This is a story with a happy ending about a young man who wanted to be an engineer. His heart told him he should go on to third level but his Leaving Cert results were not enough to secure him a place. "I had wanted to do engineering but I didn't get the points, I didn't do honours maths and that was a prerequisite," says Stephan Clancy, of Ayrfield in north Dublin.

Having successfully completed a preliminary engineering course at Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock he was offered a place at DIT Bolton Street last year. He is currently in first year studying for the degree course in engineering there.

"I was working in a print factory when I heard about the pre-lim course at Colaiste Dhulaigh," says Clancy. "I was two years out of school, but Colaiste Dhulaigh opened an opportunity to me that I didn't have. I was delighted with the course." And so it goes.

This preliminary engineering course at PLC level is giving students another chance to get onto a DIT Bolton Street degree programme. It's not always easy to reach third level first time around but for students who have missed the boat in the points race for one reason or another, an alternative route is open to them.

The course lasts a year. Students study physics, maths, mechanics, chemistry, engineering, technical drawing and computer aided design (CAD). Progress reports on each student are sent throughout the year to Bolton Street. The students also visit the department of engineering in Bolton Street in the spring for a tour of the building and to talk to lecturers and degree students. Throughout, the course is closely monitored by Bolton Street DIT external examiners.

Lynda Mullan, course co-ordinator, explains that all the final exams in May must be passed in one sitting, although repeat exams are available in the autumn. Those who pass their exams with 40 per cent in May and achieve an overall average of 50 per cent are automatically accepted onto the first year of the engineering degree course in Bolton Street.

Those who sucessfully repeat exams in the autumn may be eligible for entry into the second year of a technician's course leading to an engineering diploma in Bolton Street. The course has no tuition fee but there is a fee of about £145 for equipment and exam fees etc. Students study subjects which are basically in the same league as higher-level physics, chemistry, maths and applied maths.

A variety of reasons combine to attract students to Colaiste Dhulaigh or to Ballyfermot Senior College, which also runs the Bolton Street DIT preliminary engineering course. DIT Bolton Street runs its own preliminary engineering course.

"You get students who might have failed higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert or they might have messed up their CAO form," Mullan explains. Or, she adds, some students may not have studied any or some of the science subjects for the Leaving Cert.

The Colaiste Dhulaigh course is "in the main for people who haven't got the points - this would be another pathway for them," explains James Martin, head of public relations at the college. A key requirement for admission is a B in ordinary-level maths. "Students do need at least a B in pass maths to be able to cope with the higher echelons of this course," he says. "If you don't have that level of maths, the bridges will fall down. It's one of the filter factors. Higher than B in orindary level is an indication that you will be more than able to cope."

Neil Gillespie, assistant head of the department of technical engineering at DIT Bolton Street, points out that the purpose of the course is to give students a second chance. Both Colaiste Dhulaigh and Ballyfermot Senior College have a long established and long-standing arrangement with DIT Bolton Street. "The students who pass the course in either college are automatically offered a place in first-year engineering in DIT," he says.

Each year 24 places are made available to students. However, this number is not always filled - there are vacant places on the current course. T J Foley, head of technology, design and leisure at Colaiste Dhulaigh, says that in order to maintain a certain standard "we are quite selective."

About 85 per cent of students on the course are from the Dublin area or from Meath, Louth and Kildare.

For information phone Colaiste Dhulaigh at (01) 847 4399, Ballyfermot Senior College at (01) 626 9421 or Bolton Street DIT at (01) 402 3000.