One important feature of the Air Transport Operations course is that the third year at University is PART TIME. It has been designed so that you can start work immediately after completing your fATPL. It takes the form of intensive three day modules and students can take between 6 and 24 months to complete the third year.
All students who have done the course have had full-time jobs in their final year, ie they are earning money - and one is even earning money flying!
BTW you can do the fATPL modular as well as integrated.