Dissertation vs. Thesis: Key Differences in American & British Academia
Dissertation and thesis are the terms that are easily confused when discussing the area of academic work. They are almost the same but they have different meanings in different places of study. In the United States, a thesis normally denotes a Master project, whereas a dissertation is a part of doctoral research. The situation is the reverse in the United Kingdom. To postgraduate researchers, young academics and professors, this difference is not just a play on words. It influences the way that your work is written, evaluated, and even published. When you are ready to submit your research to journals or publishers, it is important to use the correct word so that it can be clearly understood and also credible. In this guide, we break down the main differences between a dissertation and a thesis, explain how they are understood in American and British English, and show why these distinctions matter for academic publishing. At the end, you will realise how your thesis or dissert...