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Difference Between PhD Dissertation & a Master’s Dissertation

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A PhD dissertation writing is far more complex than a master’s dissertation. These dissertations are the final project that a student must complete before they can progress to the next level in their academic career. Nevertheless, one must know some key differences between these two dissertations. Dissertation writing is the culmination of the research conducted by a graduate student. It’s the most important piece of work they will ever do, and it’s meant to show that they can take an idea, run with it, and go beyond what was done before. That’s why dissertations are so long and filled with so much detail—they need to be able to stand on their own in terms of research and make a case for why their findings matter.  

In this article, we will discuss about what is PhD dissertation, what is masters dissertation, what are key differences between the PhD dissertation and masters dissertation. So, if you are preparing for the graduate school or exploring about the future study options, this article will help in making the informed choices and set realistic goals for the academic journey. 

Table Of Content

What is PhD Dissertation ? 

PhD dissertation is one of the most comprehensive and original research projects. This demonstrates the candidate’s experience in any specific field. It is a substantial and original piece of scholarly work which students need to submit as the culmination of their doctoral studies.  

PhD dissertation is the summary of the existing knowledge. This requires the students to conduct original research, analyze data, and contribute new insights to the field.  

Dissertations are very lengthy, many times exceeding 100 pages. This requires significant time and effort for the final completion.  

A good dissertation demonstrates a meaningful contribution to the existing body of knowledge within the selected field.  

PhD dissertation includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, conclusion and appendices.  

The dissertation is used before the committee of experts, who assess the quality and originality of the research work. 

What is a Masters Dissertation? 

Masters dissertation refers to the substantive piece of the original research, required at time of the Masters degree. Masters dissertation is considered as the long academic paper that demonstrates student ability to conduct independent research, analyze information and contribute to their field of study.  

The main purpose of the masters dissertation is to demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research, analyze information critically, and synthesize the findings and original piece of work. 

Dissertation includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusions. This involves in-depth study, analysis of the research and the applications of the relevant theories.  

Masters dissertation length varies from 15,000 to 25,000 words.  

It is considered the most significant part of the academic work which will be undertaken by the candidate during the master program. It is considered the achievement and an asset while seeking employment and further academic pursuits.  

Key Difference Between PhD Dissertation & a masters Dissertation 

Understanding about the masters and PhD dissertations can help the students set realistic expectations and effectively. Here is the overall overview of the key differences between PhD and Masters dissertation:  

A PhD dissertation writing is far more complex than a master’s dissertation. These dissertations are the final project that a student must complete before they can progress to the next level in their academic career. Nevertheless, one must know some key differences between these two dissertations. Dissertation writing is the culmination of research conducted by a graduate student. It’s the most important piece of work they will ever do, and it’s meant to show that they can take an idea, run with it, and go beyond what was done before. That’s why dissertations are so long and filled with so much detail—they need to be able to stand on their own in terms of research and make a case for why their findings matter.  

Points to Discuss for a Dissertation and a Masters Degree:  

The primary job of one who writes a dissertation is to understand a subject, be it any academic discipline or topic, in-depth and with insight.   

They must then convey this understanding in a way that will be correct and interesting to the reader. The following are some of the biggest differences between a PhD dissertation and a Master’s dissertation.  

This is not to say that one type is better than the other; rather, it is to help those who have finished their thesis to make sure that they have completed what they need to for their degree by looking at some of how these dissertations differ from each other.  

The biggest difference between writing a Master’s thesis and dissertation writing has to do with the level of difficulty.   

A PhD dissertation demands more work than an advanced Master’s thesis because it is meant to show that you can understand difficult material and present it understandably. 

A Master’s thesis should still follow the same organization as a doctoral dissertation: intro, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion, but fewer pages are involved, and you can use simpler language (although not so simple as to lose meaning). 

Features of a Master’s Dissertation vs PhD Dissertation 

Basically, some of the main features of the masters dissertation and PhD dissertation are as follows: –  

ParametersMasters DissertationPhD Dissertation
Purpose and academic levelIt demonstrates about the understanding and mastery on any topic. Masters dissertation is the part of the postgraduate levelIt demonstrates about the original contribution to any academic field. PhD dissertation is the part of the doctorate level
Scope and complexityMasters dissertation level is narrow, it focuses more on specific questionsPhD dissertation level is broad and complex, it focus on multiple dimensions of the research gap.
Length and durationThe length of the masters dissertation is of 15,000 to 20,000 words. The duration ranges from 6 months to 12 months.The length of PhD dissertation is 60,000 to 100,000 words. The duration ranges from 3 years to 6 years
Research expectationsMasters dissertations focus on existing data and small-scale studies.PhD dissertations focus on the extensive primary research and original data collection
SupervisionMasters dissertation, a person receives more structured guidance from the supervisors.Under the PhD dissertation there is high level of independence expected from the candidates
EvaluationMasters dissertation is graded by examiners based on the written submissionPhD dissertation is graded by high level of independence, which is expected from the candidates.
Career implicationsMasters dissertation can provide professional advancement and doctorate studyPhD dissertation prepares for the academic research and high level specialist career.

