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Operating Department Practice

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 points from 3 A levels, to include 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE).

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science, Health & Social Care or Nursing), to include a minimum of 21 level 3 credits in Science subjects at merit or above.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56, to include a Principal Subject in a single Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE) at M3.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C or above, or equivalent/GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 or above, or equivalent.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29

29 points from the IB Diploma, with 664, 655 or 754 at Higher Level, to include 5 points from a Higher Level in a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE).

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


To include a Higher Level Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE) at H3.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDM-DMM

Must be in a Science subject

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM-DMM

Must be in a Science subject.

112-120 Tariff points from 3 Advanced Highers, to include a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE) at grade D.

T Level

M

Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health, T Level in Healthcare Science, T Level in Science

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE).

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels, to include 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE), plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

You may also need to…

Attend an interview

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Operating department practice

**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.

- 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

- Learn on a course with 100% overall student satisfaction (NSS, 2021)

- Become eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Operating Department Practitioner when you graduate

**Approved by:**
This course is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

**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

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

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

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

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

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 3

Core modules in this year include:

Complex Perioperative Care – 20 credits
Enhancing Operating ODP Professional Practice – 40 credits
Leading Safe and Effective Care – 20 credits
Project – 40 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through tests (academic or practical/skills based), performance-based clinical practice assessments, online assessment, academic written work/portfolios, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), presentations, project.
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Science and Health

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

60%
Operating department practice

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

79%
Staff make the subject interesting
71%
Staff are good at explaining things
69%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
88%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

81%
Library resources
96%
IT resources
81%
Course specific equipment and facilities
38%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

100%
UK students
0%
International students
28%
Male students
72%
Female students
88%
2:1 or above
16%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
E
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£22,200
high
Average annual salary
92%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

55%
Health professionals
9%
Natural and social science professionals
9%
Science, engineering and production technicians

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Health sciences (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£29k

£29k

£24k

£24k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Lower entry requirements
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UCAS Points: 104-112
Same University
University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth
Paramedic Science
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UCAS Points: 120-128
Nearby University
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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