Operating Department Practice, BSc (Hons)

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Key Course Details

UCAS Code: B991
Mode of Study: Blended Study
Typical Offer (view equivalents): BCC
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	NHS

Tuition fees covered

If you can commit to working in Wales for two years

Course Overview

Our Operating Department Practice (ODP) course will give you the skills and experience to launch a rewarding career in this essential profession. It is a varied role, encompassing patient care, teamwork, and attention to detail.

ODPs provide skilled and holistic care and support to patients at all stages of an operation, from anaesthetics, throughout surgery, and into recovery. They play a critical role in the hospital’s ability to carry out surgery as they also work as part of the surgery team and link this team to other teams and departments in the hospital. They provide a vital role in managing the preparation of operating theatres, such as preparing drugs, instruments, devices and equipment for anaesthesia and surgery, including microscopes, endoscopes, and lasers. During operations they are responsible for providing instruments and materials to the surgeon.

The course follows a spiral design based on four 'Pillars of Practice' to help you develop the knowledge, skills, understanding, and confidence required to be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to become a registered Operating Department Practitioner:

Clinical Practice (anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care)
Facilitation of Learning (of self and others)
Leadership
Evidence, Research, and Development

Why Operating Department Practice at Swansea?

We draw together the disciplines of health, nursing, midwifery and social care to offer a wide range of courses that make a difference to people's lives and society as a whole. Our students tell us that our enthusiasm and passion motivates and inspires them to work hard, think differently and succeed.

Our academic staff are qualified nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight, and practical expertise.

If you can commit to working in Wales for two years after graduating, you could get your tuition fees covered in full through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, as well as maintenance funding and a reduced rate loan from Student Finance.

Health Professions at Swansea University is ranked 1st Overall in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025)

Please see our NHS Funding webpage to check your eligibility for funding before applying.

Your Operating Department Practice Experience

Our excellent facilities in the School of Health and Social Care include realistic clinical suites - including a simulated operating theatre - so you can learn practical perioperative skills in a safe, supervised environment before using them in a real-life situation. You will also have access to realistic workplace experiences across Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay University Health Boards.

Half of your course will be taught at our Singleton Park campus on the edge of the beautiful Gower Peninsula and the other half will take place in key clinical placements within the NHS.

Operating Department Practitioner Careers

Successful completion of the course will allow you to apply for registration with the Heath and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and gain employment as an Operating Department Practitioner. You can expect a starting salary of £28,407 rising to £42,618 for an experienced Operating Department Practitioner.

There are many opportunities to specialise, for example in management, education, research and advanced practice.

Modules

Modules are structured around the four pillars, which vary in their amount of coverage from year to year.

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Foundations of Academic and Professional Learning in Operating Department Practice	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD101
Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice for Perioperative Care	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD102
Essential Biosciences for Perioperative Practice	January-June (TB2)	20	SHD103
Becoming an Allied Health Professional (AHP): Operating Department Practice	January-June (TB2)	20	SHD104

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select one of the following options.

Core Modules with Welsh Language Option
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Perioperative Clinical Skills Year 1	Academic Year	40	SHD100
Sgiliau Clinigol Amdriniaethol Blwyddyn 1	Academic Year	40	SHD100W

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Leadership Skills for the Operating Department Practitioner	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD201
Application of Evidence-Based Practice for Perioperative Care	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD204
Pharmacology for Perioperative Practice	January-June (TB2)	20	SHD202
Diversifying Perioperative Care Delivery	January-June (TB2)	20	SHD203

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select one of the following optional modules.

Core Modules with Welsh Language Option
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Perioperative Clinical Skills Year 2	Academic Year	40	SHD200
Sgiliau Clinigol Amdriniaethol Blwyddyn 2	Academic Year	40	SHD200W

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Facilitation of Learning and Teaching in Operating Department Practice	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD301
Advancing Leadership and Management for the Operating Department Practitioner	September-January (TB1)	20	SHD302
Independent Research for Operating Department Practice	September-June (TB1+2)	40	SHD303

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select one of the following optional modules.

Core Modules with Welsh Language Option
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Perioperative Clinical Skills Year 3	Academic Year	40	SHD300
Sgiliau Clinigol Amdriniaethol Blwyddyn 3	Academic Year	40	SHD300W

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical A level Offer

BCC

A-Level: Minimum BCC. Health or science-related courses are desirable.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: Minimum of 24 Distinctions, 6 Merits, 15 Passes or other combination to provide 102-106 UCAS points

BTEC: DMM

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales: Grade C and BC at A level or DM at BTEC

IELTS: Level 7 with no component less that 6.5 (For applicants who have gained their entry qualifications outside the UK)

GCSE: A minimum of five GCSEs at A-C grade, these must include Welsh/English Language, Mathematics and a Physical Science or Double Award Science.

For non-standard applicants: It is recognised that individuals without formal qualifications may have relevant experience and knowledge. Applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Any offer of a place will also require:

A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applications from potential learners who have a criminal conviction will be considered on an individual basis with reference to the most current HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. We have an established mechanism for dealing with such situations through Fitness to Practise processes. Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check.
An Occupational Health assessment confirming that applicants are fit to undertake the programme.
Learners also need to meet Department of Health Guidelines (March 2007) ‘Health clearance for, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV: New healthcare workers’.

All applicants will need a satisfactory educational reference.

Applicants who meet the entry requirements and selection criteria will be invited to interview, which may take place in person or via telephone/video call. Our Interview Tips explain more about what to expect.

If you are successful at interview, any offer of a place will be conditional upon a satisfactory DBS/police check or equivalent from your home country as well as an occupational health declaration and assessment prior to starting your studies. Further details will be provided if you receive an offer.

Any concerns arising from these may be considered at the School of Health and Social Care’s Professional Suitability and Fitness to Practise Panel and may result in admission to the programme being withdrawn.

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

You can expect a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions - including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.
Online resources on the university’s virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present) will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Professional Body Accreditation

This programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.

Meet Your Lecturers

The teaching team consists of highly qualified perioperative lecturers alongside other specialist lecturers who have been delivering clinical programmes for many years.

The team’s experience of delivering perioperative care within the operating theatre and beyond provides learners with an excellent resource to develop an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice.

The team are experts in their field and are committed to the enhancement of perioperative care at local and national level through involvement with national associations, journal publication and information sharing in the wider healthcare environment.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2024	NHS	N/A
September 2025	NHS	N/A

Fees for full time undergraduate UK students may increase in subsequent years of study in line with the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Please see our NHS Funding webpage to check your eligibility for funding before applying.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants will be invited to interview and interviews for this course take place via Zoom. Check out our Interview Tips for more information on what to expect

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

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