Why study Operating Department Practice at BU?

  • Preparing you for placement and beyond, our purpose-built facilities include an operating theatre simulation suite with highly accurate and life-like manikins
  • Get hands-on experience working in surgical theatres with multiple and varied practical work placements that make up around 50% of your time on the course 
  • Placements are diverse and career options are too: you could work in pre-assessment, intensive care, A&E, patient transfer teams and other more specialised areas of care.
  • This course has high employment rates and is approved by the HCPC, so you will be able to apply for registration as a qualified ODP once you finish the programme. After completing the course, 100% of students were in employment or further study. 
  • 100% of the academic team are registered ODPs still working clinically who are also HEA fellows or senior fellows.

Find out more about the content of this course

We also offer a BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice (Apprenticeship), however, to apply you must first have a suitable employer who can support your application.  BU can support you to encourage your employer to offer an apprenticeship.

Funding support: ODP students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year. Find out more information about the funding. Please note that this funding is not available for students on the Foundation Year, however you will be able to access it once you complete the foundation year and move onto the degree.

Approved by HCPC:

This three-year course is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) meaning that, upon successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible to apply to the Health & Care Professions Council for registration as an Operating Department Practitioner. Please note that the Foundation Year part of the course is not approved by the HCPC.

Key information

Next start date:

September 2025, September 2026

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus. Foundation Year: Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus.

Duration:

3 years, including mandatory placements or 4 years with the Foundation Year (1 year, followed by 3 years including mandatory placements)

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2025 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. Foundation Year: 48-72 UCAS tariff points. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2025 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 6.5 in speaking, listening and reading. For more information check out our international entry requirements.