Oh my god...I can't believe what I'm seeing here!
Firstly, I graduated with a 2:1 in Aero Engineering at Salford. I did it, 'cos, as a lot of people have said, mad about planes.
Anyway, after hearing some of the commwnts here...
"It's difficult": Of course it is! If it was easy, then it completly devalues the meaning of a degree. If you work your butt off and fail, then you have my sympathy. If you loaf around and fail, then you got what you deserved! I managed to have 3 fantastic years at Uni; I worked hard and played hard.
"It's all Maths": Is it? Oh, that'll be the engineering then! Granted, Thermodynamics never really appealed to me, but the Flight Control stuff was interesting and RELEVANT to aircraft! If you have a good lecturer then he/she will inject interesting facts into their lectures...again, I found this really interesting.
As many others have said, if you want 3 'Freeloading' years at uni, then go and do IT ot Leisure Management. If you do have a genuine interest in the world of aviation, then get on a Aero Eng course; it's the best decision I have made so far in my life!
Depending on your chosen career path as a pilot, BA and the other airlines will know that you are focused and hardworking towards your goal if you have a degree such as Aero. Eng. If you go the 'self sponsored' route then some of the work covered in the degree must surely help you during the theory for the ATPL etc.
Besides, as my Dad always says...
"They can never take qualifications away rom you".
That's what I think anyway. Hope this helps with your decision...
3g