on a new or existing topic conducted by the Ph.D. candidate.
In Europe, the original distinction between a thesis and a dissertation has been largely retained. A doctoral thesis is a focused piece of original research that is performed to obtain a Ph.D. A dissertation is part of a broader post-graduate research project.
However, the thesis has evolved since original research nowadays requires plenty of background research . So, a thesis will contain extensive citations and references to earlier work, although the focus remains on the original work that comes out of it.
In the United States, the definition of a thesis is almost the opposite of that in Europe. Because a thesis is shorter than a dissertation it gradually came to mean a preliminary degree on the way to a doctorate. A thesis is now performed to earn a Master’s degree. In scientific fields, a master’s candidate takes advanced coursework and gains hands-on experience in a research project but does not direct the project to the same extent that he would in a doctoral program. In a master’s project, the student’s ideas are welcomed and expected but the focus is on obtaining technical expertise, not doing original research. Engineering students commonly obtain Master’s degrees and seldom go on to get PhDs. In other fields such as Chemistry, the opposite is true, with a Master’s degree no longer being required as the first step for a doctorate. Almost everyone I know who received a Master’s degree in Chemistry got one because they dropped out of graduate school and wrote their truncated research as a Master’s project.
Needless to say, the dissertation vs. thesis facts are real. Therefore, using one term instead of another is not acceptable as an academic. One must remember the purpose of each and use them accordingly. However, one is not undermined by the other. Whether you are writing a thesis or a dissertation, both must be done with the same seriousness. Both require critical technical and soft skills. Improving your time management and academic writing skills plays a major role in acing both forms of scholarly writing.
How do you decipher dissertation vs. thesis? Should the interchanged usage of these terms be acceptable? How is your approach to writing a thesis different from that of a dissertation? What are the other differences associated with the thesis and dissertation? Let us know in the comments section below!
"Dissertation" and "thesis" are used interchangeably but differ in: Academic Level: Thesis for master's, dissertation for doctoral degrees (US). Scope and Depth: Thesis shorter, demonstrates mastery; dissertation extensive, original research. Originality: Thesis may involve original analysis; dissertation presents significant new insights. Time and Effort: Dissertations require more resources and time than theses.
The length of a dissertation varies depending on factors like academic discipline, research topic, institution, and country. Generally, dissertations are longer than theses, ranging from 10,000 to over 100,000 words. However, word count alone does not reflect the quality or depth of the research. Guidelines from the academic institution should be consulted for specific requirements.
The length of a thesis varies depending on factors like academic discipline, research topic, institution, and country. Generally, the word count ranges from around 10,000 to 50,000 words. Specific guidelines from the academic institution should be consulted for precise requirements.
Has helped develop my writing skills through science-based study.
Rate this article Cancel Reply
Your email address will not be published.
In research, choosing the right approach to understand data is crucial for deriving meaningful insights.…
The process of choosing the right research design can put ourselves at the crossroads of…
Embarking on your first academic conference experience? Fear not, we got you covered! Academic conferences…
Research Recommendations – Guiding policy-makers for evidence-based decision making
Research recommendations play a crucial role in guiding scholars and researchers toward fruitful avenues of…
The rapid proliferation of generative and other AI-based tools in research writing has ignited an…
Choosing the Right Analytical Approach: Thematic analysis vs. content analysis for…
Comparing Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Studies: 5 steps for choosing the right…
How to Design Effective Research Questionnaires for Robust Findings
Sign-up to read more
Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including:
We hate spam too. We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you.
I am looking for Editing/ Proofreading services for my manuscript Tentative date of next journal submission:
Which among these features would you prefer the most in a peer review assistant?
The Common App is Open. Class of 2029, Apply Today!
What Do Special Education Teachers Do? Three Responsibilities
What To Look For In Special Education Masters Programs
In today’s competitive higher education landscape, advanced degrees have become essential for those looking to enhance their leadership skills and advance to executive positions. As a result, job posting data shows that the number of institutions offering advanced higher education programs has increased by 24 percent in the last five years.
Whether you are starting a new career path or seeking to become a leader in the higher education industry, you may be considering furthering your education and are unsure whether a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Education (EdD) in higher education leadership is right for you.
Understanding the differences between these two degrees is crucial in making an informed decision that aligns with your career goals.
A PhD in Higher Education is a research-focused degree designed for those who wish to contribute to academic scholarship through theoretical research. This degree is ideal for individuals who aspire to teach full time at a university, engage in scholarly research, or take on academic administration roles.
