Originally Posted by
rudestuff
If you can afford both, get both. If not get the one that matches where you can live and work. It also doesn't hurt to future proof yourself.
You should start by getting both Initial Class one medicals. One costs £800+ but both together only adds about £250. Initials are notoriously picky and your chances of passing one drop year by year.
You also only ever want to study the ATPLs once - so do it with a dual rated school and get both theoretical exam credits.
Once you have some kind of PPL and both exam credits you'll be on line a better place to assess the market.
As long as you build plenty of (50+) hours as PIC under IFR you'll be able to get your second IR with just a test (CBIR rules) even if you don't do to a dual rated school. You can also freeze the ATPL with only an SEIR.
A bit of thread drift but if one would get their EASA and UK SEIR before the CPL, is there a time limit of which to obtain a CPL as I recall it being said somewhere you need an EASA license to attach the IR to