Hear from current students
To find out more about what studying Operating Department Practice at BU is like, hear from current student James Ackroyd below.
“I thoroughly enjoy every minute as a student, whether that be in University or on placement. I enjoy the challenge of working alongside experts in their field and learning from them with the hope that I am setting myself up for a long and interesting career!
I had worked as an HCA in the operating theatres at Bournemouth hospital for two years and was fascinated by the world of the ODP (operating department practitioner). Luckily, my employers encourage advancement and when I mentioned that I was hoping to join BU they gave me all the support I needed. Bournemouth itself is an amazing city and the University has a fantastic reputation so choosing to remain here was an easy one.
The ODP course is superb, it’s quite a personalised course so the whole group has a great relationship with each other and the staff. It’s also mainly placement based so you really can learn your trade on the job, alongside this the staff are always accessible and will do anything in their power to help students.
The staff are all fully trained practitioners and so really know what it is like to work in theatres. They provide varied and dynamic academic sessions and are more then happy to receive student feedback and learn from this themselves. Students have huge input and the ODP course is constantly improving as a result of this. During my time there have only been 3 lecturers and they are all very friendly and approachable which makes the pressure of being a student so much easier to deal with.
Our course is heavily placement based, as students we spend a lot of time working in operating theatres learning the job as we go. In my personal opinion this is not only the most enjoyable, but also the most effective way of learning. It also allows us to socialise with the staff and is enhancing our job prospects when we qualify.
I’m an active person, I play football three times a week, I sail and when I can afford it I go skiing. Socialising is a massive part of the University lifestyle, the life skills learned here go hand in hand with academic skills in setting up the rest of your life and there is no place like Uni to do this!
I’m a student rep, a student ambassador and I’m hoping to be accepted onto the student development programme this year as well. They clubs and societies around BU are numerous and there really is something for everyone spread over both campus’.
There really isn’t much not to like about Bournemouth. It’s right on the beach, the night life is amazing – people come from all over the country to experience it. My friends certainly visit me a lot more now I’m down here! A lot of the social aspects centre around BU, there are always deals for students so that budget doesn’t really need to be stretched to have a good time.
I’m in my final year at BU now, and although I can’t wait to qualify and put the skills I’ve learned to use, I really will miss the student life. BU understands the importance of socialising, clubs and societies and how much they contribute to our experience as students. Academically, I can’t fault anything, there is so much support. Even away from the course there is always someone to talk to or go to for advice, from the askBU service, to reps of varying levels and the liaison officers dotted around both Talbot and Lansdowne. I really would recommend BU to anyone that wants not only to achieve a great qualification, but also wants to have a great time doing it.”
Jenny Edge tells us about her student expereince studying Operating Department Practice.
"The best aspect of my course is that it is very practice based which is supported by some academic work. When you qualify you are permanently in practice so it is a perfect combination to gain the correct skills. I have thoroughly enjoyed the theory part of my course. The tutors have all been fantastic and very supportive. It is a small team so you get to know them and vice versa very well. They are always easily contactable and very approachable.
Our work placements are very important to our course. Mine have all worked really well and been well organised. I feel I have experienced a range of settings and can see how my knowledge and skills have built up over the past year and a half."
