What is a PhD Thesis?

Because the term “dissertation” is more commonly used, it is difficult to explain what a PhD thesis is. Even then, distinguishing between a dissertation and a thesis is difficult. People sometimes write a thesis and other times write a dissertation to get a PhD, and the terms may be switched elsewhere. In countries such as the United States, master’s degree candidates write a thesis, while PhD candidates write a dissertation. Such complexities are best understood pointing out that a PhD student’s written work is typically more complex, longer, and contains several key features.

For the sake of clarity, readers in the United States should refer to the term PhD thesis as a PhD dissertation. A lengthy written or researched project is required in PhD programs to earn a degree. The length will vary depending on the school’s requirements, but it’s not uncommon to be required to write 200-300 typed pages of content. This material is a comprehensive treatment of a topic in a novel way that includes original research, resulting in new scholarship being added to the topic or the discovery of something previously unknown.

A PhD thesis must not only be logical, present something new, and contribute to scholarship on an issue, but it must also demonstrate knowledge of all current and previous scholarship on the topic. A significant amount of research is required, and once the thesis or dissertation is completed, it is reviewed the faculty. A student will have to defend it orally while fielding questions, and the dissertation will only be accepted if the faculty approves it.

When it comes to writing a dissertation, not everyone succeeds. They must rewrite, conduct additional research, or possibly abandon a topic and begin again. To avoid this, having a supportive faculty advisor to assist with dissertation formation is extremely beneficial.

The master’s thesis, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a dissertation, has distinct characteristics. This is usually a shorter piece of work, less than 100 pages, and not all master’s programs require a thesis. The thesis is usually a unique or interesting take on a topic that does not necessitate extensive research. People writing a thesis should be well-versed in all current research on their topic, and they should be able to use this knowledge to present supporting arguments. People presenting a master’s thesis, like those presenting a PhD thesis, usually have it reviewed faculty members and must defend their thesis in front of an audience.

Doctoral studies can take a long time to complete due to the complexity of the PhD thesis or dissertation. People may need to examine documents from afar, create original clinical projects, or spend time in other ways to create original scholarship in order to truly perform original research. The length and rigor of the research required may take several years to complete, and some students may need as long as four years or more after finishing classes to present a successful dissertation.