Operating Department Practice - DipHE
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
This is a specially designed two-year Diploma to prepare you to become a fully qualified Operating Department Practitioner - a vital part of the operating theatre team who supports surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists and patients throughout surgery....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award DipHE
- Start date September 2023
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Health Sciences
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
Overview
This is a specially designed two-year Diploma to prepare you to become a fully qualified Operating Department Practitioner - a vital part of the operating theatre team who supports surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists and patients throughout surgery.
Our Operating Department Practice course here at Birmingham City University has an excellent track record of developing high quality professionals who meet the needs of a range of care providers nationally.
What's covered in this course?
The course combines theoretical and practical skills, complemented with clinical placements in a range of specialities and settings. Our approach to learning means that you should leave with clinical competence and the ability to apply best knowledge to direct patient care in contemporary healthcare settings.
Your work will be assessed using a mix of methods including text based submissions, written examinations, oral examinations, presentations and clinical skills assessment both in placement and simulated in university. Simulation activities will prepare you for clinical practice, by allowing clinical skills and behaviours to be rehearsed before applying these in the clinical setting.
You will be encouraged to develop and demonstrate a range of skills to prepare you for a successful career as an Operating Department Practitioner, including confidence in care delivery, the ability to research, appraise and evaluate evidence.
Where will I study?
You will study at our recently extended £71 million City South campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, complete with a fully equipped operating theatre and specialist surgical simulation facilities to support you as a practitioner throughout the course.
Our academic team are dedicated to your development and have many years of experience in delivering perioperative education in academic and clinical settings. Our experience provides an excellent resource that will help you develop a clear understanding of the relationship between theory and practice.
Why Choose Us?
- Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs
- Excellent track record of developing high quality professionals who meet the needs of a range of care providers nationally
- Exposure to quality placement learning experiences to develop skills and professional relationships
- Wide variety of career opportunities available upon successful completion, such as working in orthopaedic clinics, transplant teams, research and education
- Strong links in industry - benefit from our partnerships with the NHS and Independent Health Providers across the West Midlands and UK
- We’ve invested £71 million in our City South Campus - get access to innovative education facilities that simulate the real life medical situations at City South campus - including a hospital corridor with real life mock wards and an operating theatre
- Learn from the experts - many of our staff are still active operating department practitioners, so you can rely on them for all the practical guidance, advice and knowledge you need for a successful career
- Get work experience abroad - you can apply for a travel scholarship as part of our Go Abroad scheme to carry out exciting work placements overseas
Similar Courses
Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic
The University has put in place measures in response to Covid-19 to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus open day where you'll be able to explore our campus and facilities in person. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Open Day: Saturday 24 June 2023
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2023/24.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
If your Level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Health Sciences Foundation Year instead. This course offers an alternative pathway onto our Allied Health Professions courses. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff. Find out more about the Foundation Year.
Essential Requirements
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88 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level |
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| Level 2 qualifications | ||
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| GCSE | GCSE English Language or Literature, GCSE Maths and GCSE Science at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry requirements under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details. | |
| Scottish National 5 | English Language or Literature, Maths and Science at grade C or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) qualifications | ||
| A level and Advanced VCE |
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| Access to HE Diploma |
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British bachelor's degree |
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| NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland) |
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| NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce |
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| City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080) |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma |
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Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher |
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T-Levels |
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Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate - Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015) |
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Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma – Core (awarded until 2016) ESW/KS Combined component |
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| Other qualifications | ||
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If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Applicants’ qualifications that are not listed will be considered on an individual basis. Recent relevant study to GCE A-level standard or above must have been completed within five years of the course intake date the applicant is applying for. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. In addition:
International candidates Those who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of at least 7.0 with no element below 6.5. If English is studied at GCSE Level but as a second language, IELTS must be completed to qualify for UK L2 requirement. |
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| Portfolio route | ||
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Portfolio Route for those holding Level 3 Diploma in Perioperative Support (QCF) You are required to have GCSE at Grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics (or Functional Skills English and Maths) and a science subject. (GCSE equivalents are accepted, e.g. Key Skills Level 2, Adult Numeracy, Adult Literacy). The recognition of prior learning and experience route recognises that your previous experience contributes towards entry to the Diploma in Higher Education and Bachelor of Science in Operating Department Practice and when combined with successful completion of your portfolio, may lead to you successfully gaining a place in the programme. In order to demonstrate your previous experience, you are required to complete a portfolio which complements your certificated learning, and demonstrates your ability to study in Higher Education. The portfolio will require:
Applicants holding the Level 3 Diploma in Perioperative Support will be invited to interview and if successful will then be asked to create the portfolio. Once completed, you will need to send it electronically to the admissions tutor who will then evaluate the work and make a judgement about its suitability for entry onto the Operating Department Practice programme. |
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Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: DipHE
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Our advice for applying to a health care course
Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Course in Depth
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
Taught in state-of-the-art facilities, including an operating theatre, at Birmingham City University we use a variety of teaching methods to help you get the most from your study, reflecting the subject matter and your individual needs.
And as we're one of the largest ODP centres in the UK, we can offer you the chance to experience everything from transplant surgery to specialist oncology to neurosurgery.
