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The Open University and Uber

Driven by opportunity

Uber and The Open University are partnering to help drivers or a family member reach their goals on and off the road.

Uber Rides Pro status

Blue status

Blue

Gold icon

Gold

Platinum icon

Platinum

100% course fee coverage for microcredentials

Diamond icon

Diamond

100% course fee coverage for undergraduate degrees, short courses and microcredentials

We support the ambitions of drivers or their families

This partnership provides you or a family member the opportunity to access a high-quality education to help you get ahead in life.

Being able to work and learn flexibly is an essential part of unlocking economic opportunity. The Open University specialises in online flexible courses, allowing people to balance their studies around their other commitments of work and family.

Flexible work, flexible education

The Open University and Uber partnership will allow you or a family member to take a fully funded undergraduate degree-level course, or other short courses. This now also includes OU microcredentials on FutureLearn. Just as Uber allows you to work to their own timetable, The Open University offers courses that can be completed flexibly. It’s perfect for people looking to find new opportunities or upskill in between other commitments.

Studying with The Open University

Online learning might be different to how you’ve studied in the past, but there will be similarities, too. With OU distance learning, you’ll have study materials, an online study portal, a dedicated tutor, student forums, learning events and more.

Before you check your eligibility, take a look at what the OU can offer you. Choose from hundreds of qualifications and modules. You can also speak to an adviser to find out more about these and what studying with the OU entails.

Upskill with an OU microcredential on FutureLearn

As well as Open University undergraduate degrees or short courses, you can also study an OU microcredential on our social learning partner platform, FutureLearn.

These are flexible online short courses with academic credit, designed to quickly build in-demand career skills and knowledge in leadership and business management, computing, climate change, teaching and more.

Click the button below to check your eligibility to study with the OU – 100% course fees funded by Uber.

Please don’t register on the OU or FutureLearn website.

Are you eligible?

Uber Pro status

Access to The Open University comes as a benefit to you in the Uber Pro customer loyalty program. If you are enrolled in the Uber Pro program, and have platinum or diamond status, then this benefit is available to you. Learn more here

Lifetime Trips

You must have completed 1,000 lifetime trips on the Uber platform.

A Family Member

You have the option to transfer this reward to one eligible family member.

Drivers or eligible family members can now have access to flexible education with 100% course fees covered by Uber

Opportunity built around your schedule

Uber is offering you a way to study an undergraduate degree, short course or Open University microcredential on FutureLearn, by providing 100% course fee coverage.* You can also study free courses on The Open University’s OpenLearn platform.

Open University courses are delivered online and are designed to be flexible around your schedule, so you can choose to study when and where you like. 

Pay it forward

We know how your family is important to you, and we want to provide your family members with access to the same opportunities.

You can choose to transfer this offer of access to high-quality education to one family member.

*Further details on this offer

Your Uber Pro status determines what types of course you can study under the Uber and OU partnership. If you are a driver who has achieved a diamond or platinum status through the Uber Pro programme in the United Kingdom, and have completed 1,000 or more trips on the Uber platform you are eligible for the following:

  • Diamond drivers: drivers or a nominated family member are eligible to study 60 credits per academic year towards an undergraduate degree, microcredential, or a short course.
  • Platinum drivers: drivers or a nominated family member are eligible to study 60 credits per academic year towards microcredentials.
UberPro at any time

Uber partner-drivers who have achieved a diamond or platinum status through the Uber pro program in the UK, and have completed 1,000 or more lifetime trips are eligible to study the following:

  • Diamond drivers: 60 credits per academic year towards an undergraduate degree, microcredential, or a short course
  • Platinum drivers: 60 credits per academic year towards microcredentials

Qualifying drivers have the option to transfer this reward to an eligible family member, including a spouse or domestic partner, child or dependent, sibling, or parent or legal guardian.

*UberPro is made available at Uber’s discretion and Uber may change or cancel UberPro at any time.

Drivers or eligible family members can now have access to flexible education with 100% course fees covered by Uber

Free courses for all

Even if you are not currently eligible for this funded programme, there are nearly 1000 courses on OpenLearn, all of which are currently free to study. Courses have been proven to increase confidence and develop the skills needed to enter Higher Education and succeed with learning.

You can choose an OpenLearn course from a wide range of subjects. Some are based on Open University course materials. Others are written specifically for OpenLearn.

Your questions answered

Who is eligible for 100% course fee coverage?

Uber Partner-Drivers who have achieved Diamond status through the Uber Pro program in the UK, and have completed 1,000 or more lifetime trips are eligible to receive 60 credits per academic year of full course fee coverage for online courses at The Open University and Open University microcredentials on FutureLearn. Qualifying drivers have the option to transfer this reward to an eligible family member, including a spouse or domestic partner, child or dependent, sibling, or parent or legal guardian.

*UberPro is made available at Uber’s discretion and Uber may change or cancel UberPro at any time.

Is my family member eligible?

To help the people you care about most pursue their dreams, qualified drivers can transfer the reward to a family member. You and your family will not have to pay any course fees for that family member. Family members include:

 

  • Spouse or domestic partner
  • Child
  • Sibling
  • Dependent
  • Parent or legal guardian
Can I nominate more than one family member?
No, only one family member is allowed to be nominated by a partner-driver.
Do I need to go through the eligibility check again if I am a continuing student?

As your Uber Pro Platinum and Diamond status is checked every 3 months, as there are 4 eligibility points during the year i.e. January – March, April – June, July – September and October – December, you need to go through the eligibility check each time you want to register for a new module, short course or microcredential. The same applies to any nominated family members.

