Well start off by saying your young so you have plenty of time of your side....
Ive just graduated out of a four year course of BEng Mechanical Engineering in Ireland. ...BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.... Stay in malta and do that... If your set on being a pilot, then dont do a degree in something relateed to aviation WASTE OF TIME..plus no jobs = no continency plan if the whole flying thing goes tits up...
Im currently working as a design engineer, and ive found that 1, there alot more engineering jobs than flying jobs and 2, engineering posts pay much better than F/O's
in my opinion do the mechanical engineering course... (not easy though)
BUT DEFINITALY GO TO UNI, the current situation in the economy is an example of why
Good luck with your decisions!!!!
CP