Operating Department Practice - BSc (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Are you interested in a rewarding career in perioperative care? Have you got excellent management skills and a passion for supporting others? Start your journey to becoming a vital part of the theatre team with our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (ODP) course....

How to apply

Level Undergraduate
Study mode Full Time

Award BSc (Hons)
Start date September 2025
Fees View course fees

Subject
- Health Professions
Location City South

This course is:

Overview

Operating Department Practitioners provide holistic care for a diverse range of patient groups, both within and beyond the operating theatre. This BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice course uses the Modernising Allied Health Professions Career Framework, which spirals through each of the three years to align to the ‘Four Pillars of Practice’, to maximise the choice available to you within the operating theatre and beyond. Successful completion of the course will allow you to be eligible to apply for registration with the Heath and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and gain employment as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

Using the Allied Health Professions career framework, the course embeds the ‘Four Pillars of Practice’ within each year to provide a spiralling curriculum covering:

Pillar One: Clinical Practice (anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care)
Pillar Two: Facilitation of Learning (of self and others)
Pillar Three: Leadership
Pillar Four: Evidence, Research and Development

The proportion of teaching and learning of each pillar varies in each year, with the first year aimed at preparing you for academic work and self-development, supported by clinical placement experiences to underpin the principles of evidenced-based perioperative care for patients undergoing elective surgery.

In year two, the clinical practice emphasis shifts to providing care for patients undergoing complex and emergency surgery. You will learn to understand the principles of leadership whilst supporting others to learn as well as developing inquiry-based learning in order to support research and development.

You will work towards becoming an autonomous practitioner in year three, developing proficiency in anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care as well as gaining experience in acute care beyond the operating theatre and developing in the role of a Surgical First Assistant (SFA). You will also have the opportunity to explore your own specialist interests as well as developing your leadership skills in order to manage people and resources within the perioperative environment, as you transition to a registered ODP as you prepare to register with the HCPC.

Accredited By

Why Choose Us?

Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs. Plus, if you’ve already studied for an undergraduate degree, you may still be eligible for funding.
Learn in our innovative education facilities that simulate real-life medical situations - including an anaesthetic room, operating theatre and recovery unit to practice your core skills as an ODP.
Our strong partnerships with the NHS and independent health providers across the West Midlands and surrounding areas mean you will benefit from quality placement learning experiences to develop your skills and professional relationships.
You get to do a number of nationally-recognised courses throughout your degree: in year one you will be given the opportunity to undertake the Bedside Emergency Assessment Course for Healthcare Staff (BEACH) and Paediatric Emergency Assessment Communication Handover (PEACH) course; in year two you are offered the Acute Life-threatening Events Recognition and Treatment (ALERT) courses; and in year three you are able to do Intermediate Life Support (ILS) and Paediatric Intermediate Life Support (PiLS), both of which are nationally-recognised resuscitation courses.
Wide variety of career opportunities available upon successful completion, such as working in orthopaedic clinics, transplant teams, research and education.
Learn from the experts - many of our staff are still active operating department practitioners, so you can rely on them for all the practical guidance, advice and knowledge you need to prepare for a successful career in a healthcare environment.

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Open Days

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 24 November 2024

Book your place

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
Accelerate offer: 96 UCAS Tariff points. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.

Applicants will also need to complete an interview for this course; see interview arrangements below.

If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Foundation Year instead. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Prior to enrolling on the course, successful candidates will be required to obtain a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced DBS check via the Faculty, as well as registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. Qualifications, personal statement, interview and references all form part of the selection criteria for this course.If you have any queries please refer to DBS Frequently Asked Questions or contact admissions@bcu.ac.uk.

Qualification	Entry requirements
A Level	112 UCAS Tariff points from three A Levels Grades BBC (or equivalent) Required subjects: Health and Social Care, Psychology, Social Science or Science subject at A Level or level 3 equivalent Excluded subjects: General Studies; Critical Thinking; Extended Project
Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate)	112 UCAS Tariff points Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health and Social Care; Applied Science National Diploma/Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A-level / level 3 equivalent must be in Health and Social Care or a relevant Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
T Level	Merit overall Accepted subjects: Healthcare Science; Science
Access to HE Diploma	Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3 Accepted subjects: Health and Social Care or Science-related pathway
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications	112 UCAS Tariff points Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health or Science Diploma - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be a relevant Health or Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications	112 UCAS Tariff points Accepted subjects: Childcare and Education; Children and Young People's Workforce; Health and Social Care; Early Years Education and Care
WJEC Level 3 qualifications	112 UCAS Tariff points Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s) Required subjects: Either this qualification or an accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be a relevant Health or Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
International Baccalaureate Diploma	Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall Required subjects: One of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Higher level For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at grade C/4 or above, grade 5 in Maths (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at grade C/4 or above, English Language (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For English A, this must be grade 4 or above; for English B, this must be grade 5.
Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)	Minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects Required subjects: Health or Science related subject at Higher level
Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher	112 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC) Required subjects: Health or Science subject at Higher level or above
Welsh Baccalaureate	112 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications Required subjects: Either this qualification or an accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in a relevant Health or Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
EU / International students	Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in each band. If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information on pre-sessional English courses.

