ABE has over 400 accredited colleges worldwide. You can either register through one of these colleges or apply directly to the ABE office. Click here to search for a college.
If you are a first-time applicant then you can register online by clicking here. Alternatively you can register by downloading the Student Membership Registration Form, completing it and posting it to us together with copies of your supporting qualifications and valid payment of the registration fee to The Association of Business Executives, 5th Floor CI Tower, High Street, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4TE, UK.
The great news is that there are no formal entry qualifications required if you want to commence your studies at Level 4 Diploma. Candidates of all educational backgrounds are welcome. However, it is in the interest of candidates that they have attained Level 2 qualifications (GCSE standard) in Mathematics and English Language. For full details on the entry requirements for each level, please click here.
The levels refer to the ‘level of learning’ required to complete the qualification. Qualifications at the same level are therefore broadly similar (or equivalent) in the level of learning required.
| QCF Level | Other qualifications at the same level |
| Level 3 | UK 'A' level, BTEC National Cert |
| Level 4 | BTEC Professional Diploma |
| Level 5 | UK Foundation Degree, HND |
| Level 6 | Bachelors Degree, Graduate Dip |
| Level 7 | Masters Degree, Postgraduate Dip |
If you hold a qualification from either another professional body or university which is very similar in content and level to the ABE Level 4, 5 or 6 qualifications, you could qualify for exemptions from some of the ABE examinations.
If you wish to find out if there are exemptions available to you before you register with us, please write to us enclosing copies of your qualifications or email us at exemptions@abeuk.com.
If you have passed a related non-ABE subject offered by your college, it is also possible that you may be entitled to an exemption. Please check with your ABE college in the first instance.
If you are granted an exemption, you will be asked to pay an exemption fee for each unit, which will vary depending on the level.
Please note - there are no exemptions available for the Level 7 Diploma.
Students can follow a self-study route using the tuition resources available on the Members Area. There are study manuals for every unit in the Business Management and Human Resource Management programmes which are available to order, along with suggested reading lists for each unit, and syllabus guides.
Currently only one of our accredited colleges offers distance learning - Distance Learning Enterprises located in Philadelphia, USA. Please see their website for further information: www.dle-uk.com.
Click here to find an ABE accredited college in your country.
Registrations take two weeks to be processed, but may take longer during busy periods prior to the exam closing date. Please email here with your full name, your mailing address, and date of birth. We will reply to you as soon as possible to let you know the progress of your application.
Please note: we strongly advise that you book your exams even if you have not received your membership number yet.
Please contact UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) for information on which countries require visa entry to the UK.
For full details relating to our Membership levels, please click here.
The examinations are held in countries worldwide through the relevant Ministries of Education or the British Council.
You must be a registered student member of ABE before you can book to sit any of our exams. To book for the ABE examinations, complete and return your examination entry form and fees to your college or direct to the ABE Office in London before the specified closing date. Please ensure that your annual subscription is up to date when you enter for the examinations.
If you have already submitted your student registration form, please do not wait for your membership number before you send us your exam entry form - we will insert your membership number on your exam form for you when we receive it.
If you would like to find out if you have been registered with us, please contact us with your full name, your mailing address, and date of birth. We will reply to you as soon as possible to inform you on the progress of your application.
If there are no colleges available in your country, please notify examinations@abeuk.com confirming where you would like to sit your examinations and we will endeavour to make arrangements for you. If this is not a regular ABE centre you will need to pay the centre's administration charges.
There is no limit to the number of units you can enter for in any one session. However, please do not enter for units whose dates clash, as the examination timetable cannot be rescheduled.
If you have passed two out of the four units, you can proceed to the Level 5 Diploma examinations.
However, you must pass the outstanding Level 4 units as soon as possible as you will not be awarded the Level 5 Diploma until you have completed your Level 4.
If you have passed six out of the eight units at this level you can proceed on to the Level 6 Diploma.
However, you must pass the outstanding Level 5 units as soon as possible as you will not be awarded the Level 6 Diploma until you have completed your Level 5.
Students sitting in Botswana or studying the BIS programme should click here and read the section on Regulations.There is no time limit for achieving your ABE qualification. The only requirement is that you remain a current member of ABE by payment of your annual subscription.
There is however, a deadline for booking to sit for your examinations at each session. To see the latest deadlines for the upcoming session, please click here.
