ATPL Full Time Ground School Comparaison + choice HELP!!
 

Dear all!

Next September I would like to move from France to UK for a full time ATPL ground school. But the choice is difficult...
I made a chart comparing 6 schools (which to me look like to be the main ones) based on website info and a phone call with each of them. Maybe it can also be useful for other people. I can update it with more info if necessary.
I really would like to have your felling / experience / opinion / advice.
Thank you very much for your help!

https://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/829128ATPLCopie.jpg


(I know the subject as already been treated but I can't find in such way).

I wouldn't be going anywhere fancy for the ground school. It looks like your going Modular ... my advice is to just stick with Bristol. You can make it full time to suit you.

Hey!
Indeed! I would like to do it modular. BGS is not doing only distance learning?
Thanks.

Do you really need full time classroom teaching ?

Why don't you do it in a french school?

Didn't even cop that stapleford and cats were charging for assessments now,

All aboard the gravy train! :}

I concur regarding the above points about distance learning. If you're going modular then I see little point in full time classroom based learning.

I am doing it full time classroom based (integrated), and a good 80% what i hear in the classroom goes in one ear and out the other. The vast majority of my learning is at home in the evenings and on the weekends. Instructors are not miracle workers, they will just stand there and talk through the material and if you're like me and learn far better by reading and understanding things on your own ... there is no extra benefit in classroom based. I'm only here cos it's for an airline scheme, otherwise I'm not sure it's worth it.

I did mine distance learning with Cats for £999 plus exams. If you go full time, you've got to factor in loss of earnings - in which case your exams could set you back £20k!

Could a person simply buy the books, learn the stuff, and sit the tests?

Honest question.

Nope. It has to be an approved course. Hence I chose the cheapest, then studied everyone elses material anyway.

Only if you have an ICAO ATP and a certain amount of PIC on a type that requires multi-crew.

@ pierrealexb:

Going full time is in my opinion the fastest way to get the annoying ATP theory done! Especially if you are not a self-taught person (autodidact). If you're not from the UK I'd be looking at a school which provides accommodation as well as a reasonable time frame to get the studies and exams done (e.g. 5 to 6 month).

BCFT has it's own hotel for students and they even provide a shuttle service to school (if I remember it correctly) or at least there will always be classmates with a car who can give you a ride. CATS doesn't provide accommodation but there are plenty of private rooms for rent in close proximity (just google it, I'm sure you'll find something or ask CATS if they know of any rooms). The advantage of CATS is that the exams will take place in the same building where CATS has its office/classrooms. So that's kinda convenient since you'll be sitting the exams in a familiar environment, which might be a psychological advantage. Or at least it keeps the distance short and there is no additional travel to the exams, saves money and nerves (hopefully). At CAE and L3 the exam fees are already included in the course price and they would also provide accommodation. And no (stupid) assessment test.

Good luck :ok:

Thanks Rudestuff and Paco (I'm 60 and a former schoolie, so it was a 'learner's question, not a money-saving hope!) That said, I'm an habitual lifelong learner, so would love to do it to see if I could!

Thank you all for your responses!

I want to do it full-time because I'm not sure to really succeed doing it by my own (bases on my experience during studies). I also want to do it in England (instead of France) for english speaking reasons.

Not absolutely sure for the prices, but yes, assessment needed...

@Transsonic2000, thanks for the details that confirm my initial info.

Choice still difficult... I continue my research and I'll let you know about it. ;)

If you have more info or advice, I would be very thankful!