Well I wil add what I think,
I would say amongst the top 2 or 3 schools there is little difference, your choice would be on personale preferance.
BGS probably the best D/L course going.
Oats expensive, good feedback from previous exams.
Cabair, the have one of the biggest aeronautical libaries, price not far off Oats.
ATA, RAF instructors, cheaper and get feedback from OATs.
Glassgow college nautics, ex BAE prestwick instructors, probably the cheapest res course going and good reports about it.
LGU, cheap compared to oats, don't know anything else.
I personally have choosen ATA to do my course FEB 10 /03 due to combination of resonable price, accomodation, experienced instructors and generally a good report by fellow wannabe's.
My mate is doing D/L with BGS and so far so good no complaints.
Hope that helps.
Ooops sorry, forgot to say with regards the amount of hours for study, well INMO as long as you can stay awake and if your not in class or on the bog you should be studying.