Curious about studying Operating Department Practice with Foundation Year - BScat Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science - BSc
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Oct 2026
4 Year
This course includes a Foundation Year, so it is a 4-year course. The additional Foundation Year will allow you to develop your skills and build confidence in your academic abilities, identifying your strengths and weaknesses so you can progress onto the undergraduate course.Our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice course prepares you to become an essential part of the surgical team, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, and other healthcare professionals in high-pressure, life-saving environments.Learn from experienced Practitioners with a wealth of experience. Using cutting-edge simulation facilities, you’ll build the clinical knowledge, technical skills, and confidence needed to excel in the operating theatre. You'll complete a series of placements across anaesthetics, surgery (scrub), and post-anaesthetic care, giving you invaluable real-world experience and a strong foundation for your career.This degree is accredited by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), meaning upon successful graduation you can apply for registration as a qualified Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).
Why study BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice at BNU?Support at every stageDuring placements, you’ll have access to a BNU link lecturer, an NHS practice educator, a range of registered senior assessors, and additional registered supervisors to support you every step of the way. In the classroom, you’ll benefit from personalised one-on-one support from your tutors and the wider team.
Cutting-edge FacilitiesWe've invested in some of the best equipment for our students to practice their skills; we have an ultra-modern operating theatre for simulated practice, anaesthetic room, recovery area and related clinical environments with the latest high-fidelity simulation models. During this time, you will be immersed in a wide range of medical equipment that is identical to those seen within the clinical environment including: anaesthetic machines, surgical equipment, diathermy, cell salvage, laparoscopic simulator, operating table and fibreoptic scopes.
What will I study?This is a fast-paced, challenging role and at BNU we know how essential preparation is. That's why we designed our Operating Department Practice degree to equip you with all the skills you need to start out on this exciting career path. Throughout this course you will be able to gain experience as well as knowledge of the research behind perioperative care delivery. Our degree will help you gain what's needed to develop into a qualified practitioner and clinical placements will be undertaken throughout the course.- Learn to provide high quality, individualised care for patients throughout their perioperative journey and beyond- Work alongside other professionals in multi-disciplinary teams such as nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and health care support workers- Cover all three phases of the acute care environment- Demonstrate high standards in relation to professionalism, advocacy and decision making- Demonstrate a high level of knowledge & skill with equipment related to this specialist area- Prioritise patient care and safety in your work- Our lecturers maintain close links with practice, ensuring that your course is always kept up-to-date and the skills you learn reflect the current standards of employers. Alongside your studies, you will take part in a range of clinical placements with our NHS partner hospitals. We work with a range of hospitals across the region and our students are highly respected while out in practice. We consistently see a high rate of employability after completing the course. Many graduates are employed by the trust that they worked in while at university.In addition to your degree, you are given the opportunity to achieve additional clinical qualifications. This includes the Immediate Life Support award, which is delivered at the University prior to completion of your studies.
Foundation Year
The module covers fundamental academic skills. You’ll engage in interactive sessions that emphasise academic writing, research techniques, and the ability to evaluate relevant literature. Practical exercises will enhance numerical literacy, a skill integral to understanding health and social care-related data.
Foundation Year
The course covers self-awareness, goal setting, and resilience. There’s a strong focus on teamwork and collaboration within appropriate care settings. Practical scenarios and group projects facilitate the development of effective communication, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
Foundation Year
This is designed to prepare you to communicate effectively as health & social care professionals. We’ll consider anti-discriminatory language, conflict resolution and communicating with patients, service users and people with lived experience who are disengaged. Models in relation to verbal, non-verbal and written communication will be covered.
Foundation Year
This module emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice in delivering high-quality care. You’ll learn principles of evidence-based care and develop the ability to identify and to appraise reliable literature. Ethical considerations, inherent in the utilisation of evidence within health and social care settings, are also explored.
