Program Overview

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Operating Department Practice BSc (Hons)

Overview

Are you enthusiastic, great with people and keen to make a living improving and saving lives? Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are an essential part of the surgical team. They take care of patients, prepare the operating theatre and surgical equipment, and act as a vital link between the surgical team, other hospital departments and patients.

Our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice degree course, which we've developed with local NHS Trusts and the private sector, provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to work in this demanding and rewarding role.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

B700

Typical Offer:

104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A Levels at grade C, one of which should be in a Science subject

Study Mode and Duration

• 3 years full-time

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

Our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice degree course, which we've developed with local NHS Trusts and the private sector, provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to work in this demanding and rewarding role.

Course Highlights

• Practise examinations and procedures on human patient simulators in our Centre for Simulation in Health and Care, one of the country’s leading healthcare teaching environments
• Spend more than 50% of your time gaining experience in real operating theatres and wards at our partner hospitals and NHS Trusts, with one-to-one mentorship from a registered healthcare practitioner
• Become eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Operating Department Practitioner when you graduate

Experience Studying Operating Department Practice at Portsmouth

The course is BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice.

That allows you to qualify and then be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council for the protected title of Operating Department Practitioner and their role is to support the other healthcare professionals such as the anaesthetists, the surgeons to actually undertake their roles as well.

So they're there really to sort of back everybody up and have the knowledge and skills to assist, but also recognise when things probably are going slightly wrong and rather than wait to be told to know what needs to happen.

The topics we deal with is very much the fundamentals issues between anaesthesia, surgical and the recovery phases.

We start to look at things like specialist patient groups.

So we're talking about paediatric patients, obstetric patients, our elderly patients, and that's because their physiology is slightly different.

So the knowledge and the actual care we give them is slight difference.

So we start to expand and look at those specialist areas.

The facilities we have at the University of Portsmouth that we use inside the course, we have a what we call a lot of simulation areas.

It means we can recreate real situations that students will come across with patients when they're working in care or practise, but it allows them to practise their knowledge and skills in a safe environment.

The course is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council, and that means that once they succeed and get their Operating Department Practise degree, they can then apply for registration for the protected title of a principal practitioner.

There's quite a raft of different avenues that your career can take you.

We've had ODP students have studied here that they now work in roles such as Resuscitation Leads in hospitals.

The University of Portsmouth really values its students and looking after students, whether that be from a wellbeing side, whether it be for advice and obviously also the teaching.

And certainly student satisfaction would suggest that that's one of the things that they really like.

My favourite part of this course is watching the students develop over three years into to practitioners.

Entry Requirements

Typical Offer (September 2025 Start)

• A levels - BBC-BCC
• UCAS points - 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A Levels at grade C, one of which should be in a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE)
• T-levels - Merit Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health, T Level in Healthcare Science, T Level in Science
• BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DMM
• International Baccalaureate - 25

Selection Process

• All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application, including NHS values based recruitment. If successful, applicants will be required to declare if they have been subject to any disciplinary procedures of fitness to practice by any other regulator, professional body, employer or educational establishment.
• Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health checks before starting the course.
• The Department of Health requires all new Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP) workers, including students, are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The consent, test and managed process of results will be carried out by our Occupational Health Department.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5

Your Facilities

You'll gain the practical ODP skills and confidence you need in our safe and realistic Simulation Centre.

You'll practise on our high-fidelity patient simulators in our mock operating theatre and wards, before applying your learning on clinical placement in real hospitals.

Careers and Opportunities

The role of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) is to care for patients undergoing surgery in hospital, from preparing the operating theatre and anaesthetic, to ensuring the surgical team have the equipment they need during an operation and supporting patients as they recover.

ODPs are vital to the safe and effective running of an operating theatre, and many are need in both the NHS and private healthcare sector in the UK, now more than ever. As many operations were postponed due to the pandemic, there is high demand for Operating Department Practitioners to help patients get the surgery they need.

Once you complete this Operating Department Practice degree, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which you'll need to work as an ODP in the UK, in areas including anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.

With more training, you could become a surgical care practitioner able to carry out some surgical procedures, under supervision of a consultant surgeon.

What Jobs Can You Do with an Operating Department Practice Degree?

As a registered Operating Department Practitioner, you'll be able to progress and develop towards roles such as:

• surgical care practitioner
• advanced critical care practitioner
• team leader
• theatre manager
• sterile supply manager
• practice educator
• research fellow

Potential Salary

As an Operating Department Practitioner in the NHS in 2021, you could expect a starting salary of £25,655 moving up to £31,534 (Band 5).

With more experience as a senior ODP or team leader, you could earn from £32,306 to £39,027 (Band 6).

Clinical Placements

You'll need work experience in real hospital settings before you can become an Operating Department Practitioner, so on this course you'll spend more than half your time on clinical placements.

On each placement, you'll have one-to-one expert support and guidance from a personal mentor based at that hospital or NHS Trust. As a registered healthcare practitioner, your mentor will be there to advise you throughout and oversee your placement experience.

Each year of your course includes one work placement module in a clinical setting. Placement locations are liable to change, but recent students have completed placements at:

• Portsmouth NHS Trust QA Hospital
• Southampton General Hospital
• BMI Healthcare, Winchester
• St Richard's Hospital, Chichester
• RSC Hospital Brighton
• Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Year 1

• Foundation of Evidence Based Practice - 20 credits
• Foundations of ODP Professional Practice - 40 credits
• Fundamentals of Perioperative Practice - 20 credits
• Science Informing Practice - 40 credits

Year 2

• Applied ODP Professional Practice - 40 credits
• Engaging With Service Improvement - 20 credits
• Evidence Based Decision Making - 20 credits
• Perioperative Care of Specialist Patient Groups - 20 credits
• Perioperative Use of Drugs - 20 credits

Year 3

• Complex Perioperative Care - 20 credits
• Enhancing ODP Professional Practice - 40 credits
• Leading Safe and Effective Care - 20 credits
• Project - 40 credits

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students - £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

Additional Funding

Students on this course may be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund of at least £5,000 a year. The bursary is non-repayable and is in addition to any other support you are eligible for, including Government student loans.

Additional Course Costs

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project
• Replacement uniforms
• Travel costs