I also did a BSc in IT and now work 9-5 in an office on a 'tidy' wage but nothing like my University told me I could *potentially* earn i.e. £35+ pa
I decided on modular as it limits the risk, if all fails I lose £40k and not £75k and when I did have most of my funds for training I ended up putting it down as a deposit on my apartment
My company pays for and pays me to complete certifications so my back up plan is getting stronger as my training funds fill up
A PPL will do no harm, and will give you a small advantage when starting the Integrated course, but I don't think they (CTC/OAA/FTE) will reduce the cost unfortunately.