Thesis vs Dissertation in Academic Research: Know the Difference

If you just registered for your postgraduate studies at a Malaysian university, whether it’s a public University like UM, UTM, or UKM, or a private institution like Taylor’s or Sunway, you are probably confused by the terminology.

You hear some lecturers say “write your dissertation,” while the faculty handbook says “submit your thesis.” If you Google it, you get conflicting answers because American universities use the terms backward compared to the rest of the world.

In the US, a dissertation is usually for a PhD, and a thesis is for a Master’s.

In Malaysia, it is almost always the opposite! Because our education system is historically based on the British model, we follow their convention.

Understanding this distinction early is vital. It determines how deep your research must go, how long your document will be, and how the examiners will judge you during your viva voce. Students in the academic world are often faced with an important decision: whether to write a thesis or dissertation.

Here is the definitive breakdown of the difference between a thesis and a dissertation in the Malaysian postgraduate context.

The Visual Summary: Scope vs. Depth

Before we dive into the details, look at this image. This is the best analogy for understanding what is expected of you.

• The Dissertation (left) is about showing you know how to use the tools to dig a hole. It’s broad, but not very deep. Certainly not as deep as a thesis.
• The Thesis (right) is about drilling down relentlessly into one tiny spot, zooming all the way in until you hit something nobody has ever found before, creating “New Knowledge” and adding a novel contribution to the existing literature discussing this topic.

1. The Dissertation: Applying Knowledge (Master’s by Coursework)

In most Malaysian universities, the term “Dissertation” is used for the research project required in Master’s by Coursework or Mixed Mode programs.

Think of a dissertation as an extended, very tough academic assignment. You are an apprentice researcher. The examiners want to see that you can identify a problem, review the existing literature decently, select an appropriate methodology, and analyze data.

Key Characteristics in Malaysia:

• The Goal: To demonstrate competence. You are proving you understand how to research. You are applying existing theories to a known problem.
• Novelty: Not mandatory. You don’t need to discover a groundbreaking new theory. For example, taking an existing study on job satisfaction in Western countries and replicating it in a Malaysian SME context is perfectly acceptable for a dissertation, and sometimes encouraged.
• Length: Typically shorter. In Malaysia, this usually ranges from 20,000 to 40,000 words, depending on your faculty’s guidelines.
• Examination: It is usually marked internally by two examiners. There may or may not be an oral defense (viva).

In short: A dissertation asks, “Can you show us you know the ropes?”

2. The Thesis: Creating Knowledge (PhD & Master’s by Research)

The term “Thesis” is generally reserved for fully research-based degrees: PhD and Master’s by Research.

This is a different very beast entirely. A thesis is not just a longer dissertation. It is a serious academic document that must stand up to intense scrutiny and criticism during a viva voce (oral defense) with external examiners, often from other universities.

The defining characteristic of a thesis in Malaysia is Novelty, or a “significant contribution to the existing knowledge.”

Key Characteristics in Malaysia:

• The Goal: To create new knowledge. You cannot just repeat what others have done. You must add something to the global library of your research field.
• Novelty: Mandatory. This is where PhD students struggle. Novelty could mean:
  • Developing a brand new theoretical framework.
  • Testing a Western theory in a developing nation context (like Malaysia) and finding that it doesn’t work because of cultural factors, then explaining why.
  • Combining two previously unrelated theories to solve a complex problem.
• Depth over Breadth: Look at the image again. A thesis doesn’t try to solve everything. It picks one very narrow issue and drills down until it hits bedrock.
• Length: Much longer. A PhD thesis in Malaysia is typically 80,000 to 100,000 words. A Master’s by Research thesis is usually 50,000 to 70,000 words.

In short: A thesis asks, “What have you discovered that nobody else in the world knew before?”

The “Golden Rule”: Ignore Google, Read Your Manual

While the definitions above hold true for 90% of cases in Malaysia, there is one critical rule you must follow.

Your specific university’s definitions supersede and override everything else.

Every university’s Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) or specific faculty has a “Thesis Manual” or “Guideline specifically made for Postgraduate Students.”

Some universities confuse things further. For example, USM sometimes uses “Dissertation” for mixed-mode and “Thesis” for pure research, regardless of whether it’s Master’s or PhD. Other private universities might follow the American naming convention just to be different.

Your Action Plan:

1. Download your latest faculty handbook today.
2. Ctrl+F for “definitions.”
3. See exactly what they call your specific program’s output.

If your handbook says you are writing a “Dissertation,” but your supervisor keeps calling it a “Thesis,” follow the handbook’s formatting rules, but listen to your supervisor’s expectations on depth.

Regardless of what you call it, both require impeccable academic English, perfect formatting according to university guidelines, and a low Turnitin score.

Is your Thesis or Dissertation ready for submission? Don’t let poor grammar or formatting errors cause a desk rejection at IPS.

• Check out our Thesis Proofreading Services tailored for Malaysian university standards.
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