master's thesis

Meaning

A master's thesis is a significant scholarly paper written by a graduate student to obtain a master's degree. It demonstrates the student's ability to conduct independent research and analyze a specific academic topic in depth. Unlike a doctoral dissertation, it does not always require entirely original research findings.

Examples

• He is currently analyzing the survey results for his master's thesis.

  He is currently analyzing the survey results for his master's thesis.

• Her master's thesis explores the relationship between sleep deprivation and academic performance.

  Her master's thesis explores the relationship between sleep deprivation and academic performance.

• Students must choose a faculty advisor to guide them through their master's thesis.

  Students must choose a faculty advisor to guide them through their master's thesis.

• The department requires a minimum of eighty pages for a master's thesis.

  The department requires a minimum of eighty pages for a master's thesis.

• After defending her master's thesis, she plans to apply for a PhD program.

  After defending her master's thesis, she plans to apply for a PhD program.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am writing my masters thesis.

  ✓ I am writing my master's thesis.

  'Master's' requires an apostrophe followed by an 's' because it represents the thesis of a master.

• ✗ She is working on her master thesis.

  ✓ She is working on her master's thesis.

  The possessive form 'master's' is the standard academic collocation, not the singular noun 'master.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• To graduate with a Master of Science, you must complete a ___.

  💡 A major research paper for a postgraduate degree.

  Show answer

  master's thesis

• He spent the entire weekend proofreading his ___.

  💡 The final paper written by a master's degree student.

  Show answer

  master's thesis