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Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons)

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS Tariff

112-104

Recent Awards For Excellence

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About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Gain confidence using our state-of-the-art skills labs and immersive simulation facilities on our National Health Innovation Campus.
  • You’ll learn from experienced health professionals and service users whose real-world insights bring teaching to life.
  • Build communication, leadership and teamwork skills through our Health and Wellbeing Academy’s community-focused work experience opportunities.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

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.

Also, our Public Partnership Group (PPG) and Health and Wellbeing Academy work together to support your development as a compassionate, person-centred professional. You’ll engage with service users and carers through lectures, discussions, and simulations. Their lived experiences will help to build your communication skills, empathy, and the critical thinking needed to deliver outstanding care across diverse communities. While our Health and Wellbeing Academy offers hands-on placement opportunities through initiatives like Get Set Goal and Restart a Heart. These experiences will help you build skills in communication, public health, leadership, and teamwork while making a real impact in the community.

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 is now open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus. This allows 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.

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

BBC-BCC at A Level.
112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.
DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Pass at T level with grade C or above on core.
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.
  • You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.

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 International Entry Requirements page.

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.

What will you learn?

Course Details

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your understanding of the perioperative critical care environment to enable safe and appropriate patient care. You’ll be introduced to clinical emergencies and response techniques, frameworks and processes, as well as the psychological support utilised to provide a holistic care experience. You’ll examine and demonstrate the role of the ODP in managing patient care, in a simulated controlled environment of critically ill patients.

This practice module provides the opportunity for you to further develop your understanding of patient needs and how to undertake effective perioperative patient care. You'll be allocated a clinical practice placement in which you'll be given the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your competence in undertaking the anaesthetic, scrub and post-anaesthetic care roles under direct supervision of clinical mentors.

This module provides the opportunity for you to further develop your knowledge related to anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthetic practice in relation to altered anatomy and physiology. You'll be introduced to clinical emergencies within the hospital environment and corresponding physiological changes the patient will undergo during their perioperative care. You'll explore patient scenarios and relate these to the physiological changes that occur.

This module provides you with the opportunity to further explore research methodologies and develop an understanding of critical appraisal of evidence and professional implications of ethical practice while exploring profession specific research. You’ll further develop your professional awareness and understanding of quality assurance processes within Operating Department Practice. You’ll also explore practice from a moral, ethical and legal perspective and learn how to apply different frameworks and theoretical models to enhance patient care.

This module will further develop the areas of perioperative practice you've been exposed to previously and explore how patient care can be developed and improved by exploring different clinical approaches. Exploring the anaesthetic areas of care, you’ll examine different anaesthetic techniques and the use of equipment in maintaining patient physiological status. In the surgery element you’ll explore a number of clinical specialities and the impact these can have on patients.

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop an understanding of advanced perioperative practice and the patients care requirements during anaesthetic, post anaesthetic care (PACU) and surgery. You’ll explore the principles which affect perioperative practice and analyse strategies that enable enhanced performance within the theatre team. You’ll also examine professional roles and responsibilities in managing patient care and the implications of a change in perioperative practice.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop the skills required so you are prepared for a leadership and management role upon qualification, where you'll lead teams, solve problems and ensure high quality care is delivered. This module will also provide you with the chance to work as a capable, independent, accountable and reflective practitioner.

This practice module provides the opportunity for you to demonstrate how you have developed the knowledge, understanding, values, attitudes and practical skills required to function as an autonomous practitioner. You'll also have the chance to develop professional, managerial and leadership awareness and demonstrate an understanding of the transition from student to practitioner.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop the research skills you gained in Year 1 and 2 to incorporate how you can engage with evidenced-based practice. You’ll learn how to apply knowledge to devise and sustain arguments, as well as solve problems, gaining confidence and preparing you for the responsibility and accountability of the Registered ODP. You'll demonstrate understanding of research processes and how they apply to professional practice.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Read more

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you’ll study the award-winning Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* — so you’re ready for the career you want, whatever subject you choose.

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Interested in a placement?

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.

