dw
You don't say whether you bagged any hours in a UAS while doing your degree. That is a factor which may have helped in gaining sponsorship, and it would certainly be of some use with the basic PPL flying at the beginning of any ATPL course - all without the hassle of laying out any money too!
As far as the RAF goes, decent money, reasonable security (until the shooting starts!) and as an ATCO a good opportunity to milk the shortage in the private sector if the RAF doesn't work out. Unlike flying, you should have no difficulty in finding work in ATC, and the money compares reasonably favourably with F/O pay on turboprops and starting salaries for jets, but ultimately the pay is not as good in the long term as it would be for a captaincy.
Keep your options open, and bide your time just now to see how the pilot market develops.