Applicants must provide evidence of having been in general education for a minimum of ten years.
Applicants must demonstrate evidence of literacy, numeracy, and IT skills.
Applicants must normally have evidence of formal study within the last five years. However, we are sometimes able to waive this requirement if a candidate has a significant amount of professional experience in a relevant field, for example healthcare, social care, or education.

I really want to become an Operating Department Practitioner but do not meet your entry requirements. What advice can you give me?

All applicants must meet our academic entry requirements to be considered for the course.

If you do not have sufficient Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, we advise you to consider undertaking a course which will give you the opportunity to gain the correct entry criteria. For example, an Access course in a health/science-related field at your local further education college. This course contains the right mix of level 3 and level 2 qualifications which allow you to access higher education.

Alternatively, you could undertake the Open University K101 course, if you have the appropriate GSCE qualifications (as defined in our entry criteria) with another level 3 qualification.

Portfolio route for those holding Level 3 Diploma in Perioperative Support (QCF)

You are required to have GCSE at grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics (or Functional Skills English and Maths) and a science subject, or level 2 equivalent.

The recognition of prior learning and experience route recognises that your previous experience contributes towards entry to the BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice and, when combined with successful completion of your portfolio, may lead to you successfully gaining a place in the programme.

In order to demonstrate your previous experience, you are required to complete a portfolio which complements your certificated learning and demonstrates your ability to study in Higher Education.

The portfolio will require:

A testimonial from your Diploma in Perioperative Support education provider which confirms your progress, identifies your level of engagement in the process and your academic skills
A testimonial from your workplace manager; which confirms your commitment to high quality patient care delivery as part of the perioperative team, work ethic and integrity
1 x 1500 written paper, in a formal style which uses the ‘Harvard’ referencing convention. This paper should discuss an aspect of perioperative practice
1 x 1500 written reflection, using Gibbs Model of Reflection. This element requires you to consider a time when you had a positive impact on a patient’s experience

Applicants holding the Level 3 Diploma in Perioperative Support will be invited to interview and if successful will then be asked to create the portfolio. Once completed, you will need to send it electronically to the admissions tutor who will then evaluate the work and make a judgement about its suitability for entry onto the Operating Department Practice programme.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student
International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BSc (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

Full Time
3 years
£9,250 in 2025/26
Apply via UCAS

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

DBS check

If you are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course, the cost for your first DBS check is included in your fees.

Uniform

You will be provided with one pair of scrubs and theatre clogs.

Occupational health assessment

You will need to complete an occupational health assessment. The cost for this is included in your course fee.

Placement expenses (mandatory)

Placements are a compulsory element of this course. You'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course, such as AfPP, which is currently free for student membership.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Funding

From August 2020, nursing professional degree students will receive at least £5,000 a year in funding support.

Find out more about the funding available

Download the funding FAQs

Personal statement

Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

Course choice

Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?

Career plans

If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.

Work experience

Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.

School or college experience

Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.

Non-accredited skills or achievement

eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Get more information on writing personal statements.

Work Experience

If you want to gain some work experience to help prepare you for your course, there are a range of options available. The UCAS website has information about activities that you might want to consider.

UCAS

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

Student loan finance - have you already studied an undergraduate degree but would like to do a second one in Operating Department Practice? You may be eligible for funding.

Course in Depth

Year One

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Year Two

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Year Three

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Download course specification

Download now

Your programme is delivered using a modular approach and divides the content of the programme into manageable elements of study and practice learning opportunities.

From structured lectures to personal use of our multimedia facilities, the focus for learning in the classroom is to help you to:

Work as part of a team
Understand how an ODP fits into the team and what they do
Understand the role played by other professionals
Manage your clinical workload
Make informed decisions to enhance clinical practice using the evidence base to support this
Communicate effectively with the multidisciplinary team and service users
Adapt to different practice settings and be proactive in identifying and responding to your development needs.

