York St John University announces the UK’s first MSc in Operating Department Practice to expand routes into specialist healthcare workforce
This pioneering pre-registration programme, developed according to the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) curriculum, will bring a different dimension to the profession.
Designed to nurture a passion for patient-centred care, the MSc prepares students for the fast-moving environments of operating theatres and the broader healthcare settings. Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) are highly skilled Allied Health Professionals and are a vital workforce in the NHS.
On completion of the course, students will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and take their first steps in a career at the frontline of modern healthcare.
York St John University has invested in a cutting-edge operating theatre suite that will be fundamental in supporting students to prepare for clinical placements in the local region.
This facility will allow students to practice skills and techniques in a safe learning space, simulating every stage of perioperative care, from pre-assessment, anaesthesia and surgery to recovery and critical care. Equipped with the latest technology, the space will ensure students are trained in current techniques with capacity to simulate emergency, pandemic, and multi-profession scenarios.
The open-plan layout is designed to maximise interprofessional learning and foster high standards of communication skills between student professional groups, including nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy.
The University has worked with local healthcare providers to ensure that students will meet the evolving needs of perioperative patients, working closely with the academic programme team to develop a curriculum for safe and competent graduates.
Helen Lloyd, Head of Programme for Operating Department Practice, School of Science, Technology & Health said: “This is an exciting step forward for our profession and recognises a recent report of the ODP workforce for additional routes into Operating Department Practice.
“Not only will students from York St John University complement the existing workforce, but with a distinct focus on conducting research in perioperative practice, the MSc will support the growth of ODP-led research in healthcare.”
The 2-year programme will commence in September 2025 and is open to anyone with a 2:1 degree in a related subject.
To find out more, and chat to the programme team, our next postgraduate open day is Saturday 29 March 2025, 11:00am to 2:00pm. You can book a place here.
Read more about York St John University’s Operating Department Practice (Pre-registration) MSc programme.