According to CIIS Library, theses and dissertations try to emphasis a new point of view resulting from a research. Therefore, there are no clear differences between a thesis and a dissertation. However, parameters such country of origin, length, information gathered and the required time can help differentiate a thesis from a dissertation. This article gives an insight into the differences between a thesis and a dissertation.

There are obvious similarities between a thesis and a dissertation. To start with, both require a problem statement, approval from the faculty and an extensive literature review. Furthermore, a dissertation must be supervised, compiled in a report and presented to a panel of experts for approval. 

However, Parameters such as country of origin, length, information gathered and the time required for completion present some of the differences between a thesis and a dissertation.  In some countries, institutions use the level of education to make a distinction between the two. For instance, universities in America refer to a thesis as work performed to complete a master’s degree. On the other hand, they refer to a dissertation as work done to complete a doctorate degree. Additionally, a dissertation requires an original project involving human subjects. A thesis, on the other hand, requires too much reading and thinking. Additionally, in social sciences and humanities, dissertations are over 300 pages while theses are usually half that length. Another clear difference is that a dissertation takes more time than a thesis to process. Accordingly, a master’s thesis may be completed within a year while a PHD dissertation takes more time.

In conclusion, it is agreeable that it is very difficult to differentiate a thesis from a dissertation.  However, factors such as country of origin, information gathered, time taken and the length can be used to indicate some of the differences between the two.