In the US, a thesis usually completes a master's degree and a dissertation a doctorate. Beyond that, schools don't use the words in exactly the same way, and they disagree on how much original research a master's thesis needs. Outside the US, the two words are sometimes used the other way around.
North Carolina State University separates them by degree: “For master’s students, this investigation is documented in a thesis, while for doctoral students, it is presented in a dissertation.” Missouri S&T adds who has to do one: “A dissertation is mandatory for all doctoral programs, while a thesis is optional for some master's programs.”
So a student in a master's program may not have to complete a thesis at all, while a PhD student at these schools does. A student who says "PhD thesis" in the US usually means the dissertation, though your school's forms will use one term.
Three published statements point in different directions:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University blog | “a dissertation is written for a doctoral program and covers original research, whereas a master’s thesis is written for a master’s program and usually does not require original research.” |
| North Carolina State University | “students must undertake an original investigation” |
| Missouri S&T | Both a thesis and a dissertation have to include the results of original and significant investigation. |
At the University of Kansas journalism school, yes. It publishes rough page ranges for both, which makes for a direct comparison within one program, and its range for each chapter is higher for the dissertation. Those estimates apply to that program only, and size depends on the field, so open its guidelines for the figures and look at recent work in your own department. For one chapter's range, see dissertation chapters.
Esmond evaluates every assignment before you submit. It never writes it.
You tell Esmond your level when you start, so a dissertation is read at the doctoral level. It comments on what your thesis claims and how your chapters fit together. Whether your work counts as original enough for your degree is for your committee to decide.
In the US, people usually mean the same document, and dissertation is the common term. Some schools and countries say doctoral thesis. Use the word your school uses.
Not always. Missouri S&T calls the thesis optional for some master's programs, and others offer a capstone or an exam. Check your program's options.
Yes, usually called a senior or honors thesis. Read what a senior thesis is for how some schools set it up.
A dissertation, at least at Kansas, where each chapter range is higher. Page counts differ by field, so compare within your own program.
Read on November 3, 2026.
Esmond is not taking orders on this site yet.