Why get qualified?
To succeed in international business and commerce, you need more than a good knowledge of general English and if you can show that you have relevant language skills, you will have a greater advantage in the job market. Internationally recognised and tailored to suit career improvement goals, the Cambridge ESOL Business English Certificates (BEC) assess English language in a working environment.

Levels
BEC is available at three levels:

			BEC Preliminary
			BEC Vantage
			BEC Higher

Choose an examination that matches your level of skills and professional needs.

All three levels of BEC are clearly linked to the Common European Framework for language assessment, published by the Council of Europe:

2012 Examination and registration dates

Please note: We may be able to offer additional sessions subject to a minimum number of candidates registering. Please contact us for further information.

Oral interviews
Oral interviews will take place between 9 and 19 November 2012. The exact date and time will be shown on each candidate's personal timetable.

Candidates with special needs
In co-operation with Cambridge ESOL, we provide a Special Arrangements Service for candidates with hearing and/or speech difficulties (MS Word, 63 KB), visual difficulties (MS Word, 73 KB) and kinetic difficulties, as well as for candidates with learning difficulties (MS Word, 57 KB) such as dyslexia. We also make special arrangements for candidates who have sustained accident-related injuries, such as a broken arm, prior to the day of the exam. Download our Information Sheet for Special Needs Candidates (PDF, 18 KB) for details of how to apply for Special Arrangements.

The file can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat. If you do not have this already installed on your computer, a free copy can be downloaded from the Adobe website.

2012 Examination fees

Transfer fee
If you want to transfer to a different examination centre, please submit your request in writing as far in advance as possible. The transfer fee is €25.

Change of interview fee
If you need to change the date or time of your interview, please submit your request in writing as far in advance as possible. In most cases an administrative fee of €15 will be charged. If you are ill and have a medical certificate issued by a state hospital, you will not need to pay this fee.

Refund Policy
We are able to refund 75% of your examination fee for medical reasons only. Appropriate medical evidence (from a state hospital, IKA, TEBE etc) and your timetable must be submitted to the British Council no later than two weeks after the date of the written examinations.

How to register
Please follow the instructions below exactly to complete your registration successfully.

Please note that we cannot accept postal orders, cash sent by post, or payment of fees at our offices.

To complete your registration, please submit the completed Application Form (individual candidates) or Block Entry Form (Foreign Language Centres) along with the bank deposit slip, bank cheque or personal cheque to the British Council as follows:

			Candidates and Foreign Language Centres in Macedonia, Thrace and Thessaly should send the above documents by registered mail to our Thessaloniki office (see below for contact details).
			Candidates and Foreign Language Centres in Athens and all other provinces (including the islands) should send the above documents by registered mail or courier to our Athens office (see below for contact details).

Application form for individual candidates
If you are an individual candidate, you can print out and fill in the Application Form for Individual Candidates:

BEC Application Form for Individual Candidates (PDF, 109 KB)

The form can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat. If you do not have this already installed on your computer, a free copy can be downloaded from the Adobe website.

Please note:
If you are a student at a Foreign Language Centre, your school will be responsible for your registration. If you are not sure whether you have been registered, please ask someone at your school to check.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and Conditions (PDF, 122 KB)

Results

			The University of Cambridge ESOL has introduced the Faster Results initiative whereby results will be released four to six weeks after the date of the written exam. The majority of results will be released at the start of the results release period (i.e. four weeks after the date of the written exam) and any remaining results will be released in the following two weeks.
			Candidates will have direct access to their results via the Cambridge ESOL Online Results Service. Each candidate's personal timetable will include login details and candidates will also receive an e-mail notifying them that the results release period has begun. Please note that candidates must retain their timetables until they have received their results.
			Certificates are sent to successful candidates approximately two months after results are released.

EXTENDED CERTIFICATION
From March 2011 Cambridge ESOL has introduced Extended Certification aimed at giving many candidates additional credit for the language skills they have demonstrated in a Cambridge ESOL examination. It also aims at helping universities, employers and other organisations obtain a clearer picture of how candidates' results relate to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

For further information, see:

			Understanding your Statement of Results – Cambridge English: BEC Preliminary (PDF, 333 KB)
			Understanding your Statement of Results – Cambridge English: BEC Vantage (PDF, 183 KB)
			Understanding your Statement of Results – Cambridge English: BEC Higher (PDF, 180 KB)

DOCUMENT SERVICES
If you wish to have your certificate certified and/or translated for use in the UK or in Greece, contact our Document Services.

Contact us
For further information, please contact us:

			Athens Customer Services British Council 17 Kolonaki Square 106 73 Athens Telephone 210 369 2333 & 801 500 3692* Fax 210 363 0481 E-mail customerservices@britishcouncil.gr Postal Address Customer Services British Council PO Box 3488 102 10 Athens
			Thessaloniki British Council PO Box 50007 540 13 Thessaloniki Telephone 210 369 2333 & 801 500 3692* Fax 2310 241 960 E-mail customerservices@britishcouncil.gr * Calls from anywhere in Greece are charged at local rate.