thanks for the response guys, It's much appreciated. Heathrow Director, NATS is my main aim and I want to be a civilian controller. I don't particularly want to join the RAF but becoming an ATCO is what I want to do and if that's one of my options I feel I should consider it.
The reason I have chosen to study Aircraft Engineering is because I love aviation. It is my passion. I know I want to be in the aircraft industry, and the idea behind a degree is primarily a back up plan in case I'm not cut out to be an ATCO, not because I feel an engineering degree will be useful in becoming a controller. Another reason for going to university is that when I spoke to a guy from NATS at a careers fair he suggested to me to go out and get some life experience before applying as many young trainees can not cope with others being critical of their work etc.
Anyway thank you very much everyone. It's much appreciated!