text: when someone is getting a masters or doctorate, what do they have to do for a thesis? also what is the difference in education between a masters and doctorate degree? most master's programs are 1 or 2 years, depending on the specialty.  a ph.d. can easily take another 4 to 5 years after the masters (sometimes 7 or 8, if you pick a difficult topic).  a master's thesis usually isn't too in depth, so a basic research project - you'll need to understand all the background material and have done something original.  for a ph.d., you'll need original, publishable research and a mastery of the background and current research in the field.