Therefore, the primary focus of a PhD program is to prepare graduates to generate new knowledge and theories in the field of education.
According to Lauren Bent, Associate Professor of the EdD in Higher Education Leadership program at Regis College , “A PhD is ideal for those who are interested in theoretical research and academic scholarship. Generally speaking, if a student aspires to teach in a Research 1 institution, a PhD is a better option for them.”
PhD candidates typically explore subjects such as educational theory, policy analysis, and higher education research. They are trained to conduct rigorous research, often aiming to publish their findings in academic journals and present at conferences.
An EdD in Higher Education, on the other hand, is a professional doctorate focused on the practical application of research to solve real-world problems in educational settings. The EdD is tailored for those looking to take on leadership roles within educational institutions.
“The EdD aims to develop scholar practitioners and leaders who use applied research to improve problems in schools, institutions of higher education, other educational organizations, and educational policy,“ Bent explains.
The EdD emphasizes the application of research to practice, preparing graduates to implement changes and improvements within their organizations.
Regis College, a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) , emphasizes that scholarly practitioners blend practical wisdom with professional skills and knowledge to address and solve problems in practice. They utilize practical research and applied theories as tools for change, understanding the importance of equity and social justice.
According to Lightcast data, EdD programs prepare students with specialized skills needed in various areas of higher education leadership such as:
1. curriculum and coursework.
The PhD and EdD programs differ significantly in their curriculum and coursework. PhD programs are heavily research-oriented, with courses centered around research methodologies, statistical analysis, and theoretical frameworks.
Typical classes might include:
In contrast, EdD programs focus on the practical application of research to address real-world challenges. Coursework is designed to develop leadership skills and practical knowledge. Classes may include:
“Within the program, there are courses where students are learning to design their own research studies, and they have lots of opportunities to develop a scholar practitioner mindset,” Bent adds. “The activities and assignments in our courses are intentionally designed to be relevant, pragmatic, and applicable to what our students are doing—and will do—in their professions.”
The length and structure of PhD and EdD programs can vary, but generally, PhD programs take longer to complete due to their extensive research requirements. On average, a PhD program can take anywhere from four to seven years to complete, including time spent on coursework, comprehensive exams, and the dissertation.
EdD programs are typically designed to be more flexible and manageable for working professionals. They can often be completed in three to five years, with a structure that accommodates part-time or online study options.
Both PhD and EdD programs require a dissertation, an extensive research project that is a key component of doctoral programs. Both programs require that dissertations focus on identifying a research question, conducting a literature review, designing and executing a study, and presenting the findings in a written document.
However, the nature of the dissertation can differ depending on the program.
PhD dissertations are typically theoretical, contributing new knowledge to the field. They often involve original research and aim to be published in academic journals.
EdD dissertations, on the other hand, are more practical and focus on solving real-world problems within educational institutions. These projects often involve applied research that can be directly implemented in practice.
The career outcomes for PhD and EdD graduates also differ. PhD graduates often pursue careers in research, higher education teaching, and academic administration. They are well-suited for roles that require deep theoretical knowledge and extensive research skills.
EdD graduates, in contrast, are prepared for leadership roles in educational administration, policy-making, and executive leadership. They are equipped to implement change and drive improvements within their organizations.
“Our EdD prepares students to be leaders in schools, colleges and universities, and other organizations connected to educational policy,” Bent explains. “Our graduates have become college presidents, vice presidents of enrollment management and student affairs, deans, and founders and CEOs of non-profit organizations.”
If you are ready to take the next step in your career in higher education, here are a few factors you should consider before enrolling in a PhD or EdD degree program.
Personal and professional goals.
When deciding between a PhD and an EdD, consider your long-term career objectives and personal interests.
“People who aspire to higher leadership roles often find that a doctorate is required to advance their careers,” Bent says.
Reflect on how each program aligns with your aspirations and whether it provides the opportunities and experiences that will help you reach your goals. Understanding your personal and professional motivations will guide you to the program that best supports your future ambitions.
Consider the flexibility of the program, including the availability of part-time or online options, which can help you balance your education with professional and personal responsibilities.
“The modality of learning is important,” Bent adds. “Whether it's online, in-person, or hybrid, it needs to suit the students’ learning styles and lifestyles.”
Evaluating how the program's structure fits into your current lifestyle and commitments can help. Flexible options can make it easier to manage your studies alongside work and family, ensuring you can fully engage with and benefit from the program.
