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Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC-BCC

BTEC - DMM-MMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

70

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You’ll develop your skills and put them to the test in our simulated operating theatre, enabling you to experience the operating theatre environment. 
  2. Through several perioperative environments, you’ll work as part of interdisciplinary teams and gain hands-on experience through clinical placement opportunities.
  3. To enhance your learning, you’ll hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

Keen to work in a dramatic and exciting environment?

Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) work alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, and other medical staff, to provide care for patients during surgery. A role within perioperative practice, therefore, will see you work as part of a dynamic team in an operating theatre and could prove a great career choice.

On our Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons) course, you’ll benefit from a strong grounding in the theory, exploring what’s involved in the three, interconnected aspects of the role: anaesthetic, surgical and post anaesthetic.

Why study Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons)

On this course, you’ll have the opportunity to practise your skills in our simulated operating theatre, enabling you to experience the operating theatre environment.

This course is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means you’ll benefit from experienced staff, specialist skills labs and great links to NHS Trusts and our partners in the private sector. Our clinical placement opportunities enable you to gain valuable hands-on experience in perioperative environments, as well as potentially shadowing an operating department practitioner as part of interdisciplinary teams in a variety of care settings. This will allow you to see how ODPs contribute to all sorts of specialist areas in real world environments.

You’ll also have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

On our Operating Department Practice course:

  • You’ll receive support during your studies from academic staff and qualified practitioners who understand what it’s like to be an ODP.
  • You’ll move beyond the fundamentals, as the course progresses, to delve into the role research plays in perioperative practice and explore leadership and management strategies.
  • You’ll experience the University’s new Daphne Steele Building, which will open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus in 2024. This will allow our Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons) students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities, helping you boost your skills within the health sector and preparing you for a potentially rewarding career ahead.

Students on this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year – find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.

Not quite ready to start Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Operating Department Practice.

Course detail

Core modules:

Applied Anatomy and Physiology for Operating Department Practice

You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of a range of essential concepts related to normal and altered anatomy and physiology that underpin perioperative practice. You'll also investigate the structure and function of the human organ systems and the fundamentals of microbiology related to perioperative care.

Introduction to Perioperative Practice and Patient Care (Placement 1)

Through this practice module you'll have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of patient needs and how to undertake effective perioperative patient care. This will involve working as part of the multidisciplinary team under the direct supervision of qualified clinical staff. You'll also have the chance to develop and demonstrate your competence in undertaking the anaesthetic, scrub and circulating roles.

Principles of Anaesthesia for Operating Department Practice

In this module you’ll be introduced to anaesthetic techniques and will investigate the role of the anaesthetic practitioner in assisting the anaesthetist during perioperative care. You’ll also learn about anaesthetic principles including anaesthetic drugs and equipment, as well as how these ensure that service users’ care is maintained throughout their perioperative journey. You’ll explore the underpinning theory and scientific principles relating to the techniques in anaesthetic practice.

Principles of Surgery for Operating Department Practice

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the roles of the perioperative circulating and scrub practitioner. You’ll be introduced to specific techniques and equipment required for carrying out surgical interventions. The module also explores aspects of patient preparation, holistic care and support. Principles of safe practice will also be introduced including the function and safety of equipment and machinery.

Research and Professional Accountability for Operating Department Practice

You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of professional attributes and lifelong learning skills, as well as research knowledge, allowing you to explore published information and implement evidence-based practice in line with registering body requirements. The research element of the module will introduce you to the role of research and evidence-based practice within health with specific consideration of the different types of research undertaken and where these are applicable.

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level .

112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level

DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade C.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 15 at Distinction, and 30 at Merit.
  • 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

In addition you must have GCSE English Language or Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

You must be able to demonstrate an appreciation of the role and work of the operating department practitioner.

  • Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record.
  • You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration. We arrange these as part of the application process. You'll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study.

The profession of ODP


Watch this video to find out about the profession of Operating Department Practice, what the role of an Operating Department Practitioner involves, careers progression opportunities, as well as information about what the course involves and why you should study this Huddersfield.

Placements


Clinical placements are a compulsory element of the course and these will be undertaken in a range of settings. This provides a number of opportunities for you to develop the required clinical skills and experience a variety of placements and the diversity of procedures in the perioperative environment.

These placements which will be allocated by the University, will be undertaken in up to two or three different hospitals. As placements are undertaken in the hospitals listed below you must be prepared to travel to any or all of these.

  • Airedale General Hospital
  • Bradford Teaching Hospital
  • Calderdale Royal Hospital
  • Dewsbury and District Hospital
  • Harrogate District Hospital
  • Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
  • Leeds Teaching Hospital including Leeds General Infirmary, St James’ University Hospital, Chapel Allerton Hospital and Wharfedale Hospital
  • Pinderfields Hospital
  • Pontefract Hospital

Placements are also undertaken in some private hospitals including BMI The Duchy Hospital Harrogate, Huddersfield BMI, Leeds Nuffield, Spire Elland and Spire Leeds, Spire Methley Park and the Yorkshire Clinic. For more information visit our placements page.

“The placements were really useful. They provided the opportunity to gain an insight and first-hand experience of the operating department practitioner role, which made the transition from education to career easier. They also helped me to develop my confidence and leadership skills.“ 

0

Sena Kauser, graduated from Operating Department Practice in 2022 and is now an Operating Department Practitioner at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Your career


Recent graduates from this course have become theatre practitioners in NHS hospitals.*

Other opportunities may include roles as perioperative practitioners, specialist practitioners, team leaders, managers, educators and academics both in clinical settings and universities, as well as working in other areas where critically ill patients are cared for. The course enables graduates to apply for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration and then work as a perioperative practitioner.


* Percentage of graduates from this course who go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK Domiciled).
** LinkedIn.

90% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules, and with the PebblePad platform, which is used by students when they go out on placements.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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