diff --git a/lib/classes/persistent.php b/lib/classes/persistent.php
index e7b09a2f299..1f936e583a5 100644
--- a/lib/classes/persistent.php
+++ b/lib/classes/persistent.php
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ abstract class persistent {
      *
      * @param  string $property The property name.
      * @return $this
+     *
+     * @throws coding_exception
      */
     final public function set($property, $value) {
         if (!static::has_property($property)) {
@@ -123,6 +125,21 @@ abstract class persistent {
         return $this->raw_set($property, $value);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Data setter for multiple properties
+     *
+     * Internally calls {@see set} on each property
+     *
+     * @param array $values Array of property => value elements
+     * @return $this
+     */
+    final public function set_many(array $values): self {
+        foreach ($values as $property => $value) {
+            $this->set($property, $value);
+        }
+        return $this;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Data getter.
      *
diff --git a/lib/tests/persistent_test.php b/lib/tests/persistent_test.php
index 66bdffef994..4da6b0505ee 100644
--- a/lib/tests/persistent_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/persistent_test.php
@@ -353,6 +353,29 @@ class core_persistent_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertTrue($p->is_valid()); // Should always be valid after an update.
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test set_many prior to updating the persistent
+     */
+    public function test_set_many_update(): void {
+        global $DB;
+
+        $persistent = (new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) [
+            'idnumber' => 'test',
+            'sortorder' => 2
+        ]))->create();
+
+        // Set multiple properties, and update.
+        $persistent->set_many([
+            'idnumber' => 'test2',
+            'sortorder' => 1,
+        ])->update();
+
+        // Confirm our persistent was updated.
+        $record = $DB->get_record(core_testable_persistent::TABLE, ['id' => $persistent->get('id')], '*', MUST_EXIST);
+        $this->assertEquals('test2', $record->idnumber);
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $record->sortorder);
+    }
+
     public function test_save() {
         global $DB;
         $p = new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) array('sortorder' => 123, 'idnumber' => 'abc'));
@@ -384,6 +407,77 @@ class core_persistent_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertTrue($p->is_valid()); // Should always be valid after a save/update.
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test set_many prior to saving the persistent
+     */
+    public function test_set_many_save(): void {
+        global $DB;
+
+        $persistent = (new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) [
+            'idnumber' => 'test',
+            'sortorder' => 2
+        ]));
+
+        // Set multiple properties, and save.
+        $persistent->set_many([
+            'idnumber' => 'test2',
+            'sortorder' => 1,
+        ])->save();
+
+        // Confirm our persistent was saved.
+        $record = $DB->get_record(core_testable_persistent::TABLE, ['id' => $persistent->get('id')], '*', MUST_EXIST);
+        $this->assertEquals('test2', $record->idnumber);
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $record->sortorder);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test set_many with empty array should not modify the persistent
+     */
+    public function test_set_many_empty(): void {
+        global $DB;
+
+        $persistent = (new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) [
+            'idnumber' => 'test',
+            'sortorder' => 2
+        ]))->create();
+
+        // Set empty properties, and update.
+        $persistent->set_many([])->update();
+
+        // Confirm our persistent was not updated.
+        $record = $DB->get_record(core_testable_persistent::TABLE, ['id' => $persistent->get('id')], '*', MUST_EXIST);
+        $this->assertEquals('test', $record->idnumber);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $record->sortorder);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test set with invalid property
+     */
+    public function test_set_invalid_property(): void {
+        $persistent = (new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) [
+            'idnumber' => 'test',
+            'sortorder' => 2
+        ]));
+
+        $this->expectException(coding_exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unexpected property \'invalid\' requested');
+        $persistent->set('invalid', 'stuff');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test set_many with invalid property
+     */
+    public function test_set_many_invalid_property(): void {
+        $persistent = (new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) [
+            'idnumber' => 'test',
+            'sortorder' => 2
+        ]));
+
+        $this->expectException(coding_exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unexpected property \'invalid\' requested');
+        $persistent->set_many(['invalid' => 'stuff']);
+    }
+
     public function test_read() {
         $p = new core_testable_persistent(0, (object) array('sortorder' => 123, 'idnumber' => 'abc'));
         $p->create();
diff --git a/lib/upgrade.txt b/lib/upgrade.txt
index 38f10134294..483421c0db9 100644
--- a/lib/upgrade.txt
+++ b/lib/upgrade.txt
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ completely removed from Moodle core too.
   fixed units), to always include a non-breaking space between the number and unit, and to use
   consistent rounding (always 1 decimal place by default).
 * The persistent method get() now returns the correct type for each property defined in the persistent class.
+* New persistent set_many() helper for setting multiple properties in single method call.
 * Require pass grade criteria is now part of core.
   Refer to upgrade.php to see transitioning from similar plugin criteria to core
   Refer to completion/upgrade.txt for additional information.