ford,
i'm obviously out of date with my astraeus info - that was the case when i graduated, which wasn't a million years ago.
regarding ryanair, i know a couple of guys who struggled through their rating - extra circuits at base among other things. ryanair didn't make ay extra charge for this. things may have changed since then but that was only about a year ago.
regarding your aquaintance who didn't get through the ryanair type rating; what makes you so sure he would have passed if he'd being doing it by himself. I obviously don't know they guy and his personal circumstances, but in general, if enough people undertake a type course, some will fail. this is an unfortunate fact of life. everyone knows when singing up for a self-funded type course (whether it be with ryanair or some of the more respected airlines) there is a chance of failure.
similarly, if you undertake a typerating off your own back then there MUST be a chance of failure - otherwise it is worthless. you don't buy a type rating - you buy the training and then take a test.
I've googled eaglejet and come up with the following :
www.eaglejet.net/index.htm
I had never heard of this. from the website i gather you can get 100 hrs on type for $12900US not including typerating. this company actually offers up to 500hrs on type!!
I freely admit i know nothing about this outfit, but on first inspection it almost makes me sick. I really feel bad for someone who is forced down this route - the fact that our industry has come to this is dismal. But that's an entirely different thread altogether.
Getting back to the point, do you know what (jaa) airlines this company places you with? do they actually offer (guaruntee?) any paid employment after you've paid for a rating and then 100 (200/500)hrs?
I can't say for certain but i would imagine that most major uk/european airlines would have very low regard for this kind of experience if you decided to move on. it may even have a detrimental effect to your cv. but that is just speculation on my part. perhaps some current oxford students could ask the various recruitment guys who come in to speak to them.
p.s. - i am assuming that you are uk/europe based and are discussing jaa flying/careers.