A thesis defense, also known as an oral defense, is a formal presentation of a student's research project. It is typically the final step in completing a master's degree or doctoral program. During the defense, the student must answer questions from a panel of experts and defend their thesis against any criticism. The two crossword solutions for the term 'thesis defenses' are 'orals' (5 letters) and 'oralexams' (9 letters). Orals refer to the oral presentation of the student's research project, while oralexams refer to the examination of the student's research project by a panel of experts.