Functional Skills Level 2 for Operating Department Practitioners: Degree and Apprenticeship Entry Requirements and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Operating department practitioners, often called ODPs, are the theatre professionals who look after patients before, during and after surgery. They support the anaesthetist, prepare the theatre, work alongside the surgical team and care for patients in recovery. It is a registered health profession, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience, for a typical week of 37 to 40 hours, often on shifts that include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

If you want to start an operating department practice degree in 2027, now is the time to act. The UCAS deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027, about ten weeks from today. Course pages ask for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide explains which ODP degrees and apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2, which ones you should check first, the funding you can claim, and how to get qualified in time to apply.

What does an operating department practitioner do?

The National Careers Service lists tasks such as:

• ✓ supporting patients through anaesthesia, surgery and recovery, and reassuring anxious patients
• ✓ preparing the operating theatre, including drugs and equipment
• ✓ passing clean instruments and swabs to the surgical team
• ✓ monitoring patients’ data readings and responding to emergencies
• ✓ assessing patients before they return to a ward

You could work in NHS or private hospitals. To practise in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means completing an HCPC approved operating department practice qualification first.

Two main ways to become an ODP

An operating department practice degree

Most ODPs qualify through a three year BSc approved by the HCPC. The National Careers Service says you will usually need two to three A levels, or equivalent, for a degree. Many adults and career changers apply with an Access to Higher Education Diploma instead. Teesside University, for example, lists a typical offer of 96 to 112 UCAS points and accepts a QAA recognised Access course.

An ODP degree apprenticeship

The Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship lets you qualify while you work, often as a theatre support worker or healthcare assistant. You need an NHS trust or other employer to take you on and support you. The National Careers Service says you will usually need four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent. It adds that an apprenticeship usually takes four years, although each of the three programmes listed below runs for three years.

Which ODP degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Here is what current course pages say:

• ✓ Teesside University, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice Studies, 2026 to 2027 entry: asks for at least two GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English language and maths, and says Functional Skills Level 2 can be accepted in place of these GCSEs. Teesside also says GCSEs are not needed if you are on an Access course, and that Level 2 Access units in communication and maths can replace them.
• ✓ University of Northampton, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice, September 2027 entry: asks for English language and maths GCSE, or the equivalent, at grade C/4 or above, and lists Functional Skills Level 2 as a common equivalent. You must have it before the course starts. The page notes the course is subject to validation and accreditation.

Courses to check before you apply

Some course pages do not name Functional Skills at all, so ask before you rely on it:

• ✓ University of West London, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice: asks for GCSE English and maths at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) “or Level 2 equivalents” but does not say whether that includes Functional Skills.
• ✓ Sheffield Hallam University, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice, 2027 entry: lists Level 2 Key Skills and Level 2 Literacy as equivalents but does not mention Functional Skills.

If a page is unclear, email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Operating Department Practice?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both.

Which ODP apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2?

If you already work in a hospital, an apprenticeship can be the fastest route because you earn while you study. These programmes name Functional Skills on their course pages:

• ✓ University of East Anglia, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship, February 2027 start: asks for GCSE English and maths at grade C/4 or above “or Functional Skills Level 2”. You must be employed on a full time contract, and the course takes three years.
• ✓ University of Staffordshire, Operating Department Practitioner (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship, Level 6: asks for Level 2 maths and English “(GCSE, functional skills or equivalent)”, or Level 2 ability shown through the university’s own initial assessment. You must already be employed in a suitable role, typically 30 hours a week, and the course takes three years with a September start.
• ✓ University of Bolton, BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice Degree Apprenticeship: asks for GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above or an equivalent “such as Functional Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy”. You must be employed for at least 30 hours a week, and your employer must release you for at least six hours a week of off the job training.

Employers can set their own requirements on top of the university’s, so check the job advert as well as the course page.

Funding for ODP students

In England, operating department practice is one of the allied health courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Eligible students can receive a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, which does not need to be paid back. There is also Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if you have parental responsibility for a child and meet the rules.

One thing to know: operating department practice is not on the list for the extra £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment. That payment goes to courses such as radiography, podiatry and orthoptics. If you are still choosing between health careers, our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 for radiography covers a course that does qualify. Check the NHSBSA guidance for full eligibility.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. Universities and employers that accept Functional Skills mean the Ofqual regulated Functional Skills Level 2 qualification, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your ten week plan to the UCAS deadline

Here is a realistic timeline from Thursday 5th November:

1. This week: shortlist three to five ODP degrees or apprenticeships and note exactly what each asks for in English and maths. Take the free pass quiz.
2. By mid November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps. If you work in a hospital, ask your theatre manager whether your trust supports ODP apprentices.
3. Late November to early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. December: receive your certificate, finish your personal statement and add your qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other health careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for physiotherapy.

Functional Skills Level 2 for operating department practice: frequently asked questions

Can I become an operating department practitioner with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

Often, yes, for English and maths. Teesside and Northampton list Functional Skills Level 2 as an accepted equivalent for their ODP degrees, and UEA, Staffordshire and Bolton accept it for their degree apprenticeships. You will still need A levels, an Access course or another Level 3 qualification for a degree.

Do all ODP degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Not every course page says so. Some, such as the University of West London and Sheffield Hallam, ask for “equivalents” without naming Functional Skills. Email admissions to check before you apply.

Can I do an ODP degree apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Yes, on many programmes. UEA, Staffordshire and Bolton all name Functional Skills Level 2 on their apprenticeship pages. You also need an employer, and employers can set their own requirements.

How long does it take to qualify as an ODP?

A full time degree takes three years. The National Careers Service says a degree apprenticeship usually takes four years, although the UEA, Staffordshire and Bolton programmes are listed as three years.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 ODP courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Is there funding for ODP students?

Yes. In England, eligible operating department practice students can claim the NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, plus £2,000 Parental Support if eligible. ODP is not on the £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment list.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your ODP application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.