Operating Department Practice BSc

This Operating Department Practice BSc (Hons) program at Northumbria University is a professionally focused degree designed to equip students with the technical and interpersonal skills required for a successful career in the perioperative environment. Based at the Coach Lane campus, the course provides access to an advanced Clinical Skills Centre. This purpose-built facility allows students to practice using authentic equipment, such as anaesthetic machines and operating tables, within a safe, simulated hospital setting before entering clinical placements.

The curriculum is delivered by a specialist team of experienced healthcare professionals and research-active academics. It integrates core perioperative disciplines—anaesthesia, surgery, and post-anaesthetic care—with evidence-based enquiry. Students benefit from a robust support network, including a personal tutor, practice supervisors during placements, and a "Learning Leaders" peer-mentoring system. Technology is embedded throughout, with resources accessible via the Blackboard Ultra platform and recorded lectures for flexible revision.

Graduates of this HCPC-approved course are eligible to apply for professional registration, opening diverse career paths in the NHS and private sectors. Beyond traditional operating theatres, opportunities exist in robotic surgery, critical care, maternity units, organ transplant teams, and research. This comprehensive training ensures that practitioners remain at the forefront of the profession, capable of delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient care in rapidly evolving healthcare settings.