How does one get a loan for debt consolidation?

There are a number of ways to do this. Firstly you can approach your own bank. They will have an advisor who can talk you through the options available. They may also have a preferential rate for existing customers. Alternatively there are a number of financial institutions who specialise in consolidation loans. These can be quite expensive so it may only be a good option if your credit rating is bad. If that is the route you are going to take then it can be worth your while searching on site comparison websites to find the best deals available.