Dan,
Apart from the PPL your degree will not assist you in your aim of becoming an airline pilot. Then you have to ask yourself the question "how much use will the rest of the course be if I want to be an engineer?"
If I were you I would look a bit more widely at engineering courses (if that is indeed what you want to do) and consider doing a PPL in your own time. Your degree is your backup if the pilot bit doesn't work out. Remember that the odds are long, the competition fierce and the cost high if you go it alone.
YS