Operating Department Practice with Foundation Year
Program start date | Application deadline |
2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Course summary
BSc (Honours) Operating Department Practice with Foundation Year
This course is designed to develop your knowledge and skills in operating department practice, enabling you to work effectively alongside anaesthetists, surgeons, and others to prepare and assist during surgical and anaesthetic procedures. As an autonomous practitioner, you'll be able to transform the experiences of care for patients.
Key Features
- Qualify with College of Operating Department Practitioners accreditation
- Learn theory in operating theatres, maternity units, critical care, and A&Es
- Get hands-on practice in a simulated operating theatre, ward, and anatomy labs
- Gain real-world experience in a variety of placement settings
- Be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Course Structure
The course is divided into four years, with the first year being a foundation year. The subsequent years focus on developing your knowledge and skills in operating department practice, with a mix of theoretical and practical learning.
Modules
Year 1
- Developing The Fundamentals Of A Healthcare Professional
- Credits: 60
- Assessment: Coursework (60%), Practical (40%)
- Module Aim: Develop your knowledge and understanding of academic, personal, and professional skills that enable transition into Level 4 study and future employability.
- Promotion Of Contemporary Issues In Healthcare
- Credits: 60
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of contemporary issues that currently influence healthcare.
Year 2
- Collaboration For Individual And Community Wellbeing
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Module Aim: Introduce you to the biopsychosocial, cognitive, political, economic, and medical factors which influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, diverse populations, and communities.
- Odp Clinical Practice 1
- Credits: -
- Assessment: -
- Module Aim: Provide you with the opportunity to apply knowledge and understanding in the clinical environment to practice and develop your role as part of the multi-disciplinary team caring patients holistically undergoing minor procedures.
- Odp Introduction To Odp And University Life
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Module Aim: Introduce knowledge and skills for the perioperative practice environment, through a blend of in-person and online lectures, seminars, and practical activities.
- Odp Principle Roles Of Odp
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Further develop your knowledge and skills in anaesthetics, surgery, and recovery in the fit and healthy patient, enabling you to thrive as a holistic practitioner in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Personal And Professional Development
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Consolidate your progression to graduate-level study and professional practice, reflecting on your role as a professional who delivers safe and effective person-centred care.
Year 3
- Assessing And Addressing Complexity In Practice
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Module Aim: Apply your professional knowledge, skills, and values in an integrated manner, working collaboratively with peers from other disciplines to assess, intervene, and overcome the challenges of complex health and social care situations.
- Evidence And Enquiry For Practice
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Introduce you to research and enquiry design and methods, enabling you to apply them to an area of investigation and consider factors that impact on literature appraisal.
- Odp - Clinical Practice 2
- Credits: -
- Assessment: -
- Module Aim: Develop your skills, knowledge, and understanding in the real-world environment, attending clinical placement to demonstrate your capability and competence, supported by a practice educator.
- Odp Developing Intraoperative Practice
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Module Aim: Further develop your knowledge and skills in pathophysiology and patient complexity for anaesthetics, surgery, and recovery, focusing on the impact of co-morbidities and long-term conditions.
- Odp Management And Care Of Acute And Critical Patients
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Further develop your knowledge and skills in operating department practice in the acute and critically ill patient, enabling you to develop and thrive as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
Year 4
- Complexity & Leadership In Professional Practice
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Develop your systematic understanding of leadership and education concepts in practice, critically reflecting on these in the context of collaboration within health and social care practice.
- Odp Clinical Practice 3
- Credits: -
- Assessment: -
- Module Aim: Develop your understanding of the clinical environment to manage complex patient care requirements, or patients undergoing major procedures, in a preceptorship-style placement.
- Odp Developing The Practice Educator
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Bring together the knowledge you've gained throughout the course, focusing on aspects that are relevant to the critical care environment, in relation to education in practice.
- Odp Enhanced Perioperative Practice
- Credits: 20
- Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Module Aim: Develop your knowledge and understanding of clinical enhanced skills, with tools to critically evaluate the care you provide.
- The Advancing Professional
- Credits: 40
- Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Module Aim: Enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, demonstrating a critical understanding and applying appropriate research methods within a piece of work.
Entry Requirements
- UCAS points: 64
- GCSE: Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents, Maths at grade D or 4 or equivalents, English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents
- Access: An Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science-based subject
- IELTS: 7.0 or above, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each skill (for international students)
Fees and Funding
- Home students: £9,535 per year (2025/26), with a non-repayable maintenance grant of at least £5,000 per year
- International students: £20,000 per year (2026/27), with an annual placement supplement of £2,000
Career Opportunities
- Healthcare trusts (NHS and private)
- Universities
- Healthcare company rep roles
- Private clinics
- Scrub specialisms
- Anaesthetics specialisms
- Clinical specialisms such as paediatrics
- Physicians Associate in Anaesthesia (PAA) roles
- Surgical First Assistant (SFA) roles
- Advanced Clinical Practice roles
- Physicians Associate roles
- Education mentoring or teaching
- Research roles
- Leadership roles
- The armed forces
Equipment and Facilities
- Simulated operating theatre
- Anaesthetic machines
- Operating table and positioning equipment
- Clinical ward environments
- High-fidelity simulation equipment
- Specialist manikins
- An extensive specialist visiting lecturer pool
- A dedicated learning and teaching support librarian
- A specialist health and wellbeing learning resource centre
- An experienced student support officer network
Where Will I Study?
You will study at Collegiate Campus, with access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Sheffield Hallam University: A Summary
Overview:
Sheffield Hallam University is a public university located in Sheffield, England. It is known for its strong focus on practical learning, industry partnerships, and student support. The university boasts award-winning teaching, world-class facilities, and a vibrant campus environment.