" I'm not expecting to be designing the next SST or anything spectacular, just I need assurance that I'd have a reasonable chance of securing a job in line servicing or whatever.
Not sure whether my age would put off employers from investing in me.
I've always been aviation daft but basically poor health has prevented me hitherto. Obviously I wouldn't be advertising the fact.
With the best will in the world and I am not being disparaging here, you don't have a cat in hells chance of getting a job in Line maintenance with your intended qualification. That, and the fact you have, as you say, poor health would also negate employment.
Line engineering does require you to be in generally good health and with a reasonable level of physical fitness...at least when you start....thereafter I've met numerous people whose health / fitness deteriorated with the working conditions being a causal factor...and, in some cases, lifestyle contributing as well.
You say you are now 44....if, you do decide to subsequently get the Degree, how old will you be then ?....and, apart from your age which, in theory shouldn't be a barrier in the UK but we all know it is because whilst an organisation may claim not to have age restrictions when recruiting, what they generally do is get a recruitment agency to source candidates and these human parasites have no qualms at all about being ageist.
Then there's the far from inconsequential matter of experience which, again, you simply won't have.
Not declaring any health issues would almost certainly come back to bite you as an organisation could rightfully claim you made a false declaration on application and thereafter it would be goodbye.
As for manufacturing, others on here are better qualified to respond in this area.
Frankly, and I say this sympathetically, I wouldn't waste your time and money on gaining the qualification.
What I would suggest however, is, if you want to enjoy and participate in aviation, you do so as a hobby....say gliding or micro-lighting ( three axis form....at least you have a cockpit and a relative degree of comfort here ) and in both forms you will get to do some aspects of engineering.