Degree before pilot training + other general questions
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Degree before pilot training + other general questions
hello I am looking at all my options to become a pilot and was just curious on a few details so any info would be great to hear
- degree before starting, my mum is really pushing this route Im a EU+UK citizen so id like to go to a english uni in France to save a bit of money as well as become fluent in French in terms of subjects id like to do a degree in history or something like that however i saw that in France there is called 'diplome universitaire' which is 1-2 years and is higher education but is in things like tourism which im really intrested in. But i was a bit worried about the additional cost(~8k gbp per year) and will take a few years but with how aviation is the whole prefered way of training could be changed for example right now there dosent seem to be a bias of modular or intergrated from the airlines but in a few years it could be flipped.
- how does choosing a base work
so for example after you get hired by a airline is there any requirements for living in the country like knowing the language or priviously living there?
- After doing dual ATPL's where should i go?
so im going to do dual ATPL's but I am unsure where is dual certified and good to go to at the moment the FD+ course is great from FTE Jerez but they will probaly not continue the course in the future but i was also looking at the modular course at AFTA which seems great as I can do all the licences at 1 ATO but any suggestions would be great.
thank you for reading all that but any advise or guidance would be really helpful.
Upvote1Downvote1Go to comments
- degree before starting, my mum is really pushing this route Im a EU+UK citizen so id like to go to a english uni in France to save a bit of money as well as become fluent in French in terms of subjects id like to do a degree in history or something like that however i saw that in France there is called 'diplome universitaire' which is 1-2 years and is higher education but is in things like tourism which im really intrested in. But i was a bit worried about the additional cost(~8k gbp per year) and will take a few years but with how aviation is the whole prefered way of training could be changed for example right now there dosent seem to be a bias of modular or intergrated from the airlines but in a few years it could be flipped.
- how does choosing a base work
so for example after you get hired by a airline is there any requirements for living in the country like knowing the language or priviously living there?
- After doing dual ATPL's where should i go?
so im going to do dual ATPL's but I am unsure where is dual certified and good to go to at the moment the FD+ course is great from FTE Jerez but they will probaly not continue the course in the future but i was also looking at the modular course at AFTA which seems great as I can do all the licences at 1 ATO but any suggestions would be great.
thank you for reading all that but any advise or guidance would be really helpful.
Upvote1Downvote1Go to comments
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 178
From: UK
Re: degrees. There are two good reasons to do a degree.
(1) You're absolutely fascinated by the subject.
(2) You need it for a specific career.
If you tick neither box, don't do a degree (and I teach on degree courses at several universities so if anything have a vested interest in the opposite).
If you want a backup plan, do something that you can get immediate work with, such as short order chef, pool lifeguard, nursery teacher, motorway recovery driver - you get the idea. Those are genuinely useful things and you can probably get work very quickly if you need it.
G
(1) You're absolutely fascinated by the subject.
(2) You need it for a specific career.
If you tick neither box, don't do a degree (and I teach on degree courses at several universities so if anything have a vested interest in the opposite).
If you want a backup plan, do something that you can get immediate work with, such as short order chef, pool lifeguard, nursery teacher, motorway recovery driver - you get the idea. Those are genuinely useful things and you can probably get work very quickly if you need it.
G
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
Effjas,
It's a difficult question to answer and all points of view are worth hearing. It's been recently discussed in this thread below. Start with post #619:
My dream - advice please (collective thread)
It's a difficult question to answer and all points of view are worth hearing. It's been recently discussed in this thread below. Start with post #619:
My dream - advice please (collective thread)
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 74
From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
What Genghis said, but getting fluent in another language would be way more useful, for which the michelle thomas tapes are good if you can stand the deliberate mistakes by the students
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 178
From: UK
The old fashioned books and tapes have the advantage of telling you more about place and culture than an app is likely to, but are slower clunkier ways of learning a language.
G
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Spain
I personally believe having a university degree on top of your aviation career will always give you a great sense of security to face any aviation crisis and is almost always a great choice. I say almost because it may not be the best choice if the area of work the degree prepared you for is extremely hard to find a job in, that is definitely something to take into account.
Regarding the base choice, usually at the beginning of your carrer you tend not to have too much of a 'choice', you basically declare your preferences and depending on the company they may try their hardest to satisfy your request or they may not. Once you have a lot more experience you can try to negotiate contract terms. Hope this helps.