Foundation Year
Building upon previously acquired academic skills and taught sessions during the module, you’ll work in discipline specific action learning sets to complete a project. You’ll need to collaborate to investigate, understand and analyse issues arising from a discipline-specific person-centred scenario.
Foundation Year
You’ll explore ethical theories and principles, examining their practical application in real-world scenarios across different care disciplines and their impact on patient/client care. You’ll gain an awareness of the moral responsibilities inherent in professional practice care, considering the diverse ethical challenges that may arise.
Our module aims to develop key academic and professional skills to support your development of academic literacy and writing skills; alongside this you will complete the mandatory requirements needed in your preparation for clinical placement.
This module enables you to gain an understanding and develop knowledge relating to risk management within the perioperative environment. This module aims to introduce key themes and knowledge to support the link of risk management concepts through to their practical application.
The aim of this module is to introduce the principles of anatomy and physiology to you, and to provide the opportunity to integrate these theoretical concepts into the clinical environment.
This module enables you to gain an understanding of the perioperative environment while applying the theory to practice and developing essential skills within the clinical setting. The module demonstrates evidence-based practice while under the supervision and support of mentors and link lecturers.
This module aims to introduce academic skills which are needed to develop as an Operating Department Practitioner within the perioperative environment. The concept of reflection on and in action will allow you to grow both personally and professionally, enabling you to promote best practice in the fundamentals of care.
This module builds upon your previous knowledge and enables you to gain a greater understanding of the perioperative environment while applying theory to practice and developing essential skills. The module facilities the demonstration of evidence-based practice whilst under the supervision and support of mentors and link lecturers.
This module enables you to gain an understanding and develop knowledge relating to the care of the surgical patient throughout their perioperative journey. This module aims to introduce key themes and underpinning knowledge to support linking theoretical concepts to practical application.
This module enables you to apply theory to practice, by exploring how concepts of anatomy and physiology can apply to the clinical setting. Skills in arterial blood gas interpretation will be developed within this module.
You will be able to evaluate the impact that pathophysiology can have upon homeostasis and how variation in anatomy and physiology can impact operating theatre practice; promoting individualised patient care.
This module enables you to develop the fundamental skills to enhance the journey towards independent practice. The integration of theory and clinical skills to the advancing perioperative environment will underpin this module and foster the development of autonomous practice.
This module builds upon prior learning and expands your specialist knowledge in perioperative care delivery. You will explore current legislation, national guidance and policy that informs practice, enhance your knowledge of the principles of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drugs and reflect on autonomous practice.
The aim of the module is to provide you with an introduction to research methods and the skills necessary for planning and conducting research and enquiry within a field of study, discipline or professional context.
This module enables you to develop upon prior learning; and continue to enhance skills required to apply theory to practice. Your practical skills will continue to grow throughout this module, with increased exposure to varied specialities within the perioperative environment. The module facilities the demonstration of evidence-based practice.
This module will begin to develop your knowledge of contemporary leadership and management in both the perioperative and wider healthcare environment. Learners will explore healthcare organisations in terms of their function as well as the cultures, climates and professional standards that exist within them.
This module will give you a thorough understanding of the fundamental topics needed to manage projects within a complex and ever-changing environment. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of project management and gain the essential skills necessary to plan, monitor, control and deliver successful projects.
This module will begin to develop your knowledge of coaching and supervision in healthcare. This will include exploration of a wide range of strategies to promote effective coaching and the importance of supervision and coaching in the clinical setting.
This module enables you to assemble a collection of work that documents your experience, academic growth and achievements throughout the duration of the course. The eportfolio will continue to offer you opportunities to showcase your journey and provide explicit examples that define how you have met the HCPC Standards of Proficiency.
This module enables you to collate prior learning and manage the skills required for the application of theory to practice. Your practical skills will continue to grow throughout this module with a transition to autonomous practice in varied specialities within the perioperative environment and associated areas.
This module will develop your knowledge in the management of deteriorating patients within the perioperative environment. This will include exploration of professional, ethical and legal requirements associated with the management of deteriorating patients.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