Also, our Public Partnership Group (PPG) and Health and Wellbeing Academy work together to support your development as a compassionate, person-centred professional. You’ll engage with service users and carers through lectures, discussions, and simulations. Their lived experiences will help to build your communication skills, empathy, and the critical thinking needed to deliver outstanding care across diverse communities. While our Health and Wellbeing Academy offers hands-on placement opportunities through initiatives like Get Set Goal and Restart a Heart. These experiences will help you build skills in communication, public health, leadership, and teamwork while making a real impact in the community.

Where could this lead you?

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.

80%
Graduates from this course were in work or further study 15 months after graduation.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK Domiciled

You go to a different hospital trust each year, where you gain knowledge from different practitioners from a variety of backgrounds. This helps to perfect your own practice and provides an insight into a wide variety of surgical specialities. You start with simple operations and over the three years as you gain knowledge and experience you build your way up to more complex cases.

- Alex Renshaw
Graduated Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons), now an Operating Department Practitioner at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£17,600 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Placement Funding:
Throughout your studies placements may incur additional costs for accommodation, parking and travel. You may be able to claim costs back through the Learning Support Fund (LSF).
We strongly encourage you to read the information available on the NHS Learning Support Fund Website to understand your eligibility and how the LSF works: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf

Uniform:
Students receive an initial set of uniforms required for placement. After these have been issued, any additional uniforms may incur a cost. In 2025/26, one extra set costs approximately £30

Students studying eligible courses may receive a non-replayable grant of at least £5,000 per year.

NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) | NHSBSA

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

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Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible undergraduate students.

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What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

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If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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What does the univsersity offer?

Gallery

Simulated operating theatre, simulating operating theatre environment

Simulated operating theatre.

Clinical sessions observed by course team

Clinical session: airway management techniques.

Students practise skills on simulation mannequins.

Student practising surgical scrub techniques.

Students working as a team in simulated operating theatre

Students are caring for a simulated patient.

Explore More

Daphne Steele Facilities Tour

Join student Ruth as she takes you on a tour of the University's state-of-the-art Daphne Steele Building, part of our National Health Innovation Campus. Explore cutting-edge learning spaces, including immersive simulation rooms, clinical labs, and real-world training environments. Designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

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 at Huddersfield.

Patient, Service User and Carer involvement

Our Public Partnership Group (PPG) is committed to helping students become a compassionate, person-centred professionals. Students can engage with service users and carers through lectures, discussions, and simulations. Their lived experiences will help to build students communication skills, empathy, and the critical thinking needed to deliver outstanding care across diverse communities.

Find out more
A seated woman is receiving medical attention from a woman in a University of Huddersfield nurses uniform

Health and Wellbeing Academy

Our Health and Wellbeing Academy offers healthcare students hands-on placement opportunities through initiatives like Get Set Goal and Restart a Heart. These experiences help students build skills in communication, public health, leadership, and teamwork while making a real impact in the community.

Find out more

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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Explore Huddersfield

Make Huddersfield your home. A Yorkshire town, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with easy access to neighbouring cities; Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. You’ll find plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and socialise, there’s ambitious plans for future development. Our campus is situated next to the town centre - making your commute a breeze.

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Your Student Experience

Get involved in great opportunities helping you to make friends from all across the world and create lifelong memories. Join one of over 100 societies with the Students’ Union, experience new cultures through global events, earn whilst you learn and build your skills via our Global Professional Award.

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Budget Friendly

Huddersfield is not only one of the friendliest towns, it also offers you a lower cost of living than most big cities. This means you could have more money to spend, making your uni experience even better. On campus you’ll also find plenty of facilities and services to help you budget and make your money go further.

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Sustainability Matters

We’re committed to sustainability and aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. Our plan includes reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and improving wellbeing through sustainable buildings. We’re investing in digital solutions, low-impact travel, and embedding sustainability into teaching and research, investing over £1m in carbon reduction.

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Committed to Your Future

Since 2015, we’ve invested £198 million to create spaces where you can learn, collaborate and thrive. We’re continuously investing in our campus with your wellbeing in mind—adding features that make our buildings healthier, more supportive and better places for you to succeed.

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Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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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.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

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Legal information

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

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. 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. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If 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

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 an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. 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 non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes 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), 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 or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. 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 let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

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 in accordance with the student protection plan.

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

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