Operating Department Practice Studies BSc (Hons)

Course overview

Accredited

You can expect to work within the whole of the perioperative environment across a variety of surgical specialities assisting anaesthetists and surgeons alongside the wider multidisciplinary team.

Our patient-centred course equips you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to ensure that you can fully contribute to healthcare delivery in a dynamic and fast-moving surgical environment. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

You gain early exposure to practice and gain experience across a variety of specialist areas including general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ear, nose and throat, obstetric surgery, anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care. Over 50% of the course is within operating theatres and placements throughout the North East with supervised practice alongside experienced clinical staff and previous Teesside ODPs. You follow various shift patterns including nights and weekends to gain the maximum learning experience. You develop the essential skills and knowledge supported by evidence-based learning in the University with lectures, seminars and practical activities in our excellent clinical skills labs and simulated operating theatre. Your learning is underpinned and enhanced by the academic team’s decades of collective experience in theatre settings.

All new and continuing eligible students on this course will receive a £5,000 learning support fund each year, which is non-repayable. Eligible students can also apply for reimbursement of essential expenses for travel and accommodation to attend practice placements.

Top 5 reasons to study this course

• Our bespoke simulation suite gives you realistic training experience
• Varied and specialised training in surgical and anaesthetic roles give you valuable learning experience
• You gain leadership and management skills and experience
• High employability for ODPs, with varied career opportunities, includes leadership and management roles, in theatres with specialities
• Postgraduate opportunities to develop advanced roles and surgical care practitioner skills alongside surgeons

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Supporting information for applicants

Our School feedback policy (word - 278kb)
Our School reference policy (word - 276kb)

Course details

In the early part of the course you gain the relevant foundational knowledge and skills needed to work within the perioperative environment. You will gain an understanding of perioperative pharmacology, relevant anatomy and physiology, infection control and the legal and ethical concepts surrounding theatre care. Throughout the course, there will be a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice, clinical decision making and continuing professional development.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You are expected to have:

• a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language and maths. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number can be accepted in place of English and maths GCSE. Please note these are not required if you are doing an Access course – however, you must have English and maths as listed below.*

Plus any of the following qualifications:

GCE and VCE Advanced Level
96-112 points from two or three A levels.

AS Level
One AS level can be accepted when combined with two or three A levels to meet the 96 points required.

Access course
96-112 UCAS points from a QAA-recognised course (any combination)
*We can accept level 2 Access units in communication and maths in place of English and maths GCSEs.

BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
96-112 points (MMM).

CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
96-112 points (C) in health and social care.

Foundation degree
A pass in any subject.

Irish Leaving Certificate
96-112 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects.

NVQ
Level 3 plus 40 credits at level 4 in any subject.

Open University
60 credits at Level 4 with the Open University, or a CertHE pass in any subject.

Scottish Highers
111 points from four or five Highers.

Advanced Scottish Highers
96-112 points from three Advanced Highers.

For further detailed entry requirements for this course please visit www.ucas.com

• The selection process includes shortlisting of your application, following which, if successful, you will be invited for an interview.

Shortlisting criteria
Your application will be measured against the following criteria:

• Your ability to complete all sections of the application form fully and correctly
• The level of all qualifications and grades are specified
• Appropriate academic entry requirements achieved or predicted
• Personal statement supportive of chosen course and demonstrates an understanding of the uniqueness of the profession and the role of the professional
• A satisfactory reference

If you are invited to interview and the date is not suitable we may not be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course - but it is important that you contact the Admissions Office immediately.

Interview criteria
At the interview you will be measured against the following criteria which is mapped against the NHS Constitutional Values (DH, 2013): NHS Constitution

• Knowledge of chosen profession/career
• an appreciation of the demands of the course and chosen profession
• enthusiasm for the course/profession
• ability to communicate effectively both verbally and non verbally

If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive a conditional offer which is subject to the following:

1. Evidence of achievement of any required academic qualifications
2. A successful work based risk assessment which will reflect the HEOPS recommendations - please read these here. For more information on all of the HEOPS standards click here
3. An enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
4. A satisfactory reference

• International applicants must have IELTS 7.0 with a minimal score of 6.5 in all sections or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100/120 (in conjunction with a Teesside University English language test)* before an unconditional offer is made
• If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
• If you can not attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.

*Students holding TOEFL qualifications at the required grade will be able to combine the qualification with a Teesside University English language test to meet the English language requirement. The English language test will assess listening and speaking competency.

For international enquiries please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country

You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

Employability

Career opportunities

A qualified ODP is trained in all areas of theatre work and can specialise in surgery, anaesthetics or post-anaesthetic care. New areas of practice are also opening up to the ODP such as accident and emergency, intensive care units and specialist theatres. Career opportunities exist within NHS hospital trusts and private hospitals, primary care trust clinics and the armed forces.

You can progress to postgraduate study to develop to an advanced role and surgical care practitioner skills alongside surgeons. You can also develop your role through teaching, or pursue theatre management roles.

Information for international applicants