Ideally, the thesis will be submitted on a coherent theme. It is permissible to include publications or minor parts not integral to the thesis as appendices. The thesis will thus reflect experiences at both Scripps Research and Oxford.

Students may defend their theses either at Scripps Research or Oxford. At a minimum, the composition of the thesis committee is one Scripps Research and one Oxford faculty member.

Appointment of examiners is subject to approval by both the Director of Graduate Studies at Oxford and the Dean of Graduate Studies at Scripps Research. Appointment of examiners and the conduct of the examination are subject to the regulations of Oxford University. The examiners' recommendations are reported for approval to the Oxford Life and Environmental Sciences Divisional Board in the usual way and to the Office of Graduate Studies at Scripps Research.