What Is The Difference Between A Dissertation And An Essay?
Prepared by:
Dr. Marcel Marceau
Professor of Educational Psychology, Columbia University
Faculty Advisor for Graduate Research and Dissertation Writing
20+ years mentoring doctoral students across education, psychology, and social sciences
Author of Advanced Research in Learning Sciences and recipient of the AERA Dissertation Excellence Award
When I first began supervising graduate students nearly two decades ago, I assumed most of them clearly understood the difference between writing an essay and writing a dissertation. I was wrong. One of my brightest students, Emma, turned in her first dissertation draft and I remember pausing after the first few pages. It read more like a college essay: strong opinions, quick summaries, and little analysis. Emma was a gifted writer, but like many students transitioning from undergraduate to postgraduate work, she had never been taught how deeply different a dissertation is. Over the years, I have guided dozens of students through this same learning curve. I have seen essays earn high marks in first-year seminars, and I have seen those same students struggle with dissertation chapters that require original research, deep thinking, and long-term planning. The difference is not just about length or structure. It is about purpose, process, and the level of independence required. This article is built from real experiences, both mine and my students’, and it aims to offer clear guidance to anyone making this important academic leap, especially ESL students who are often going through these expectations in a second language.
Level of Study
This is almost an obvious conclusion. The level of study differentiates a thesis writer from an essay composer. Essays are for lower grades and are in fact written immediately you comprehend writing. However, dissertations are for PhD level where a lot of intense learning and writing takes place. As will be demonstrated later, the reward for each will differ.
Intensity of Research
The intensity of study between the two papers also differentiates them. To begin with, essays are usually a few pages and the topic does not point at a lot of information being required. Thesis writing requires intense research that might even include field work and data analysis. This is why most PhD students get help with writing their thesis papers from supervisors or other sources, while such help is usually not necessary for an essay. If your PhD paper features shallow research, it will be dismissed at proposal level.
| Feature | Dissertation | Essay |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Very long (usually 10,000 to 100,000 words depending on degree) | Shorter (usually 500 to 2,500 words) |
| Purpose | To create new knowledge or solve a research problem | To show understanding of a topic or respond to a question |
| Structure | Has chapters: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion | Has paragraphs: introduction, body, conclusion |
| Original Research | Yes. You must collect and analyze your own data | No. You use existing sources and respond to them |
| Time Needed | Several months to a year or more | A few days to a couple of weeks |
| Example | “The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance of Graduate Students in Canada” | “Discuss the Pros and Cons of Social Media in Education” |
| Use of Sources | Includes many sources, interviews, and data collection | Uses fewer sources, often just books and articles |
| Level | Graduate or PhD-level writing | High school or college-level writing |
Defense
You will be required to defend your PhD paper as opposed to an essay. Essays are marked and graded for your end of year score. The content of your paper will determine your grade. This is different when dealing with theses. You have to defend your thesis at PhD level. This happens in front of a panel that assesses both your script and the words you are using in your defense. In case the panel is unsatisfied with your performance, you will be asked to repeat, unlike an essay where you will just receive a poor grade. This makes preparation for defense as important as the process of drafting. You should get dissertation help preparing for defense from your tutor or writing services.
Graduation
The rewards for a PhD paper and those of an essay vary by a wide margin. A PhD paper will earn you a Doctor of Philosophy while an essay will only earn you a score that goes into your performance at the end of the year. This is why you are required to take several essays yet you only write one PhD dissertation.
| Page Type | Common Mistake | Real Example & Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Title Page | Formatting errors and unclear title | One student wrote: “A Look at Social Media and Its Impact”. I advised him to specify: “The Impact of Social Media Use on Study Habits among Urban College Students in the U.S.”. Always be clear and detailed. |
| Literature Review | Summary without analysis | I remember Maria, who listed 25 sources but made no comparisons. I told her: “Treat your sources like voices in a room. What are they agreeing on? What are they arguing about?” Her second draft made that conversation clear. |
| Methodology | Vague participant details | A student once wrote, “I will survey students.” I pushed back: “Which students? From where? Why them?” After we discussed it, she revised it to: “I will survey 50 undergraduate nursing students in their final year at two public universities in Ontario.” |
| Results Section | Only numbers, no explanation | One student submitted a table of numbers without explaining what they meant. I shared my own PhD result section as a sample. I told him, “Each number should answer your research question.” He rewrote it with clear links between data and findings. |
| Discussion | Restating results without meaning | I recall James, who simply repeated his charts. I asked, “What do these results mean for educators, policy-makers, or future research?” That helped him think critically and add real value to his work. |
| References | Incorrect formatting | Many students rely on free citation tools, which often make small errors. I always say: “Pick a recent dissertation from your university. Copy that formatting style exactly and double-check the manual.” |
Structure
The structure of an essay also differs with that of a PhD paper. A thesis features such sections as abstract, a proposal, literature review, references and appendices. An essay could be as small as five paragraphs that signal a single chapter.
There are more tips on differentiating these two papers from professional dissertation services online. You will also learn about the similarities that will make your writing easy when you realize that you have dealt with similar papers in the past. Consult reliable professionals to make the process of writing easier.