Salient Differences between the PhD Dissertation and Master’s Dissertation 

Many people who are pursuing PhD degrees will, at some point, need to write a dissertation. The word “dissertation” is used in both Master’s and PhD programs, but the two are quite different from one another. Generally speaking, there are two major differences: length and level of detail.  

University students often feel confused about the difference between a master’s and PhD dissertation. Most of them do not know the exact definition of a master’s dissertation.   

A PhD Dissertation is completed after completing a course and getting clear knowledge about your subject. It is the demonstration of your competence in your chosen field of study.   

A PhD Dissertation is like a complete study on a particular topic, whereas a Master’s or MS Dissertation is based on collective topics.  

A master’s dissertation is usually shorter than a PhD dissertation. If a PhD student writes about 25,000 words in their dissertation, the master’s candidate will write 16,000-20,000 words.   

The main difference is that with dissertation writing, you are expected to design and conduct your own research project and have original findings and conclusions. A Masters’s student will have some original findings but they won’t be as extensive as a PhD project.  

This means that the bachelor’s thesis will focus more on presenting an in-depth analysis of existing information. In contrast, the master’s thesis will focus more on presenting new data or doing a case study.

Types of Dissertation 

There are two types of dissertations in the academic world: a doctoral dissertation and a master’s thesis. Both dissertations require the same amount of work, but the topic of the dissertation differs from one level to another.    

A doctoral dissertation writing is usually on a more theoretical and conceptual topic. A master’s thesis, on the other hand, is more applied and practical (it might even be based on your master’s project). 

One of the biggest differences is that a PhD dissertation typically goes into more detail than a Master’s dissertation. For example, the topic of your thesis will be broader for a Master’s degree. Plus you’ll have to focus on fewer aspects of the topic in order to prove your point.  

Key Points for Master’s Dissertation and PhD Dissertation: 

With a Master’s degree, only some programs require you to publish your findings. Still, most allow you to provide other evidence that you can do this. For example, by including a record of peer-reviewed publications on your CV.  

A Master’s dissertation typically requires completing a more narrow and specific project than a PhD dissertation writing. In addition, there are typically fewer required pages for a Master’s dissertation than a PhD dissertation.   

This dissertation may be either qualitative or quantitative, depending on the subject area being studied  

A PhD dissertation writing, on the other hand, typically requires an extensive amount of research. 

The candidate must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of their topic. By providing detailed discussion on related elements, such as theory and methodology.   

The research may be qualitative or quantitative, but it must be scholarly and built upon existing knowledge in the field. 

PhD-DissertationConclusion  Understanding about the difference between a dissertation in master’s and a dissertation in PhD is important. Each study involves research and academic writing; PhD dissertation requires the original contribution in knowledge and methodology and a longer commitment. While on the other hand, masters dissertations are rigorous, more focused and limited in scope. Choosing between these two depends on the goals, career plans and readiness for research at different levels. The dissertations of a PhD and a masters degree vary greatly in terms of the research’s breadth and depth. The PhD is a higher-level degree that requires a greater deal of independence to complete. A Masters dissertation is an intermediate or advanced level of the undergraduate research process. So, if you have understood the difference between both courses, you can make informed decisions and approach the academic journey with confidence and clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between PhD dissertation and Masters Dissertation?
A PhD Dissertation is completed after completing a course and getting clear knowledge about your subject. It is the demonstration of your competence in your chosen field of study. A PhD Dissertation is like a complete study on a particular topic, whereas a Master’s or MS Dissertation is based on collective topics. A master’s dissertation is usually shorter than a PhD dissertation. If a PhD student writes about 25,000 words in their dissertation, the master’s candidate will write 16,000-20,000 words.
How long does the PhD dissertation compared to the masters dissertation?
The length of the masters dissertation is of 15,000 to 20,000 words. The duration ranges from 6 months to 12 months. The length of PhD dissertation is 60,000 to 100,000 words. The duration ranges from 3 years to 6 years.
Do both the PhD and Masters dissertations require defense and viva?
The PhD dissertations undergo the defense and viva before the academic committee. While on the other hand, Masters dissertation do not requires any viva, depending on the institution.
What is PhD Dissertation ?
PhD dissertation is one of the most comprehensive and original research projects. This demonstrates the candidate’s experience in any specific field. It is a substantial and original piece of scholarly work which students need to submit as the culmination of their doctoral studies.
What a Masters Dissertation?
Masters dissertation refers to the substantive piece of the original research, required at time of the Masters degree. Masters dissertation is considered as the long academic paper that demonstrates student ability to conduct independent research, analyze information and contribute to their field of study.

 

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