All universities have a careers advisory service which is free to current students. Talk to them - make them earn their money!!!

They will tell you someting like this:

Pre-entry experience in aviation, eg through a local Air Training Corps (ATC) of the Air Cadet Organisation, is useful as applicants need to display an interest in this field. Those with experience of challenging activities, eg Duke Of Edinburgh's Award, or who have done community work are also very well regarded by interviewers.

Potential candidates need to show evidence of the following:

good educational qualifications;
good communication skills;
level-headedness, calmness and the ability to think and respond appropriately in difficult situations;
self-confidence and a clear speaking voice;
a disciplined outlook and responsible attitude;
good co-ordination and physical fitness;
the ability to motivate and the capacity for team work.
You need to bear in mind that you will be competing for vacancies against many candidates in a similar situation to your own, as well as fully qualified pilots with several thousand hours of flying experience.



Regards

Jim

I think the RAF is the common route. 

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...and in my experience very few are offered 12 year (Short Service) commisions. The standard permanent commision now appears to have gone up to 18yrs/40th birthday too now with the new pension scheme and in line with the Army I think. You can still leave at 12 years, but in simple terms, the pension disappears!

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Not true at all. Ok, you have to be good, but each person is considered on their own individual merits. I certainly do not fit in the above catagory, being academically mediocre, and not the best at anything else either!

I know nothing of the British Armed Forces, but doesnt every branch have their own air wing? I know the U.S. Marines and Army have airwings. You could always come over "here" across the pond and fly with the Canadian or American Forces, Also check out other European airlines and armed forces.

When I left the RAF, none of the major Airlines were hiring "fighter Jockeys" as they put it.  Even tho 2/3 of ex military pilots flew transport or similar. The UK isn't like the USA. Look, I fought to fly the cadets in the summer in  the good ole Chipmunk, so that I could get my nose into something small. I never set my ass in a fighter in 15 years. No the RAF doesn't train Airline pilots, but there's more than fighter aircraft to fly. I thoroughly enjoyed my shorter career as a bush pilot in Northern British Columbia and am content to fly a light aircraft on sunny days and holidays now. This JB chappie is trying to get off the ground without a dime in his pocket, how the heck else would he get a chance to fly 4 engine monsters, or make a career of flying. The biggies won't hire him for sure unless he has CPL already.