The knowledge and skills in relation to the 3 main areas of perioperative practice; anaesthesia, surgery and post-operative care are introduced, developed and enhanced over the 3 year duration of the course.

The module delivery is arranged in blocks to allow you to apply your new knowledge in the clinical setting.

You will experience a mixture of teaching, self-directed study and practice-based clinical placements, spending 60% of your time each year on placement.

Successful completion of this programme gives eligibility to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council for registration as an Operating Department Practitioner.

Additional support

If you are dyslexic, have a specific learning difference or a disability, we have a Disability Tutor who can help and support you.

Accreditation or professional associations

Successful students can apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Health and Care Professions Council

This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, and will give you eligibility to apply for registration if you successfully complete the course.

College of Operating Department Practitioners

This course is awaiting endorsement from the College of Operating Department Practitioners, the professional body for the profession.

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

To prepare students to meet the requirements for eligibility to apply for entry onto the Health and Care Professions Council register as Registered Operating Department Practitioners.

Combines theory with clinical placement to enhance awareness of different specialities in preparation for employment in operating theatre departments.

Develops transferable skills for working in a range of health care settings and recognising the need for life-long learning.

Placements

You will be required to travel for your clinical placements to engage in a broad range of specialities and practice areas. These placements will be with both NHS and independent health providers across the West Midlands.

It is important you appreciate that fees for accommodation and/or travel will require personal financial outlay; these may be reimbursable to some extent, the most up-to-date information can be found on the NHS Business Service Authority website and the administrative team can also advise. Additionally there is no guarantee of a placement in a specific hospital or area.

More about our placement opportunities

Examples of real graduates and their work

Previous graduates are now holding management posts within the NHS and private sector.

Alumni have senior educational posts in the NHS and as part of the course teaching team. This includes individuals who have published and presented at a national level.

Facilities & Staff

We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.

Mock Wards

These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four to six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.

These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.

The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites

The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.

These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.

Home Environment Room

This facility replicates a small flat with bedroom, bathroom and kitchen diner space. It is used to simulate non-clinical settings, to give students experience of working in different environments. It also incorporates a range of digital health technology, to help prepare students to work in the NHS of the future.

Simbulance

Our ‘Simbulance’ is a purpose built teaching space that allows students to practise their skills in a highly specialist, high-fidelity simulated environment. The Simbulance is an exact replica of an operational emergency ambulance. Learners are truly immersed in the clinical environment and test their knowledge and skills in a safe and supported space, before entering the clinical environment ‘for real’ on placement.

Assisted Living Space

This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.

Assisted Kitchen

This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.

Physiotherapy Room

This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.

Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite

Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.

Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite

These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.

VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training

This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.

Radiotherapy

This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.

Telehealth Room

This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Imaging Academy

This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Training Academy, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.

Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room

Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.

Ultrasound simulation suite

Students have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop their clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.

Our staff

Laura Garbett

BSc ODP Course Leader / Senior Lecturer in Operating Department Practice

Laura is an Operating Department Practitioner registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Clinical experience includes anesthetic, surgical (scrub), post-anesthetic care and resuscitation. She successfully completed the Resuscitation Council Advanced Life Support Course & European Advanced Life Support Courses to enhance her role...

More about Laura

Katie O'Connor

Lecturer in Operating Department Practice / Admissions Tutor

Katie's career as an ODP began at Birmingham City University 15 years ago when she undertook the Diploma in Higher Education in Operating Department Practice, she has been qualified for almost 13 years.

More about Katie

Louise Scott

Lecturer in Operating Department Practice

Louise's interest in health care started with the first aid training she acquired in the Navy, this interest was instrumental in her embarking on the ODP course in 2010. She has worked as an ODP for the last 12 years and recently moved to education. Louise's 12 years as an ODP has given her a wealth of knowledge and experience which she has...

More about Louise

Lewis Clemson

Lecturer in Operating Department Practice

Lewis qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) in 2017. Once qualified, he worked at a Major Trauma Centre, helping to care for patients with severe life-threatening injuries. He was able to experience the perioperative care of patients undergoing complex procedures within Orthopaedics (both elective and emergency trauma),...

More about Lewis

Julie Quick

ODP Apprenticeship Course Leader / Senior Lecturer Clinical Lead & Enterprise/Research

Julie has spent 25 years working within the perioperative environment. In her last NHS post she worked as a Surgical Care Practitioner in general surgery at Trust within the West Midlands. Julie is passionate about perioperative care and has a particular interest in surgery, research and advancing surgical roles.

More about Julie