Don your scrubs and head straight into the theatre with our highly practical Operating Department Practice degree.
If you’re fascinated by the surgical environment, our Operating Department Practice degree is for you.
This highly practical course will develop your clinical skills. You’ll learn to take responsibility for patients’ welfare, assess their journey through the surgical environment, and work as part of a theatre team.
From the word go, you’ll spend time in true-to-life-skills labs, a real theatre, and working in all the essential clinical specialities while out on placement.
HCPC and Royal College of Surgeons
Our Operating Department Practice degree meets the standards set by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons. When you graduate, you’ll be able to register and get to work as an Operating Department Practitioner, with the skills you need to succeed.
Learn more about the course from Clinical Skills Tutor Yasmin Sesay.
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Why ARU?
Prepare for vital roles in surgery, anaesthesia, and post-operative care
Get a minimum of £5,000 per year non-repayable training grant
Dive straight into real-life operating theatre experiences with placements at NHS hospitals
Get hands-on training in state-of-the-art clinical skills and simulation labs
Study with supportive tutors who are experienced professionals in their field
After a short introductory teaching block in Year 1, placements happen throughout your course.
You’ll spend around 24 hours a week on placement. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the three main areas of theatres – anaesthesia, surgery and recovery – as well as critical care skills.
We offer placements in leading NHS and private hospitals:
Essex: Queens, Colchester, Basildon, Harlow, Southend, Broomfield (all theory is taught in Chelmsford).
Cambridgeshire: Hinchingbrooke, Ipswich, Lister, Papworth, Peterborough, King’s Lynn (all theory is taught in Cambridge).
London: Kings College, Whittington, North Middlesex University Hospital, Newham University Hospital (all theory is taught in Chelmsford).
Our Operating Department Practice BSc (Hons) is validated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), meaning when you graduate you’ll be eligible to register as an Operating Department Practitioner. Most of our students have secured jobs in their third year of study.
As an ODP your career options are wide-ranging, and could see you specialise in any number of areas including anaesthesia, intensive care work, joining a transplant team or even being involved with helicopter emergency services and management.
Sophie
"I am enjoying each area of the role so much, it just feels impossible to choose. I feel incredibly lucky that I have a great placement location and I hope that I can work here when I qualify to develop my skills further."
If you want to know more about our Operating Department Practice degree, book your place at one of our Taster Days. Meet our lecturers and current students, learn more about the course and the role of the ODP, and pick up useful tips for your application and interview.
