There is no minimum age to sit your atpl, well there is LEGALLY, and that is 17.
I stand corrected. For some reason I read 21 somewhere? ... maybe it's to be issued with a full ATPL
(Says here too http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile495/ ... not that I'd take any notice of it)
Degree v No Degree debate is almost as bad as Modular v Integrated.
It's a personal choice, look around at how many people with fATPL are waiting for their first jobs, it wont take long to notice a few bitter people on here with no jobs after blowing £50k+ on training.
I have my safety net, a fairly well paid job, I am a much more mature person than I was at 18, My revision technique is better after 4 years at Uni and now I am hoping to do my training pretty much debt free.
If I had the chance to go through life again I'd have joined the Police Force after my A levels and done as much over-time as possible, done my PPL/Night/IMC studied for my ATPL's then taken 12 months off to concentrate on my flying career.
On the other hand I did enjoy Uni.