diff --git a/admin/tool/uploadcourse/classes/step2_form.php b/admin/tool/uploadcourse/classes/step2_form.php
index 8854abbd90a..9f1a79927aa 100644
--- a/admin/tool/uploadcourse/classes/step2_form.php
+++ b/admin/tool/uploadcourse/classes/step2_form.php
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class tool_uploadcourse_step2_form extends tool_uploadcourse_base_form {
         $mform->setExpanded('defaultheader', true);
 
         $displaylist = core_course_category::make_categories_list('moodle/course:create');
-        $mform->addElement('select', 'defaults[category]', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
+        $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'defaults[category]', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
         $mform->addHelpButton('defaults[category]', 'coursecategory');
 
         $choices = array();
diff --git a/backup/util/ui/classes/output/copy_form.php b/backup/util/ui/classes/output/copy_form.php
index ff7a55dea63..34794a870e7 100644
--- a/backup/util/ui/classes/output/copy_form.php
+++ b/backup/util/ui/classes/output/copy_form.php
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class copy_form extends \moodleform {
             // Always keep current category.
             $displaylist[$course->category] = \core_course_category::get($course->category, MUST_EXIST, true)->get_formatted_name();
         }
-        $mform->addElement('select', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
+        $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
         $mform->addHelpButton('category', 'coursecategory');
 
         // Course visibility.
diff --git a/calendar/classes/local/event/forms/eventtype.php b/calendar/classes/local/event/forms/eventtype.php
index 8475e294124..6488acb3419 100644
--- a/calendar/classes/local/event/forms/eventtype.php
+++ b/calendar/classes/local/event/forms/eventtype.php
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ trait eventtype {
                 $categoryoptions[$id] = $category;
             }
 
-            $mform->addElement('select', 'categoryid', get_string('category'), $categoryoptions);
+            $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'categoryid', get_string('category'), $categoryoptions);
             $mform->hideIf('categoryid', 'eventtype', 'noteq', 'category');
         }
 
diff --git a/calendar/tests/behat/calendar.feature b/calendar/tests/behat/calendar.feature
index 5f1ffaf5043..abdf3edea2c 100644
--- a/calendar/tests/behat/calendar.feature
+++ b/calendar/tests/behat/calendar.feature
@@ -199,10 +199,10 @@ Feature: Perform basic calendar functionality
     And I am viewing site calendar
     And I click on "New event" "button"
     And I set the field "Type of event" to "Course"
-    When I open the autocomplete suggestions list
-    Then I should see "Course 1" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
-    And I should not see "Course 2" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
-    And I should not see "Course 3" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
+    When I expand the "Course" autocomplete
+    Then "Course 1" "autocomplete_suggestions" should exist
+    And "Course 2" "autocomplete_suggestions" should not exist
+    And "Course 3" "autocomplete_suggestions" should not exist
     And I click on "Close" "button"
     And I am on site homepage
     And I navigate to "Appearance > Calendar" in site administration
@@ -211,10 +211,10 @@ Feature: Perform basic calendar functionality
     And I am viewing site calendar
     And I click on "New event" "button"
     And I set the field "Type of event" to "Course"
-    When I open the autocomplete suggestions list
-    Then I should see "Course 1" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
-    And I should see "Course 2" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
-    And I should see "Course 3" in the ".form-autocomplete-suggestions" "css_element"
+    When I expand the "Course" autocomplete
+    Then "Course 1" "autocomplete_suggestions" should exist
+    And "Course 2" "autocomplete_suggestions" should exist
+    And "Course 3" "autocomplete_suggestions" should exist
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Students can only see user event type by default.
diff --git a/cohort/edit_form.php b/cohort/edit_form.php
index 7dbe18bc73a..77599fd1dc2 100644
--- a/cohort/edit_form.php
+++ b/cohort/edit_form.php
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class cohort_edit_form extends moodleform {
         $mform->setType('name', PARAM_TEXT);
 
         $options = $this->get_category_options($cohort->contextid);
-        $mform->addElement('select', 'contextid', get_string('context', 'role'), $options);
+        $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'contextid', get_string('context', 'role'), $options);
 
