- There exist distinct views on what is the difference between a dissertation and a thesis based on a given location – for instance, USA or Europe. Current globalization has made these two terms blend since we have access to varying definitions. As a result, it is becoming difficult to recognize the difference between them. Is a dissertation the same as a thesis? This question can be answered by exploring the two concepts in the context of the UK and USA. Dissertation Versus Thesis: UK In most cases, UK students must write a PhD thesis or dissertation. Cultural influences from the United States have influenced the definition and usage of these two concepts in the UK. Since the seventeenth century, the word “dissertation” has been extensively used in the UK to refer to research projects done at the end of a Master’s degree. However, from the 20th century, the US started reversing usage of these terms. So, currently, in Britain, there is often observed some confusion between a thesis and a dissertation. Doctorate thesis is an original research that students do to obtain a PhD. On the other hand, dissertations are typically part of a broader postgraduate research project. Therefore, students in the UK write a dissertation for Master’s or undergraduate level. Dissertation vs Thesis: USA In the USA, definitions of these two concepts are opposite to ones in Britain. Students in the US write thesis at the end of a bachelors or master’s degree while dissertation is written to complete PhD. Researchers in America argue that since theses are longer, they should be associated with a Master's degree, which is a preliminary degree before PhD. A master’s thesis vs dissertation research in the US indicates that thesis is limited to secondary data while the latter makes use of novel data. Further research on doctorate dissertation vs thesis in America points out that PhD papers are more in-depth than thesis. Although student’s ideas in master’s projects are welcomed, they do not direct the project the same way they would in a doctoral program. Also, your work should be authentic and contain original ideas. With a thesis helper at your fingertips, this will be much easier. Bottom Line on Thesis Versus Dissertation Differences Thesis or dissertation for PhD are the most important part of a doctoral research degree since you are required to produce an original contribution for your field of study. Most people confuse concepts of doctoral thesis vs dissertation. Through this article, we have elaborated the distinction to help you understand them better. Main difference between a thesis and a dissertation is the level of degree for which they are written and purpose they serve. When determining what is a thesis or dissertation, it is important to check if the piece of research expects you to synthesize existing research or requires an original study. Another key difference lies in the examination process and length of time to complete these papers, though it definitely takes much determination to complete either one of these projects. It is important to note that you can write several theses or dissertations. The number of times you will write them depends on the number of master’s or PhD courses you take. [Original source: https://studycrumb.com/dissertation-vs-thesis]