I am afraid a lot of the questions are of the "how long is a piece of string?" variety. The answers depend on many variables and the answers in themselves vary.
Certainly CTC and Oxford are 2 of the principal providers of integrated flight training courses in the UK, but they are not the only ones, nor is the UK the only source of integrated flight training. Integrated courses are inevitably an expensive option in the pursuit of commercial flight training, however there are also modular routes into achieving a commercial licence and instrument rating that for many people offers a more affordable option.
1. CTC and Oxford are two of the principal providers of Integrated flight training courses. Both also offer modular components to people electing to source aspects of their own training programmes. It is something of a moot point to ascribe one as being better than another, since few people will have any comparative assesment of both. The one you choose is probably going to be the "better" one in your own case. They both have a good reputation in the main. Both have had airline specific affiliation programmes from time to time, and obviously within the context of those programmes the preference is that of the airline customer.
2. No it most certainly isn't. Jobs are very hard to come by at the moment as a result of the general economy and specific economic, social, and work practice changes within the airline industry.
3. Working pattens vary enormously and will be largely dictated by industrial agreements within specific airlines in various types of airline operation. Some may well have 4 on 3 off type operation with flexibility either side. Others may have you working 6 straight days one week and 3 the next. It is a 24/7/365 industry and the operator will construct whatever programmes fit in with the regulatory and industrial framework in order to satisfy their own individual requirements.
4. Once you are (these days) lucky enough to secure a flying job, if indeed you ever do, then you are normally at the bottom of a long seniority list. Obviously that in itself is the not the securest place to be. However the general state of the industry provides for very little real security generally.
5. Anytime you like. Obviously it will depend on your own personal debt and your own level of income or external support. Integrated training may cost typically anywhere from £85,000 to £130,000 and if you need to finance any or all of this training, the interest charged will likely vary, as will the monies you might have available to discharge the obligation. I would have thought that 7 to 10 years would be a reasonable "guesstimate" in many cases, but it really does depend on so many variables.
In answer to your final point, yes! There are people who have borrowed these large sums who have suffered severe financial difficulties. Yes I do know a couple. These days such large sums are normally secured by a mortgage charge. Therefore the ultimate liability will rest on the guarantor or mortgagee. However the few lenders who might still consider advancing money backed by this charge, are likely to be reasonably satisfied that the guarantor can service the borrowing even if employment for the borrower is not forthcoming at the point repayments need to commence.
Make no mistake it is a major commitment with absolutely no guarantees whatsover, and a very high likelyhood that employment as a result of the training will not be forthcoming in any required timescale.