         $mform->addElement('text', 'idnumber', get_string('idnumber', 'cohort'), 'maxlength="254" size="50"');
         $mform->setType('idnumber', PARAM_RAW); // Idnumbers are plain text, must not be changed.
diff --git a/cohort/tests/behat/add_cohort.feature b/cohort/tests/behat/add_cohort.feature
index 1a5955da067..b93d41fb983 100644
--- a/cohort/tests/behat/add_cohort.feature
+++ b/cohort/tests/behat/add_cohort.feature
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Feature: Add cohorts of users
       | Description | Test cohort description |
     And I press "Save changes"
 
+  @javascript
   Scenario: Add a cohort
     When I follow "Cohorts"
     Then I should see "Test cohort name"
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ Feature: Add cohorts of users
     And I should see "Test cohort description"
     And I should see "Created manually"
 
+  @javascript
   Scenario: Add users to a cohort selecting them from the system users list
     When I add "First User (first@example.com)" user to "333" cohort members
     And I add "Second User (second@example.com)" user to "333" cohort members
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ Feature: Add cohorts of users
     And the "Current users" select box should contain "Second User (second@example.com)"
     And the "Current users" select box should not contain "Forth User (forth@example.com)"
 
+  @javascript
   Scenario: Add users to a cohort using a bulk user action
     When I follow "Accounts"
     And I follow "Bulk user actions"
diff --git a/course/classes/deletecategory_form.php b/course/classes/deletecategory_form.php
index ddbd43396ca..906837e505d 100644
--- a/course/classes/deletecategory_form.php
+++ b/course/classes/deletecategory_form.php
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class core_course_deletecategory_form extends moodleform {
         }
 
         if ($displaylist) {
-            $mform->addElement('select', 'newparent', get_string('movecategorycontentto'), $displaylist);
+            $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'newparent', get_string('movecategorycontentto'), $displaylist);
             if (in_array($this->coursecat->parent, $displaylist)) {
                 $mform->setDefault('newparent', $this->coursecat->parent);
             }
diff --git a/course/classes/editcategory_form.php b/course/classes/editcategory_form.php
index f11d28c0b41..236fbad0901 100644
--- a/course/classes/editcategory_form.php
+++ b/course/classes/editcategory_form.php
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class core_course_editcategory_form extends moodleform {
             $strsubmit = get_string('createcategory');
         }
 
-        $mform->addElement('select', 'parent', get_string('parentcategory'), $options);
+        $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'parent', get_string('parentcategory'), $options);
 
         $mform->addElement('text', 'name', get_string('categoryname'), array('size' => '30'));
         $mform->addRule('name', get_string('required'), 'required', null);
diff --git a/course/edit_form.php b/course/edit_form.php
index 1b9cfc40284..8a289cc7258 100644
--- a/course/edit_form.php
+++ b/course/edit_form.php
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class course_edit_form extends moodleform {
         if (empty($course->id)) {
             if (has_capability('moodle/course:create', $categorycontext)) {
                 $displaylist = core_course_category::make_categories_list('moodle/course:create');
-                $mform->addElement('select', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
+                $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
                 $mform->addHelpButton('category', 'coursecategory');
                 $mform->setDefault('category', $category->id);
             } else {
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class course_edit_form extends moodleform {
                     $displaylist[$course->category] = core_course_category::get($course->category, MUST_EXIST, true)
                         ->get_formatted_name();
                 }
-                $mform->addElement('select', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
+                $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
                 $mform->addHelpButton('category', 'coursecategory');
             } else {
                 //keep current
diff --git a/course/request_form.php b/course/request_form.php
index 31075846250..d9179700119 100644
--- a/course/request_form.php
+++ b/course/request_form.php
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class course_request_form extends moodleform {
 
         if (empty($CFG->lockrequestcategory)) {
             $displaylist = core_course_category::make_categories_list('moodle/course:request');
-            $mform->addElement('select', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
+            $mform->addElement('autocomplete', 'category', get_string('coursecategory'), $displaylist);
             $mform->setDefault('category', $CFG->defaultrequestcategory);
             $mform->addHelpButton('category', 'coursecategory');
         }
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/category_management.feature b/course/tests/behat/category_management.feature
index eaeeeecdbd3..14ad0b238dd 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/category_management.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/category_management.feature
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ Feature: Test category management actions
     And I should see "Category 1 (edited)" in the "#category-listing" "css_element"
     And I should see "Category 1 (edited)" in the "#course-listing h3" "css_element"
 