Students studying the BIS programme should click here.You will be notified individually of your examination results about two months after the examination. We will also publish your results in the members area of this website as soon as they are available.
Have you changed your address and not advised ABE? Have you paid your annual subscription and is your membership up-to-date? If your membership has lapsed or if there are monies owing, you will not receive your examination results or awards until the arrears have been paid. A reminder letter will be sent to out to you if you have fees owing.
Should your results slip or certificate fail to arrive, you need to notify ABE within 6 months of the issue date to report them lost and to request a replacement. Failure to notify ABE within the 6 month window means that a replacement fee will be charged.
You can clear any outstanding balance on your ABE account by one of the following options:
1. Log on to the Members Area and go to the 'Account' section where you will be given the option to make an online payment.
2. Complete a 'General Payments Form' and send it back to us with your payment.
Click here to download the General Payments Form.
In order to keep your ABE membership active, you need to pay a subscription fee every year. This entitles you to sit for ABE examinations, have to access the Members Area with its many resources and receive the quarterly Student Focus magazine.
The registration fee you pay when joining ABE includes your first year’s subscription. There are two possible renewal dates for paying your annual subscription - either 1st May or 1st November. Your renewal date is dependent on your registration date, as illustrated below:
A subscription renewal reminder will be sent to you by email when your subscription fee is due to be paid. You will also be able to view this on the Members Area.
It is important that you pay your annual subscription fee even if you are not sitting any examinations in a particular year. This will keep your ABE membership active. If your subscription fee payment is not received within six months of the renewal date, your membership will lapse and you will need to re-register to reactivate your membership. Please click here for more information on re-registration.
If you no longer wish to be a member of ABE, please submit your request in writing for the attention of the Finance Department.
If your subscription fee is now due and you wish to pay it, you can do this online via the Members Area or alternatively, you can complete an 'Annual Subscription Form' and send it back to us with your payment.
Cheques, Bank Drafts and Postal Orders should be made payable to “Association of Business Executives” or “ABE”.
ABE operates a refund policy for Registration Fees only. Refunds are not processed for purchases relating to Study materials, Examinations fees or any other ABE product or service. Requests for refunds will not be accepted if received after three months from the date of registration. Please click here to view ABE’s full refund policy.
ABE has two magazines: Student Focus and Business Executive.
Student Focus Focus is published four times a year and it is sent to all current students, Associates, Members and Fellows. It is published in February, May, August and November. All ABE students receive the e-magazine by email plus all accredited colleges receive a number of printed copies by post. Past copies are available in the Members Area.
Business Executive is also published four times a year and is sent to all current Associates, Members and Fellows. It is also published in February, May, August and November. All recipients receive the magazine by post along with a copy of Student Focus magazine. Business Executive is also available by subscription.
You will not receive ABE magazines if:
- You changed your postal address and did not advise ABE (for Business Executive)
- You have not provided your current email address to ABE (for Student Focus)
- You did not pay your annual subscription and your membership has lapsed
If you have a complaint or would like to send your feedback about any service provided by ABE, please email us at complaints@abeuk.com.
We aim to resolve all complaints and queries within 10 days of receipt but it can sometimes take longer if the problem is a complicated one.
You can get a replacement membership card if you write to us and request one. Please enclose the replacement card fee of £5 (5 UKP).
You can edit your details in the Members Area. Simply login and click on the Edit Your Profile tab.
Alternatively, you can email us using the contact form. Please include your membership number and outline the changes you wish to make.
Please email us via the contact form with your full name, your mailing address and date of birth. We will then email your membership number to you.
You will not be able to login to the Members Area if:
1) You have entered your membership number and/or password incorrectly. Unless you registered online, your password is normally your date of birth, and should be entered in the following format dd/mm/yyyy - the slashes must be included.
2) Your membership has been lapsed due to non-payment of annual subscriptions. Please send an email to registrations@abeuk.com to enquire about your membership status and how to resume your association with ABE.
Study Manuals are available for every unit on the Business Management and Human Resource Management programmes. Business Management study manuals can be ordered from the Members Area of the Website.
To purchase Human Resource Management manuals, please email learningmedia@bpp.com or telephone 0845 0751100 (if you’re calling from the UK) or +44 (0) 208 740 2211 (if you’re calling from outside the UK). You can also purchase these manuals over the counter at the ABE Head Office.