Choose a reputable institution that offers access to faculty expertise, research facilities, and professional networks.
“Students should consider the faculty who are teaching and advising them,” Bent concludes. “What are their backgrounds and areas of expertise?”
You can research an institution’s reputation through a general internet search. Those top results should give you the key accomplishments and differentiators for the programs you are considering.
Both the PhD and EdD in higher education offer unique advantages and can help you advance your career in different ways. Remember to reflect on your career goals and personal interests to determine which program best aligns with your aspirations.
If you’re looking for a degree that combines practical leadership skills with scholarly research, consider Regis College’s EdD in Higher Education Leadership program .
To learn more about the program, contact an admissions counselor to find out how an education at Regis can serve your professional goals.
If you’re interested in providing support for children with learning challenges, here’s an overview of what a special education teacher does.
Earning a Master's in Education: A Complete Timeline
If you want to earn a master's degree in education, it's essential to understand whether or not this education will fit into your current schedule.
Considering a Master’s degree in Special Education? Here are five things you should look for when choosing the right master’s program for your needs.
September 13, 2024
You are accessing a machine-readable page. In order to be human-readable, please install an RSS reader.
All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess .
Feature papers represent the most advanced research with significant potential for high impact in the field. A Feature Paper should be a substantial original Article that involves several techniques or approaches, provides an outlook for future research directions and describes possible research applications.
Feature papers are submitted upon individual invitation or recommendation by the scientific editors and must receive positive feedback from the reviewers.
Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.
Original Submission Date Received: .
Find support for a specific problem in the support section of our website.
Please let us know what you think of our products and services.
Visit our dedicated information section to learn more about MDPI.
MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are granted to promising young scholars whose PhD theses are deemed exceptional within their respective research fields. These awards aim to encourage young scholars to continue their outstanding accomplishments and further contribute to their field.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors.
MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:
; |
; |
; |
; |
; |
; |
; |
. |
About MDPI Awards:
To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.
To explore more MDPI awards, please click here .
Mdpi initiatives, follow mdpi.
Subscribe to receive issue release notifications and newsletters from MDPI journals
Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.
Q&A for work
Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.
What are some differences between a Masters' Research Thesis versus a PhD Thesis for STEM fields? From program websites, I learned that a Masters thesis is not as "rigorous, broad, deep" as a PhD thesis, so I get the general idea that a Masters Research Thesis is "easier" than a PhD one. However, I find the description vague. In what specific ways are they different? How are the expectations different? Does a PhD thesis have to be "ground breaking", while a Masters one does not have to be? Can anyone who has written both types share their observations on the differences?
German perspective:
Master theses are short (duration-wise), PhD theses are long. How short and how long depends on details, but the relative difference is there regardless.
Master theses consist of one problem, while in STEM, PhD theses are often a collection of works which are not necessarily very closely related.
Both should contain original results. A 6-12 month master thesis which does not contain any original results has significant shortcomings.
From a supervisor's perspective: A master thesis which leads to one paper in a reputable journal is a good (top 1/3 or so) master thesis. A PhD thesis which only gives rise to one paper is a below average (lower 1/3) PhD thesis.
Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged graduate-admissions graduate-school masters ..
From: | |
To: |
Alison Dance
Larissa Fedunik
13 September 2024: Six of the University of Canberra’s talented PhD candidates celebrated a night of research storytelling in the UC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final yesterday evening, hosted by the University’s Graduate Research Development Team.
The six students, representing four of the University’s faculties, met the challenging objective of pitching their PhD thesis in three minutes or less. They competed for three prizes and the opportunity to represent the University at the 2024 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT .
The major prize winner was Jack Mest from the University’s Faculty of Health. An accredited sports physiotherapist, Mr Mest’s PhD research focuses on developing an approach that improves psychological outcomes in those with Achilles tendon pain.
“We see protracted recovery periods and resistance to rehabilitation practices despite its best efforts,” explained Mr Mest. “It’s clear that we need to do better – that’s what the project is about.”
The runner-up prize was awarded to Matthew Vestal from the Faculty of Science and Technology, whose research project uses computer vision to identify valuable materials in rubbish.
The People’s Choice Award, which was selected by online voting over several weeks, went to Milad Esmaeilbeigi, also from the Faculty of Science and Technology, who is investigating if metal pollution could potentially help amphibians survive exposure to a deadly fungus.
