At the most basic point, they are all papers. Virtually all institutions of higher learning require students to write them at one point in their studies to fulfill their academic requirements or even to graduate. A closer look at their structures shows certain similarities in the following areas:

• Introduction

• Literary review

• Body

• Conclusion

• Bibliography

• Appendix

Even with the above similarities, these two papers have distinct differences.

Let’s consider the differences.

First, a thesis and a dissertation are distinguished when they are completed. A thesis is normally a project that’s submitted by a student upon completion of their master’s program. A dissertation, on the other hand, is submitted at the end of a doctoral program.

A thesis can also be a collection of research that an individual has undertaken to show that they are knowledgeable in the specific area of study. A dissertation, on the other hand, is an opportunity given to a student undertaking a doctoral program to contribute to the specific field of study in terms of new theories, new knowledge, and also new practices. With dissertation, you have to come up with a totally new idea, develop it, and lastly defend it.

Another difference lies in the subject choice. A thesis is composed of an original subject that includes your own hypothesis. However, one has to work under a supervisor or an advisor. Dissertations, on the other hand, are made of original insights and knowledge that one has collected and gained throughout a period of study. They are usually separate from the mainstream study and are often reviewed by peers.

A thesis has to be supported with authentic research material which you principally collect while a dissertation is made up of authentic research material which you come up with yourself. A thesis focuses more on factual research whereas a dissertation is more opinion based.

There are also some structural differences that exist between theses and dissertations. In terms of length, a thesis has to be 100 pages or slightly more than 100 pages long. A dissertation, on the other hand, has to be much longer. This is because they deal with a variety of issues, lots of background research and information, fine details pertaining to how you found the information, and also proposals.

For a thesis, you have the task of showing your innate ability to subject a topic to critical thinking and to comfortably discuss it with outstanding mastery. This enables you to expound on a subject that you wish to pursue in your professional career. However, for dissertations, you leverage on other people's works and research in order to come up with your own unique concept, theory, or hypothesis.

The type of degree that one chooses to pursue can also require either a thesis or a dissertation. Some master’s degrees do not require a thesis. Students can actually determine the path that they will choose, either a thesis one or a non-thesis one. But it’s recommended for those students who want to pursue further studies and acquire a doctorate degree to take the thesis option in order to prepare for the dissertation.

When writing a thesis, it’s required that you write a hypothesis. It means that what you are writing is relatively new. On the other hand, dissertations require you to have a good mastery of the subject matter, especially of the recent discoveries. Thus, it means that you have to be always updated on current affairs and new developments that have a direct bearing on what you write.

Another difference lies in the aspect of scholarships. When you are required to write a thesis, you can get a scholarship. In fact, most people who are on the look for scholarships utilize this provision. On the other hand, dissertations do not get you scholarships. This is probably because dissertations are normally written at the end of a doctoral degree which often is the highest level in the most academic fields of study.

Another difference lies in the thesis/dissertation statement. In the case of a thesis statement, the primary focus is the central argument. The readers of your thesis statement should get what you are trying to prove. For one, the premise of the subject should be highlighted, and thereafter, a summary of the argument should be given. For the dissertation statement, you are required to conduct an initial research on a certain topic and thereafter present your premise. You can also add interesting twists to your research as long as they are all relevant and serve to add to the already existing research.

In terms of compilation time, dissertations normally take a long time to compile. This is because they are quite vast in terms of content and research. A thesis by nature is short. Thus, it takes less time to compile it. In addition, it will cover less content as compared to a dissertation.

In terms of academics, a thesis is more of an academic research paper while a dissertation is more of an academic book. Even though it seems an uphill task, you can learn how to write a dissertation. There are plenty pf tips on blogs of various custom writing services. The thought of it being a book should not scare you.

In terms of data collection, a thesis uses hypothetical ideas and analysis of specific content. Dissertations, on the other hand, utilize one's own argumentation and theoretical perspectives drawn from original research.

A thesis is more often submitted in the form of a synopsis and the writers are often under the supervision of a guide that’s usually designated by a university. Dissertations are more often a synthesis of information that’s collected and one does not need a guide as you are the principal guide to your own thoughts.

On the issue of plagiarism, a thesis is more likely to be subjected to plagiarism checkers in order to maintain originality.

If it is your first time writing a thesis or a dissertation, for sure, it will consume most of your time and effort as it is a very complicated task. You will be forced to revisit previously written ones to have a general outlook of what is expected of you. While on it, you will have to check patterns of writing so that you align your writing close to it.

In conclusion, the above analysis shows the basic differences between a thesis and a dissertation. However, the above is a general perspective. Some countries and institutions of higher learning have their own variations. Like in India, you’re not required to write a thesis but at the doctoral level, you have to. In the UK, you can only get your master’s after writing your thesis. In addition, you can only get your doctoral degree if you successfully complete your dissertation. Some parties actually vouch for them being similar in both form and structure. But all in all, as much as general consensus points to them being similar, there are fundamental differences. They are not entirely the same!