From structured lectures to personal use of our multimedia facilities, we'll teach you how to:
- Work as part of a team
- Understand how an ODP fits into the team and what they do
- Understand the role played by other professionals
- Manage your clinical workload
- Make informed decisions
- Communicate effectively
- Adapt to different practice settings
- Adopt effective reporting and recording strategies
You will study 120 credits each at Level 4 and 5 and there's a 60-40 split between blocks of study and clinical placement.
Course breakdown
Year One
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
A working knowledge and understanding of bioscience at the beginning of the programme is essential in providing the basis for future learning in clinical practice and providing holistic, patient centred care. The module will provide you with this essential knowledge and will encourage you to explore and develop your understanding. It will enable you to better apply clinical theory to your practice and to develop your skills as a practitioner.
This module focuses upon the basic principles and responsibilities that underpin professional practice for the student who is aiming for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It will introduce you to some of the fundamental principles that underpin care within the National Health Service (NHS).
This module provides you with an introduction to the role and responsibilities of the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) working in anaesthetics and post anaesthetic care and delivers essential knowledge required for working within a modern operating department, delivering safe and effective perioperative care.
This module will focus upon basic anaesthetic and post anaesthetic care techniques, equipment, monitoring and the importance of working within national standards and organisational guidelines to deliver high quality, evidence based holistic care. You will concentrate on patients undergoing elective procedures in conjunction with a registered practitioner.
Surgery is an essential component of health systems across the globe. This module provides you, a first year student Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) on the Diploma in Higher Education and BSc ODP programmes, to study the fundamental principles of surgical practice as part of the multidisciplinary team.
This module introduces you, a student Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), to the essential knowledge required for working in a modern operating department and delivering safe and effective perioperative care. The module focuses upon a holistic, patient centred approach that encourages students to become autonomous, dynamic, reflective and self-directed learners within the three perioperative phases of Anaesthetics, Surgery and Post-Anaesthetic Care.
Year Two
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
The application of physiology and pharmacology in clinical practice is fundamental in providing high quality patient centred care. Additionally, an understanding of the scientific principles that provide the basis of clinical monitoring and investigation are essential to the operating department practitioner.
This module encourages you to develop an understanding of evidence based practice and the relationship to wider influences on perioperative care. To be successful and to function safely as a student Operating Department Practitioner and post qualification, you need to know how to apply relevant information to your practice and academic work.
This module explains evidence-based practice (EBP) and its importance and relevance to your profession; with a clear understanding that if you practice an evidence-based approach, then you are set to give the best possible care for patients.
Considering the Programme Philosophy and Aims this module prepares you to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and subsequent employment on graduation. You will be encouraged to become a professionally aware, autonomous and reflective practitioner at the point of registration and it enhances your employability skills on qualification and beyond. It is designed to prepare you for the transition from student to Registered Operating Department Practitioner and develop skills to support your continuing professional development alongside the ability to manage yourself and others.
During the first year of the Dip He in Operating Department Practice you studied the basic principles of anaesthetics and post-anaesthetic care and established how your role fits with the other members of the multidisciplinary team. This module enables you to develop your role and practice as a second year student ODP; enabling you to deliver care to patients undergoing elective and non-elective cases. This will include patients with complex needs.
In your first year of the DipHE and BSc (Hons) ODP programme you studied the fundamental principles of surgical practice and identified the role of the scrub and circulating ODP as a member of the multidisciplinary team.
This module allows you to develop your role as a circulating and scrub ODP to a level capable of dealing with the scheduled, non-scheduled and complex nature of surgery. Using knowledge and skills you acquired in the first year and other second year modules such as the Applied Bioscience and Perioperative Care modules, you will critically examine how your role, the decisions you make as well as the role of others impacts upon the safe and effective care of the patient during the intraoperative stage of their perioperative journey.
Employability
Enhancing Employability Skills
To prepare students to meet the requirements for eligibility to apply for entry onto the Health and Care Professions Council register as Registered Operating Department Practitioners.
Combines theory with clinical placement to enhance awareness of different specialities in preparation for employment in operating theatre departments.
Develops transferable skills for working in a range of health care settings and recognising the need for life-long learning.
Placements
You will be required to travel for your clinical placements to engage in a broad range of specialities and practice areas. These placements will be with both NHS and independent health providers across the West Midlands.
It is important you appreciate that fees for accommodation and/or travel will require personal financial outlay; these may be reimbursable to some extent, the most up-to-date information can be found on the NHS Business Service Authority website Additionally there is no guarantee of a placement in a specific hospital or area.
Examples of real graduates and their roles
Previous graduates are now holding management posts within the NHS and private sector.
Alumni have senior educational posts in the NHS and as part of the course teaching team. This includes individuals who have published and presented at a national level.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested £340 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four to six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based. This is used for simulations of home visits and home births. It also houses soft matting and a bubble machine that are used by the Learning Disability Nursing team.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with fiv small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the West Midlands Imaging Academy hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Our staff
Louise Scott
Lecturer in Operating Department Practice
Louise's interest in health care started with the first aid training she acquired in the Navy, this interest was instrumental in her embarking on the ODP course in 2010. She has worked as an ODP for the last 12 years and recently moved to education. Louise's 12 years as an ODP has given her a wealth of knowledge and experience which she has...
More about Louise