This is a loan which is arranged by the government in association with a few of the high street banks (Barclays, Cooperative and RBS) and can provide you with extra cash up to £8000. The loan is available only for students on vocational courses for degrees which the usual education boards won’t cover. CDL's are useful for postgraduate degrees and can provide you with 80% of your course funding plus any other necessary costs. As they are government affiliated, the interest on these loans will be paid by the government while you are studying. See lifelongearning.co.uk for more information.

Only the three afore mentioned banks run career development loans. Other banks will try to sell you professional development loans by promising 'no repayments while you study'. Unlike the CDL loans, you will be charged interest on them like a normal loan, the only difference being that you aren’t making repayments while you study so the debt is getting bigger by the day. The career development loans are only worthwhile when you are studying and not earning - as soon as the interest free period runs out, one month after graduation, switch your debt to ensure you are getting the best deal available.