Dissertation x Thesis
This Wikipedia article says that "The word thesis is utilised as part of a Bachelors or Masters course, dissertation is normally applied to a Doctorate."
But this is probably the US usage, because a few paragraphs later they say:
UK
At universities in the United Kingdom, the term thesis is usually associated with PhD/ EngD ( doctoral) and research Master's degrees, whilst dissertation is the more common term for a substantial project submitted as part of a taught Master's degree or an undergraduate degree (e.g. BA, BSc, BMus, BEd etc).
Individual departments and faculties set thesis word lengths. Theses in the humanities and social sciences are typically 80,000-100,000 words, with theses in the sciences being roughly half that length. The length of an undergraduate or Master's dissertation varies considerably, but is almost always between 8,000 and 25,000 words.
Well, let me clarify that, in Brazil, the term "dissertação" (dissertation) refers to the master's degree requirement, and the length of the dissertation varies, but is almost always between 20,000 and 60,000 words. And the term "tese" (thesis) is associtated to doctoral degrees (what you native English speakers may call a PhD). In Brazil, as probably everywhere, a PhD thesis is usually longer than a Master's dissertation.
Anyway, I agree that 80,000 words is too long, so I'll try to cut it short:
I have written 4,900 of 60,000 words.
I am now 8.16% done!
no frills wordmeter
I worked hard today!
But this is probably the US usage, because a few paragraphs later they say:
UK
At universities in the United Kingdom, the term thesis is usually associated with PhD/ EngD ( doctoral) and research Master's degrees, whilst dissertation is the more common term for a substantial project submitted as part of a taught Master's degree or an undergraduate degree (e.g. BA, BSc, BMus, BEd etc).
Individual departments and faculties set thesis word lengths. Theses in the humanities and social sciences are typically 80,000-100,000 words, with theses in the sciences being roughly half that length. The length of an undergraduate or Master's dissertation varies considerably, but is almost always between 8,000 and 25,000 words.
Well, let me clarify that, in Brazil, the term "dissertação" (dissertation) refers to the master's degree requirement, and the length of the dissertation varies, but is almost always between 20,000 and 60,000 words. And the term "tese" (thesis) is associtated to doctoral degrees (what you native English speakers may call a PhD). In Brazil, as probably everywhere, a PhD thesis is usually longer than a Master's dissertation.
Anyway, I agree that 80,000 words is too long, so I'll try to cut it short:
I have written 4,900 of 60,000 words.
I am now 8.16% done!
no frills wordmeter
I worked hard today!