+  @javascript
   Scenario: Test deleting a categories through the management interface.
     Given the following "categories" exist:
       | name | category | idnumber |
@@ -227,9 +228,9 @@ Feature: Test category management actions
     And I should see "Delete category: Cat 1"
     And I should see "Contents of Cat 1"
     And "What to do" "select" should exist
-    And "Move into" "select" should exist
-    And the "Move into" select box should not contain "Cat 2"
-    And the "Move into" select box should contain "Miscellaneous"
+    And I expand the "Move into" autocomplete
+    And "Cat 2" "autocomplete_suggestions" should not exist
+    And "Miscellaneous" "autocomplete_selection" should be visible
     And I set the field "What to do" to "Delete all - cannot be undone"
     And "Move into" "select" should not be visible
     And I press "Cancel"
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature b/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
index c50671f4ef2..9a9c6e87932 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Feature: Users can request and approve courses
     And I am on course index
     And I follow "English category"
     And I press "Request a course"
-    And the field "Course category" matches value "English category"
+    And the "Course category" select box should contain "English category"
     And I set the following fields to these values:
       | Course full name  | My new course |
       | Course short name | Mynewcourse   |
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/coursetags.feature b/course/tests/behat/coursetags.feature
index 0883b524732..c2655fc48a6 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/coursetags.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/coursetags.feature
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Feature: Tagging courses
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage
     And I navigate to "Edit settings" in current page administration
     And I expand all fieldsets
-    Then I should see "Mathematics" in the ".form-autocomplete-selection" "css_element"
+    Then "Mathematics" "autocomplete_suggestions" should exist
     And I set the following fields to these values:
       | Tags | Algebra |
     And I press "Save and display"
diff --git a/lib/adminlib.php b/lib/adminlib.php
index c6a3219fc61..b93d393d210 100644
--- a/lib/adminlib.php
+++ b/lib/adminlib.php
@@ -5007,12 +5007,12 @@ class admin_settings_num_course_sections extends admin_setting_configselect {
  *
  * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
-class admin_settings_coursecat_select extends admin_setting_configselect {
+class admin_settings_coursecat_select extends admin_setting_configselect_autocomplete {
     /**
      * Calls parent::__construct with specific arguments
      */
-    public function __construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting) {
-        parent::__construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting, NULL);
+    public function __construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting = 1) {
+        parent::__construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting, $choices = null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -5021,8 +5021,6 @@ class admin_settings_coursecat_select extends admin_setting_configselect {
      * @return bool
      */
     public function load_choices() {
-        global $CFG;
-        require_once($CFG->dirroot.'/course/lib.php');
         if (is_array($this->choices)) {
             return true;
         }
@@ -5435,6 +5433,54 @@ class admin_setting_configcheckbox_with_lock extends admin_setting_configcheckbo
 
 }
 
+/**
+ * Autocomplete as you type form element.
+ *
+ * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+class admin_setting_configselect_autocomplete extends admin_setting_configselect {
+    /** @var boolean $tags Should we allow typing new entries to the field? */
+    protected $tags = false;
+    /** @var string $ajax Name of an AMD module to send/process ajax requests. */
+    protected $ajax = '';
+    /** @var string $placeholder Placeholder text for an empty list. */
+    protected $placeholder = '';
+    /** @var bool $casesensitive Whether the search has to be case-sensitive. */
+    protected $casesensitive = false;
+    /** @var bool $showsuggestions Show suggestions by default - but this can be turned off. */
+    protected $showsuggestions = true;
+    /** @var string $noselectionstring String that is shown when there are no selections. */
+    protected $noselectionstring = '';
+
+    /**
+     * Returns XHTML select field and wrapping div(s)
+     *
+     * @see output_select_html()
+     *
+     * @param string $data the option to show as selected
+     * @param string $query
+     * @return string XHTML field and wrapping div
+     */
+    public function output_html($data, $query='') {
+        global $PAGE;
+
+        $html = parent::output_html($data, $query);
+
+        if ($html === '') {
+            return $html;
+        }
+
+        $this->placeholder = get_string('search');
+
+        $params = array('#' . $this->get_id(), $this->tags, $this->ajax,
+            $this->placeholder, $this->casesensitive, $this->showsuggestions, $this->noselectionstring);
+
+        // Load autocomplete wrapper for select2 library.
+        $PAGE->requires->js_call_amd('core/form-autocomplete', 'enhance', $params);
+
+        return $html;
+    }
+}
 
 /**
  * Dropdown menu with an advanced checkbox, that controls a additional $name.'_adv' setting.