Regarding the base choice, usually at the beginning of your carrer you tend not to have too much of a 'choice', you basically declare your preferences and depending on the company they may try their hardest to satisfy your request or they may not. Once you have a lot more experience you can try to negotiate contract terms. Hope this helps.
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 446
Likes: 7
From: Germany
Hi,
Well regarding the degree, History is very interesting and fascinating, but that degree in History is studying for unemployment, and when employed, for low salaries.
Study something which could bring proper food on the table. Of course it should be interesting for you. Something you like, but History, filosophy, marketing and communications, stay away from that.
Just my opinion.
If you study for something where you can good jobs in, you can work on your licenses while having your day to day job.
Another plan, go for pilot school. Get a job, and parttime study something next to flying for the cold rainy days, when aviation is not doing so well.
Good luck.
Well regarding the degree, History is very interesting and fascinating, but that degree in History is studying for unemployment, and when employed, for low salaries.
Study something which could bring proper food on the table. Of course it should be interesting for you. Something you like, but History, filosophy, marketing and communications, stay away from that.
Just my opinion.
If you study for something where you can good jobs in, you can work on your licenses while having your day to day job.
Another plan, go for pilot school. Get a job, and parttime study something next to flying for the cold rainy days, when aviation is not doing so well.
Good luck.
Last edited by P40Warhawk; 8th August 2025 at 02:27.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
In my opinion, unless you can get the degree for free, don't bother if you want to become a pilot. During Covid, pilots who had a HGV licence were the ones that kept the food on the table.
I did my BSc (Hons) in Psychology and MSc in Aviation Human Factors while I was working full time as a pilot.
Basing. Usually you go where you're needed. Once you establish some seniority, then you can bid for where you want to be. Which then gets thrown into disarray when you upgrade.
Languages. Usually sorted out at the interview/requirements. If you can't speak X and it's a requirement for the airline, then you probably won't get hired. Exceptions have been made for very experienced pilots with particular ratings (eg TRE).
In this environment, get both licences.
You may be only able to live in the UK etc, but there are many jobs that require an EASA licence too.
I did my BSc (Hons) in Psychology and MSc in Aviation Human Factors while I was working full time as a pilot.
Basing. Usually you go where you're needed. Once you establish some seniority, then you can bid for where you want to be. Which then gets thrown into disarray when you upgrade.
Languages. Usually sorted out at the interview/requirements. If you can't speak X and it's a requirement for the airline, then you probably won't get hired. Exceptions have been made for very experienced pilots with particular ratings (eg TRE).
In this environment, get both licences.
You may be only able to live in the UK etc, but there are many jobs that require an EASA licence too.
Last edited by redsnail; 7th August 2025 at 17:07. Reason: Added in the degrees
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 128
From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Just two remarks from my side:
- Get your degree if you are really interested in the subject. It will broaden your horizon much more than watching the autopilot fly your airliner eight hours a day for forty years. And it will provide you with a plan B if circumstances arise that will prevent you from flying (economic downturn, loss of medical (even if only temporary), boredom - I know plenty of pilots who just quit because they couldn't just stand it any more).
- Don't get a degree if it is only to please someone, in your case your mother. You will probably not finish it and only waste time and money.
My own background is degree first and flying next, and I am glad I did it. I was never unemployed for a single day, because there was always some work to be found. Qualified, interesting and demanding work, that is, not frying burgers while waiting for airlines to answer my applications.
And if, after 40 years of working, I had to chose between the two, I would take the university-degree profession and fly privately in my spare time.
- Get your degree if you are really interested in the subject. It will broaden your horizon much more than watching the autopilot fly your airliner eight hours a day for forty years. And it will provide you with a plan B if circumstances arise that will prevent you from flying (economic downturn, loss of medical (even if only temporary), boredom - I know plenty of pilots who just quit because they couldn't just stand it any more).
- Don't get a degree if it is only to please someone, in your case your mother. You will probably not finish it and only waste time and money.
My own background is degree first and flying next, and I am glad I did it. I was never unemployed for a single day, because there was always some work to be found. Qualified, interesting and demanding work, that is, not frying burgers while waiting for airlines to answer my applications.
And if, after 40 years of working, I had to chose between the two, I would take the university-degree profession and fly privately in my spare time.
