Operating Department Practice

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.

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).

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.

£1,000 scholarships for 2025/26

If you apply to BCU by 30 June 2025, you could be eligible for one of our £1,000 scholarships:
- Accelerate – if you are from a lower income family or household

- High Achievers’ – if you achieve 144 UCAS points or more from your main three qualifications

For full details and terms, visit www.bcu.ac.uk/scholarships