Master’s and Bachelor’s theses: Differences and Similarities
Bachelor’s, master’s – what are the differences? Student and scientific work are an inseparable link. It is relevant at any faculty, regardless of specialty, profile, abilities. Education as a ladder has several steps: bachelor – master or bachelor – specialist. And each of these steps ends with a defense of research. Otherwise, there is no further way.
Bachelor’s work
Bachelor is the first stage of higher education. The final bachelor’s work is written at the end of the fourth year and is admission for admission to the master’s program or the next year. As a rule, this is an intermediate stage. Therefore, a bachelor’s degree does not require so much effort … most mistakenly think and face difficulties.
The main requirement for the final qualifying work of a bachelor is quality. You should thoroughly approach the choice of topic, relevance, content, and sources. Literacy, the necessary uniqueness, and an interesting theoretical foundation are usually enough to get a thesis.
Many stop at this and leave to be realized in a practical plane. But if there is an intention to enter the magistracy, the bachelor’s work often becomes the research base for the next scientific works.
In modern times … you can’t do without afloat … A thesis … holds on the surface. the feature film “It happened in the police”
Graduate work
The concept of a thesis can be viewed in two aspects:
A generic term covering both a specialist degree and a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Final qualifying work upon completion of the second stage of training, the defense of which allows you to receive a completed higher education and the status of a specialist.
A thesis or graduation project is scientific research that reveals certain problems and searches for ways to solve it, neutralize negative consequences, and prevent the aggravation of the problem.
The thesis is based on theoretical aspects and theses that prove information on the topic. The purpose of such work is not just to demonstrate the knowledge gained in previous courses, but to confirm that the student is involved in the development and implementation of the latest techniques, and his activities are useful for the scientific space.
Knowledge must necessarily be associated with skill … It is a sad phenomenon when a student, although he knows something, is not able to do anything. A. Disterverg
Master’s work
The next stage of study after a bachelor’s degree (and sometimes after a specialist) is a master’s degree. Its completion is the online thesis writing of the final work, which is often called a master’s thesis. It is not worth drawing analogies with candidate and doctoral dissertations, but the degree of responsibility is already much higher.
Character traits:
- Depth of research;
- Originality;
- Combination of theory with scientific and practical activities;
- Dedication to one issue;
- The practical value of the results;
- Availability of polemical and discussion materials;
- Reflection of the scientific position of the author.
This format of work is relatively new and appeared in connection with the transition to the Bologna training system. Depending on the university, the requirements for the master’s work differ: in a number of educational institutions the characteristics in complexity are closer to dissertations, in other universities the master’s work is more similar to a thesis.
In the future, master’s theses can be used as a basis for research for obtaining scientific degrees. Even if the master’s degree is the final stage of training, not a single master has been hurt by the resounding success on the defense.
“A student is still nothing from which everything can come out.” Sandor Petofi
The main differences between bachelor’s and master’s theses
Graduation qualifying works differ in many criteria. First of all – the significance, that is, the answer to the question of what the protection of a particular job gives. Undoubtedly, in terms of status, the master’s work is the leader among the above types. The following differences:
Volume. For a bachelor, it is enough to prepare material for 50-70 printed pages + title page and literature. The defense of the thesis of a specialist obliges to compose a work of 70-90 pages, and applicants for master’s status need to prepare a study of at least 120 pages.
Sources. At the first stage of training, the FQP is written taking into account the material studied and should reflect the degree of its mastering. The thesis obliges you to choose a specific topic and rely on sources that reveal it. The use of a theoretical course is optional and alone is not sufficient. The master’s work is characterized by a deeper study of the topic from different angles, coupled with the experience of a particular enterprise and its own analysis.
The degree of use of the theory. Bachelor’s and thesis work is mainly based on theoretical knowledge and developments, master’s work involves the use of theory as an auxiliary component of one’s own research.
Originality. The less important the work, the lower the percentage of uniqueness is allowed. If 65-75% can be sufficient for a thesis, then master’s theses must meet the requirements of 90%.
Structural elements. A practical part is necessarily included in the master’s work. Conclusions must be followed after each chapter. In the thesis for a bachelor’s degree, the emphasis on their own practical experience and the empirical component is not made. Conclusions serve as summaries and are placed once in the conclusion.
For a master’s thesis, a deeper study of sources is required, the number of which should be at least 80-100 points. In the thesis, the requirements for quantity and design are lower.
Considering that the two-tier education system is not fully implemented everywhere and the format is relatively new, in addition to the fixed rules in educational institutions, there are so-called standards “so it is accepted, so it should be.” While official requirements are easier to handle, unspoken rules often become a stumbling block. The future masters feel this obstacle most acutely.
