A thesis , or dissertation[note 1] , is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings. In some contexts, the word thesis or a cognate is used for part of a bachelor's or master's course, while dissertation is normally applied to a doctorate. This is the typical arrangement in American English. In other contexts, such as within most institutions of the United Kingdom and Republic of Irel the reverse is true. The term graduate thesis is sometimes used to refer to both master's theses and doctoral dissertations.