When to apply to flight school EU/UK
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2026
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
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From: Manchester
When to apply to flight school EU/UK
Hi, this is my first post on PPRuNe and I'm glad to be a part of this finally,
Im a first year uni student in the UK and I want to go into training when I graduate, ideally summer (not to picky about exactly when just as long as its soon after I graduate). My question now is, when I should start applying to flight schools. I know there are medical exams and assessments etc which take time, so I shouldn't leave it too late. But how soon should it be? I know FTE for example has loads of intake dates, but I heard somewhere there are holdups on their accommodation. Moreover, do flight schools allow you to be accepted then have delayed entry? Hope thats all clear
Im a first year uni student in the UK and I want to go into training when I graduate, ideally summer (not to picky about exactly when just as long as its soon after I graduate). My question now is, when I should start applying to flight schools. I know there are medical exams and assessments etc which take time, so I shouldn't leave it too late. But how soon should it be? I know FTE for example has loads of intake dates, but I heard somewhere there are holdups on their accommodation. Moreover, do flight schools allow you to be accepted then have delayed entry? Hope thats all clear
Joined: Oct 2025
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Leics
Hi, this is my first post on PPRuNe and I'm glad to be a part of this finally,
Im a first year uni student in the UK and I want to go into training when I graduate, ideally summer (not to picky about exactly when just as long as its soon after I graduate). My question now is, when I should start applying to flight schools. I know there are medical exams and assessments etc which take time, so I shouldn't leave it too late. But how soon should it be? I know FTE for example has loads of intake dates, but I heard somewhere there are holdups on their accommodation. Moreover, do flight schools allow you to be accepted then have delayed entry? Hope thats all clear
Im a first year uni student in the UK and I want to go into training when I graduate, ideally summer (not to picky about exactly when just as long as its soon after I graduate). My question now is, when I should start applying to flight schools. I know there are medical exams and assessments etc which take time, so I shouldn't leave it too late. But how soon should it be? I know FTE for example has loads of intake dates, but I heard somewhere there are holdups on their accommodation. Moreover, do flight schools allow you to be accepted then have delayed entry? Hope thats all clear
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2026
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From: Manchester
What makes you say 6 months ago? I still have 2 years after I finish this year left on my degree, so from what you said it sounds like I should apply sometime in the start of year 2?
Joined: Sep 2025
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From: London
Start in April May end of year2. Get your medical records and book your class 1 maybe end May and spend that summer preparing and taking tests. If successful you can then defer your start as soon as you graduate.
Joined: Dec 2025
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From: United Kingdom
Get your medical done in the near future so you know you can actually do it.
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: FLSomething
You want to be an airline pilot? Then go and be an airline pilot. You’re delaying your career, first job, command, career earnings all by two years and racking up another 30K of debt in the meantime which as a pilot you will pay off.
The two years you delay your start by are the two years you’d be spending at the top of whatever pay scale you choose to end up on. Add in the student debt and interest and you may well be paying £500K for the privilege of finishing a degree that you will never even need to take out of the envelope it’s delivered in.
Thats not to say uni can’t be the best three years of your life, and I’m not convinced I’d agree with the advice entirely, but this is the translation as to what they were getting at.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Hong Kong
The advice was, I think, to just go into training.
You want to be an airline pilot? Then go and be an airline pilot. You’re delaying your career, first job, command, career earnings all by two years and racking up another 30K of debt in the meantime which as a pilot you will pay off.
The two years you delay your start by are the two years you’d be spending at the top of whatever pay scale you choose to end up on. Add in the student debt and interest and you may well be paying £500K for the privilege of finishing a degree that you will never even need to take out of the envelope it’s delivered in.
Thats not to say uni can’t be the best three years of your life, and I’m not convinced I’d agree with the advice entirely, but this is the translation as to what they were getting at.
You want to be an airline pilot? Then go and be an airline pilot. You’re delaying your career, first job, command, career earnings all by two years and racking up another 30K of debt in the meantime which as a pilot you will pay off.
The two years you delay your start by are the two years you’d be spending at the top of whatever pay scale you choose to end up on. Add in the student debt and interest and you may well be paying £500K for the privilege of finishing a degree that you will never even need to take out of the envelope it’s delivered in.
Thats not to say uni can’t be the best three years of your life, and I’m not convinced I’d agree with the advice entirely, but this is the translation as to what they were getting at.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
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From: GA, USA
To the OP, do not lose sight of the fact that you are the customer as many schools seem to have created an atmosphere where somehow you must be extremely grateful to be considered to be ‘their product’.
I disagree with the negative sentiments towards a degree, it may not be strictly speaking “necessary” but economics are what they are and your potential earnings outside of aviation would be higher.
Also airline management positions require a degree.
I disagree with the negative sentiments towards a degree, it may not be strictly speaking “necessary” but economics are what they are and your potential earnings outside of aviation would be higher.
Also airline management positions require a degree.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 587
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From: FLSomething
Neither do management jobs require degrees. Maybe to get on an airline’s graduate scheme, but not once you’re in and flying for them.
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Hong Kong
Having a degree is nice if you want a degree or if your career requires one. I just feel that the cost (in time and money) if you don't need one far exceeds it's value. You double your training costs and shorten your career so you're essentially paying half a million quid for a lot of dr!nking and sh@gging and something nice to hang in your toilet.
A lot of people make the argument that it's good to have a career to 'fall back' on. Agreed. But dont prioritise your plan B. If you already have the time and money to get a degree - why not just get one if and when you actually need one?
A lot of people make the argument that it's good to have a career to 'fall back' on. Agreed. But dont prioritise your plan B. If you already have the time and money to get a degree - why not just get one if and when you actually need one?
Last edited by rudestuff; 21st April 2026 at 05:40.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
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From: UK
I did two degrees before flying. I was sponsored for the first and then received a research grant for the second, but I still left with student loans. So I lost six years of flying by spending that time at university, and built up debt which had to be repaid. I have never required either of those academic qualifications for the purposes of earning money. I have also paid for several other flying licences, which I have never needed during my career either. I intend to retire ten years early, so overall, I am now giving up a total of sixteen years of earning big money. Somebody shoot me because I am clearly insane.
There is more to life than career earnings, and there is more to learning and academic qualifications and the experience of university than them just being stepping stones towards a career.
There is more to life than career earnings, and there is more to learning and academic qualifications and the experience of university than them just being stepping stones towards a career.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2026
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
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From: Manchester
Thank you yeah, the help from Bird and Beaker is what I was getting at really but from what you were saying, I understand that completely but given the volatility of the industry and possibility for a health issue I am definitely going to finish my degree. Good to have as a back up and starting right after graduation, I don't feel will set me back much.
Thank you for your help though!
Thank you for your help though!