The winner and runner-up were chosen by a panel of judges: UC researcher Dr Shyam Barr, a leading figure in the field of self-regulated learning; social innovator Nazia Ahmed, CEO of the Social Outcomes lab; and Creative Director Jason Perelson, Chair of the advisory board to the Chief Minister on Canberra’s identity and place brand.
Mr Mest will use his prize winnings to support his study into lower limb tendinopathy, with the research funds supporting clinical evaluation, scans and data analysis. “It's been a really exciting journey, and it's a great opportunity to get my research out there,” he said.
Professor Lucy Johnston, Interim Vice-Chancellor at the University, was impressed by the research communication skills of all six finalists. “The fact that they’ve come through the heats show you how strong our PhD researchers are.”
The event’s MC, Associate Professor Ben Rattray from the University’s Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, highlighted the importance of 3MT in cultivating communications skills.
“Communicating well about your research is vital for your success. It’s really important to get your point across to non-specialist audiences, from the general public to industry representatives.”
The judges agreed, with Dr Barr adding: “Effective communication is key to ensuring that research makes an impact beyond academia.”
All the finalists emphasised that the competition has improved their public speaking skills and given them invaluable practice in pitching their research to different audiences.
“The 3MT experience has helped me build up much more confidence in communicating my research, which is so important as I come to the final stages of my PhD,” said Mr Esmaeilbeigi.
The 3MT competition was established in 2008 by the University of Queensland. Student competitors are challenged to condense their work into a three-minute speech, supported by one PowerPoint slide.
Three Minute Thesis participants compete in faculty heats in their own institution, progressing to the university’s final where the winner progresses to the Asia-Pacific 3MT online competition with HDR candidates from other universities, before the final in October 2024.
Milad Esmaeilbeigi (Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics)
Metal pollution: a silver lining for amphibians to survive against the deadly fungus?
Milad is investigating if the stress of metal pollution could potentially help amphibians survive exposure to another threat: a deadly fungus.
Jess Seymour (Faculty of Health, Health Research Institute)
Five minutes could save your life
The clinical exercise physiologist is working on an intervention to help people with heart disease become more active, and prevent future heart attacks.
Jack Mest (Faculty of Health, UC Research Institute for Sports & Exercise)
Hero’s heel? Rethinking our approach to the Achilles heel of recreational runners
The sports physiotherapist is developing an approach that aims to improve psychological outcomes in those with Achilles tendon pain.
Monty Nixon ( Faculty of Education )
Learning from Country: a path to ecological balance
Monty’s research explores how Indigenous methods of teaching and learning (such as Country as Teacher) can be embedded in modern education.
Sahana Sehgal ( Faculty of Business, Government and Law, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance)
Intercultural engagement in a multicultural society
Sahana, currently a producer on Canberra Multicultural Service FM91.1, is exploring intercultural relations and dynamics amongst ethnic minorities in multicultural societies.
Matthew Vestal (Faculty of Science and Technology)
Your Trash is My Treasure
Matthew carries out research in the UC robotics lab, where he is using computer vision and other Artificial Intelligence technologies to address climate and environment issues.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Generally, a doctoral dissertation has greater breadth, depth, and intention than a master's thesis since it is based on original research. While the standard length of a master's thesis is around 100 pages, a doctoral dissertation can be upwards of 400-500 pages. While most students can finish their PhD dissertation or thesis in as little ...
A doctoral thesis is the PhD capstone requirement in Europe. Related Reading: The Easiest PhDs. Dissertation vs. Thesis: The Similarities. In the master's thesis vs dissertation discussion, there are plenty of similarities. Both are lengthy academic papers that require intense research and original writing.
What is a dissertation vs. a thesis? 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 ...
Both papers are given deadlines. Differences: A dissertation is longer than a thesis. A dissertation requires new research. A dissertation requires a hypothesis that is then proven. A thesis chooses a stance on an existing idea and defends it with analysis. A dissertation has a longer oral presentation component.
The two most common types of graduate degrees are master's and doctoral degrees: A master's is a 1-2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers. A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3-7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research. A master's is also the necessary first ...
Differences between a dissertation vs thesis. The main difference between a dissertation and thesis is the scope of the research. A dissertation develops unique and original concepts in a particular field of research, whereas a thesis is usually a culmination of existing research. The main purpose of a writing a dissertation is to add new ...
