Operating Department Practice

Our BSc Operating Department Practice (ODP) prepares you for a rewarding career in an essential clinical profession.

Operating Department Practitioners provide skilled and holistic care to support surgical patients at all stages of surgery, from anaesthetics, scrub, and recovery. Operating Department Practitioners also play a critical role in a hospital’s ability to carry out surgery, working as part of the surgical team and as a link to other teams and departments within the hospital.

Studying Operating Department Practice at Swansea University will equip you with the life-long skills and experience needed to succeed in this varied role, encompassing perioperative care, teamwork and attention to detail.

Over the course of this three-year, full-time programme you will gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of contemporary Operating Department Practice, with a commitment to delivering safe and effective care to the perioperative patient.

Operating Department Practice at Swansea follows a spiral design based on the four “Pillars of Practice”:


• Clinical Practice



• Facilitation of Learning



• Leadership



• Evidence, Research and Development



Our approach will help you develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and understanding required to be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to become a registered Operating Department Practitioner upon completion of the course.

Our Operating Department Practice programme has been designed to maximise your time in university and clinical practice, providing a combination of academic, practical and clinical skills that enrich your learning experience and ensure you become a safe, autonomous and reflective Operating Department Practitioner.

You will be taught by qualified Operating Department Practitioners and experienced healthcare professionals, including nurses and clinical specialists, who bring together academic rigour, professional insight and up to date expertise in perioperative care.

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)

Kickstart a bright future at Swansea University.

With around 300,000 residents, Swansea isn’t the biggest city this side of the Severn, but she’s got a big personality with a cost of living that’s refreshingly affordable compared to most other UK cities. Whether you like to explore the outdoors, take in a bit of culture, or anything in between, Swansea has something for everyone.

As a student at Swansea University, you'll benefit from a friendly, inclusive community and opportunities to gain skills that last a lifetime. Alongside first-class resources that include a mock court room, indoor athletics centre & virtual reality lab, you'll learn from leading academics, in a supportive and nurturing environment.

With 120 societies, 50 sports clubs and 12 months of must-see events, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy between lectures.

Whoever you are and whoever you want to be, you'll find yourself right at home in Swansea.