defend or submit a thesis

[ostap77]

We've been told in class it's not natural to say "to defend a thesis" and that a native-speaker would sooner say "to present or submit a thesis". What would you say?

 

[Barb_D]

I'd say it probably depends on where you go to school.
I've certainly heard "defend" used regarding a doctoral thesis.

 

[ostap77]

So I could say "to submit a thesis" to mean to defend it?

 

[Barb_D]

I don't know about your university. It is certainly NOT the case that I said they were interchangeable in every case. Don't extrapolate.

 

[riquecohen]

so I could say "to submit a thesis" to mean to defend it?

No. After the thesis has been submitted, the student is expected to defend it in front of a panel of professors.