The difference in the length of a PhD dissertation vs. masters thesis is noteworthy. A thesis is typically between 50 and 100 pages in length and is written during the final year of a master's degree program. A dissertation is generally 100 to 400 pages long and may involve several years of work. Completion process.
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: In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor's or master's degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD. In the US, it's the other way ...
The time it takes to write a PhD thesis vs. dissertation can vary depending on several factors, including the research topic, the scope of the project, the research methodology, and the specific requirements of the academic program. However, in general, a dissertation is typically longer and more comprehensive than a thesis, and therefore may ...
Is a Masters dissertation the same as a PhD thesis? Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a thesis is associated with a master's degree, while a dissertation is linked to a doctoral degree (PhD). Both involve original research, but dissertations are generally more extensive and contribute new knowledge to the field.
Dissertation vs Thesis - the UK. The definition above succinctly sums up the differences between the terms dissertation and thesis in the UK and much of Europe. Most often students will be asked to write an undergraduate or Master's dissertation whilst if you continue on to in to a PhD doctoral program, you'll be writing up a thesis.
The thesis usually requires you to demonstrate your ability to use the existing research to back your arguments. Meanwhile, the dissertation requires a significant original contribution to the current body of knowledge. Thesis vs Dissertation: Scale. While both projects require significant time and effort, the results are different.
A Guide to Writing a PhD Thesis. A PhD thesis is a work of original research all students are requiured to submit in order to succesfully complete their PhD. The thesis details the research that you carried out during the course of your doctoral degree and highlights the outcomes and conclusions reached. The PhD thesis is the most important ...
A dissertation reflects a PhD candidate's interests and can have a significant impact in the community or profession. Walden University asks its PhD candidates to engage in a dissertation research project that can make a positive difference in the world. This reflects the HLC-accredited university's commitment to positive social change.
A thesis is typically shorter than a dissertation, with an average length of around 50 pages. On the other hand, a dissertation is a much longer piece of work, typically around 100-200 pages in length. However, length isn't the only difference between these two academic research projects. The purpose can be largely different too!
Revised on April 16, 2024. A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master's program or a capstone to a bachelor's degree. Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation, it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete.
A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have. The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed.
PhD thesis demonstrates the capacity to apply specialised research skills (i.e. expert knowledge of a particular concept or method) in an area of interest to you so that you can make significant and original contribution to knowledge. At this level, the focus is on identifying a 'gap' in knowledge and addressing it, hence you advance knowledge ...
The PhD thesis should be on a much higher level than the Honours/Masters thesis, offering a contribution to human knowledge that is of a sufficient level of "significance" to warrant publication in a respected journal. Significance is highly subjective, and you also do not necessarily have to publish to be awarded the PhD (sometimes the peer ...
Dissertation vs. Thesis: Differences. The primary difference between a thesis and a dissertation is the time when they are completed. As mentioned earlier, a thesis is presented at the culmination of a master's program, whereas, a dissertation is presented to earn a Ph.D. A thesis is a compilation of research ensuring that the researcher is ...
13. I have seen some sites that distinguish a dissertation as what is written as the requirements of a doctoral degree. Others that distinguish a thesis as a document written for the fulfillment of any degree (Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral) while a dissertation is a more general name for a document where someone is presenting findings.
3. Dissertation Requirements. Both PhD and EdD programs require a dissertation, an extensive research project that is a key component of doctoral programs. Both programs require that dissertations focus on identifying a research question, conducting a literature review, designing and executing a study, and presenting the findings in a written ...
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the ...
The main difference between a master's thesis and a PhD thesis is really the scope of the work. The master's thesis is assumed to be over a shorter period and therefore should have a slightly smaller scope. One might extract just one or two journal papers out of a master's thesis, but four or five out of a PhD thesis.
The global competition challenges PhD students to meet the objective of pitching their thesis in three minutes or less. The 2024 UC EMT winner was Jack Mest from the University's Faculty of Health, who will go on to represent the University at the 2024 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT .
A 6-12 month master thesis which does not contain any original results has significant shortcomings. From a supervisor's perspective: A master thesis which leads to one paper in a reputable journal is a good (top 1/3 or so) master thesis. A PhD thesis which only gives rise to one paper is a below average (lower 1/3) PhD thesis.
The six students, representing four of the University's faculties, met the challenging objective of pitching their PhD thesis in three minutes or less. They competed for three prizes and the opportunity to represent the University at the 2024 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT. The major prize winner was Jack Mest from the University's Faculty of Health.