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Is a Career Development Loan for me?
You'll need to check that you qualify for a Career Development Loan (CDL) and that a CDL is suitable for you. You can get information and answers to any questions you may have from a CDL advisor by phone or email.
Who qualifies for a Career Development Loan?
To qualify for a CDL, you must be:
- 18 or over
- ordinarily resident in England, Scotland or Wales with an unlimited right to remain in the UK (you will not qualify for a CDL if your right to remain within the UK is subject to restrictions)
- unable to pay for the course yourself
- intending to work in the European Union (or Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein) when you have finished your course
Who does not qualify for a Career Development Loan?
You will not be entitled to a CDL if:
- you have a job and your employer will receive a grant for your learning
- you are entitled to some other types of financial help, for example, a mandatory grant or a student loan
- you are in receipt of an NHS non-means tested bursary
You can't use a CDL to pay for anything that is being financed by another public funded source.
If you are an employee of a CDL-registered learning provider, you will not be eligible for a CDL to support a course with that learning provider. This also applies to those involved in the sale and delivery of training with the learning provider, parent company, subsidiaries or affiliates and members of their immediate family or others living in the same household.
What if I can't afford the repayments?
If you think you may have problems repaying your loan, it's important to talk to your bank.
You may be able to postpone the start of your repayments for up to 17 months, for example, if you:
- are unemployed and claiming benefits
- are employed and you or your partner are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit or Pension Credit
- are receiving a Training Allowance
- have to extend your course (due to ill health or other special circumstances)
You must agree any postponement with your bank before your repayments are due to start.
What if I don't complete the course?
If you fail to complete the course, you will still be responsible for repaying the full amount of your loan to the bank. This is also the case if your learning provider ceases trading or you are dissatisfied with the course for any reason.
You must begin repayments one month after ending your training. Remember, you must notify the bank immediately if any of your circumstances change.
What about my National Insurance and benefits?
If you stop working so that you can study, your National Insurance (NI) position could change. However, you may be able to claim NI credits for the period of your learning. Check with your tax office.
If you are claiming benefits, it's important that you talk to your benefit office before you apply for a CDL. Receiving a CDL may affect your benefit entitlement, so you may need your loan to cover living expenses too.
Which courses can I use a Career Development Loan to pay for?
Career Development Loans can be used to pay for a variety of courses, with many different organisations. To find out more see 'Courses covered by Career Development Loans'.
Getting advice about Career Development Loans
To get advice you can:
- call the CDL Help Line on 0800 585 505 from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm seven days a week
- book a call back at a time to suit you
- email a CDL advisor
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Your questions answered
Get free, impartial advice on Career Development Loans. Call an adviser on 0800 585 505
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