Academic Qualification or Flight Experience
I have been to many countries and spoken to many airlines pilots in the last 20 years.
Let me share with you...
Most of the Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AirAsia pilots (Captains and F.O.) are non-graduate. Those pilots joined in the 70s/80s and until now, most pilots (preferance give to Malays) recruited are SPM holders (US 10th Grade). The better ones are STPM holders (US 12th Grade). University degree holders are handful.
Same for the Indonesia Airlines (Garuda Airlines, Lion Air, Batik Air, Indonesia AirAsia & etc.), these cadets pilots recruited are SMA (US 10th Grade) or SMP (US 12th Grade) holders. Graduates from college are few!
All Indian Airlines, Maldivian Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines do not have preference over academic qualification.
However, only some Asian airlines (e.g. Korean Air (South Korea), Air China (ROC Taiwan), Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong), Singapore Airlines (Singapore), and all Mainlander Chinese Airlines (Xiamen Air, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines)) cadet pilots recruited are 99% University graduate.
Nevertheless, for experienced US pilots entering these Asian airlines, it is the flight experience that counts! All HR of these major airlines do not bother academic qualification.