How does course fee coverage work?

This is not a student loan or a reimbursement; your course fee is fully covered, upfront, by Uber.

Qualified drivers or their family member must be eligible at the time of application for a module, short course, or microcredential.

An Eligible driver or a family member can register for one module, one short course, or one microcredential at a time. When they have completed the module, short course or microcredential, they can register for another one. Uber will once again cover the full course fee cost if the driver or a family member is eligible at the time of registration.

Qualified drivers or their eligible family members are responsible for paying for any additional costs they might incur.

What happens if I lose my Uber Pro status?

If a partner driver loses their Uber Pro Platinum and Diamond status during the study, Uber will still cover the cost of the module, short course or microcredential. However, unless the driver regains their status before applying for a new module, short course or microcredential, s/he will not be eligible to register for a new fully funded module, short course or microcredential.

The same applies to any nominated family members. If the driver that has nominated the family member loses their status, the family member will not be able to register for a new fully funded module, short course or microcredential until the driver has regained their Uber Pro Platinum and Diamond status.

If I lose my Uber Pro status, can I continue my studies with the OU?

Yes, you can.  However, you will need to provide an alternative method of payment to cover the module fees.

Can I create an OU Student record before I check my eligibility?

Yes. If you are considering studying an undergraduate degree, module, or short course, you need to ensure that the student (not the driver if they are not the intended student) has a student record which can be set up before the driver checks their eligibility for funding. This will not commit the student to studying with The Open University.

To do this, the student needs to contact Student Recruitment via phone or webchat. They will need to provide various details including their name, address, Date or Birth, e-mail address and nationality. Once a record has been created, the student will be issued with a Personal Identifier (PI) number which they must quote every time they contact us.

The student will need to indicate to the adviser that they are an Uber student.

Please note, if you are considering an Open University microcredential on FutureLearn, it is not necessary to create an OU student record before you check your eligibility. For more support about microcredentials, contact our Uber Registration Team: UBER-registration@open.ac.uk

Can I create an OU Student record before I check my eligibility?

Yes. You need to ensure that the student (not the driver if they are not the intended student) has a student record which can be set up before the driver checks their eligibility for funding.  This will not commit the student to studying with the Open University. 

To do this, the student needs to contact Student Recruitment via phone or webchat. They will need to provide various details including their name, address, Date or Birth, e-mail address and nationality.  Once a record has been created, the student will be issued with a Personal Identifier (PI) number which they must quote every time they contact us.

The student will need to indicate to the adviser that they are an Uber student.

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Will I be issued with an Open University Computer Username (OUCU)?

Yes, you will. This will normally be created when your OU student record is created. You will receive a separate e-mail providing details of your OUCU and temporary password.

Your OUCU will give you access to your Student Home, which will be your main access point to any communications we send to you if you are studying an undergraduate degree, module, or short course, as well as to qualification and module websites for your study.

If you are studying an Open University microcredential on FutureLearn, you will still be provided with an OUCU and access to Student Home, however learning and communications will be via the FutureLearn platform, and you will only need to access Student Home to submit your final assessment and view your results.

Can I count credit I have studied elsewhere towards an Open University qualification?

Yes, you can.  However, what you can count and how much credit you can be awarded will depend on what you have previously studied in relation to your chosen qualification.  You need to check this out before you register on a qualification with us as it could affect your module choice.  More information can be found here – http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/apply/credit-transfer

Please note, for Open University microcredentials, it is not currently possible to transfer credits to another Open University qualification. Microcredentials are stand-alone products, designed to meet specific learner and employer needs and offer a credential in their own right. Those awarded by The Open University have a credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and this may in the future be used towards qualifications (for example, an honours degree, diploma of higher education or postgraduate certificate) at The Open University, or potentially at another university (subject to the agreement of the receiving institution).

How do I register on an undergraduate qualification?

Before you decide on the qualification you want to study, we strongly recommend that you look at our website and speak to an adviser about what study with the OU entails.  You can also discuss which qualifications are right for you, what start dates are on offer and a bit more about the modules that count towards the qualification.  You can liaise with an adviser by phone or web chat.

Registering on a qualification does not commit you to studying with The Open University or paying any fees as tuition fees are linked to our modules. Therefore, following discussions with an adviser, you can request to be registered onto your chosen undergraduate qualification, which can be actioned over the phone or webchat.  The adviser can also create an OU student record for you at the same time and issue you with an OU Personal Identifier (PI) number.

After you are registered on your chosen qualification, you need to inform the adviser that you are an Uber student as an individual module reservation must not be made for you at this time.

How do I register on a module?

If you haven’t done so already, we strongly recommend that you look at our website and speak to an adviser about your qualification and module choice.  This will provide you with information on the order in which modules should be studied for your chosen qualification as well as module start dates and final registration dates. 

Next, you will need to check your eligibility for a free module using the links above.  If you are eligible, an e-mail will be sent to one of our teams who will send you a registration agreement.  The e-mail will provide details of how to complete it and where to send it after completion.  Once we have received your completed registration agreement, we will process your registration and you will receive a Confirmation of Registration e-mail.

What if I need to change my module start date?

If you find that the start date you are registered on is no longer suitable either before or after module start date, you need to contact us to discuss study options.  You also need to refer to Changing your study plan information found here – https://help.open.ac.uk/documents/policies?query=changing%20study%20plans

The Open University and Uber partnership logo

Drivers or eligible family members now have access to flexible education with 100% course fee coverage

© 2019 COPYRIGHT Uber and The Open University Partnership

Uber will also receive your course type and status of your registration and enrolment from The Open University