What are the criteria for entry onto the Preliminary Engineering PLC course?
- Our minimum entry requirement is an O3 or H6 in Leaving Certificate Maths, or similar. Evidence in the form of certification or results sheets will need to be checked before registration on the course can occur.
- Mature students will be assessed on an individual basis, depending on circumstances.
What university courses will be accessible to me after a year studying Preliminary Engineering?
As one of the few PLC courses in the country currently offering the ‘Maths for STEM’ module, Preliminary Engineering is well placed to offer students the opportunity to progress to Level 8 courses in the following universities:
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD): TR032, Engineering (Common Entry)
- TU Dublin (City Centre Campus): TU805, Engineering (General Entry)
- Dublin City University (DCU):
• DC200, Common Entry into Engineering (Undenominated Entry)
• DC190, Electronic and Computer Engineering
• DC193, Mechatronic Engineering
• DC194, Mechanical and Sustainability Engineering
• DC195, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• DC197, Biomedical Engineering
• DC189, Global Challenges
• DC123, Data Science
• DC127, Common Entry into Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
I am interested in becoming an engineer, but my preference is for a different university course than the ones mentioned above. Should I apply for Preliminary Engineering?
As things stand, the above courses are the only ones that require completion of the ‘Maths for STEM’ module for access. Other courses can also be accessed via Preliminary Engineering (the full list of university courses can be found on Careers Portal here), but each of these courses can also be accessed by completing FET College Dhúlaigh’s other Engineering PLC course, Engineering Technology.
I have achieved the minimum entry requirement in Maths for Preliminary Engineering. Does that guarantee that I will be of the required standard to complete the Preliminary Engineering PLC course?
Not necessarily. After four weeks of preparatory classes, our students sit an online exam in early October to determine their ability in the key areas of Number and Algebra:
- Those who are successful in this exam will continue in Preliminary Engineering with the aim of progressing into the specific Level 8 courses listed above.
- Those who are not successful will be redirected to FET College Dhúlaigh’s other Engineering PLC course, Engineering Technology. From here, students can access a variety of other Engineering courses at Higher Education level, listed on Careers Portal here.
The course I want to progress onto can be accessed through both Preliminary Engineering and Engineering Technology. How do I decide which one to apply for?
Engineering Technology is a less theoretical course, with more hands-on modules, project work, and a maths module that is less challenging both in terms of course content and class time (three hours per week versus six in ‘Maths for STEM’).
Central to any student’s plan with regard to progression should be their ability to achieve good grades in their chosen course. CAO offers for FE applicants are made on much the same basis as with the Leaving Certificate – an eligible applicant with, say, six distinctions and two merits on their QQI L5 Certificate will be offered a place before another eligible applicant with four distinctions and four merits, even if they’ve studied on completely different courses.
It has traditionally been easier for students to achieve better result profiles on Engineering Technology than Preliminary Engineering. On Preliminary Engineering, students are required to commit to modules that have been considered more academically challenging (six hours of Maths per week and three hours each of Applied Maths, Chemistry, and Physics).
Do I just need to achieve my full QQI Level 5 award (i.e. pass all modules) in Preliminary Engineering to gain access to the Level 8 courses mentioned above?
No. These courses also have additional entry criteria based on your results, as follows:
- TR032 (TCD) – A merit or better in ‘Maths for STEM’, and distinctions in four modules (excluding ‘Work Experience’) which must include a distinction in ‘Physics’ or ‘Chemistry’.
- TU805 (TU Dublin) – A merit or better in ‘Maths for STEM’ and five distinctions elsewhere.
- DCU courses – A distinction in Maths for STEM and four further distinctions.
If I meet these entry criteria, am I guaranteed a place on these courses?
Not necessarily. These courses have a quota of students they will accept via the QQI route in any given year. These quotas are, at time of writing:
- TR032 (TCD) – 5 students.
- TU805 (TU Dublin) – 10 students.
- DCU courses – typically 10% of any given course’s intake (check DCU’s website for exact details).
If more students than the quota achieve the entry criteria, the places on each course will be awarded to those with the best results profile.
I’m interested in Preliminary Engineering and would like to progress onto one of the courses mentioned, but the entry criteria and university place quotas worry me. How likely is it that I will get my place in the course I want?
Although the total number being accepted onto these courses (5 for TCD, 10 for TU Dublin, 10% for DCU) sound small, and no guarantees about places can be made, it is important to remember that the number of PLC courses in the country is currently offering ‘Maths for STEM’ is small.
At time of writing, no other PLC course delivering ‘Maths for STEM’ as part of an Engineering certification is also delivering ‘Physics’ or ‘Chemistry’, meaning that PLC students in other colleges are not eligible for entry to TR032 using their QQI Level 5 results in the way FET College Dhúlaigh’s are.
If I complete the Preliminary Engineering course and fail to achieve my place in one of the university courses outlined (because of the entry criteria or place quotas), will I be left with nothing?
No. As long as you achieve your QQI award (i.e. pass all modules), you will still be entitled to apply for any one of the other courses at third level listed on Careers Portal here.
I’m a little unsure of my own ability to complete the Preliminary Engineering course. If I decide soon after starting that I am better suited to Engineering Technology, will I be able to switch?
Yes. For the first month of the first semester, both courses run in parallel and students will be able to switch from Preliminary Engineering to Engineering Technology.