diff --git a/mod/data/classes/external.php b/mod/data/classes/external.php
index 65670ef0728..0cd94578410 100644
--- a/mod/data/classes/external.php
+++ b/mod/data/classes/external.php
@@ -807,7 +807,9 @@ class mod_data_external extends external_api {
                 'entries' => new external_multiple_structure(
                     record_exporter::get_read_structure()
                 ),
-                'totalcount' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'Total count of records.'),
+                'totalcount' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'Total count of records returned by the search.'),
+                'maxcount' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'Total count of records that the user could see in the database
+                    (if all the search criterias were removed).', VALUE_OPTIONAL),
                 'listviewcontents' => new external_value(PARAM_RAW, 'The list view contents as is rendered in the site.',
                                                             VALUE_OPTIONAL),
                 'warnings' => new external_warnings()
diff --git a/mod/data/tests/externallib_test.php b/mod/data/tests/externallib_test.php
index 5a37334773e..82208174b92 100644
--- a/mod/data/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/mod/data/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -696,6 +696,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(2, $result['entries']);
         $this->assertEquals(2, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $result['maxcount']);
 
         // Now as the other student I should receive my not approved entry. Apply ordering here.
         $this->setUser($this->student2);
@@ -703,6 +704,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(3, $result['entries']);
         $this->assertEquals(3, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(3, $result['maxcount']);
         // The not approved one should be the first.
         $this->assertEquals($entry13, $result['entries'][0]['id']);
 
@@ -712,6 +714,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(1, $result['entries']);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $result['maxcount']);
         $this->assertEquals($this->student3->id, $result['entries'][0]['userid']);
 
         // Same normal text search as teacher.
@@ -720,6 +723,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(4, $result['entries']);  // I can see all groups and non approved.
         $this->assertEquals(4, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(4, $result['maxcount']);
 
         // Pagination.
         $this->setUser($this->teacher);
@@ -727,6 +731,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(2, $result['entries']);  // Only 2 per page.
         $this->assertEquals(4, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(4, $result['maxcount']);
 
         // Now advanced search or not dinamic fields (user firstname for example).
         $this->setUser($this->student1);
@@ -737,6 +742,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(1, $result['entries']);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $result['maxcount']);
         $this->assertEquals($this->student2->id, $result['entries'][0]['userid']);  // I only found mine!
 
         // Advanced search for fields.
@@ -748,6 +754,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(2, $result['entries']);  // Found two entries matching this.
         $this->assertEquals(2, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $result['maxcount']);
 
         // Combined search.
         $field2 = $DB->get_record('data_fields', array('type' => 'number'));
@@ -760,6 +767,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(1, $result['entries']);  // Only one matching everything.
         $this->assertEquals(1, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $result['maxcount']);
 
         // Combined search (no results).
         $field2 = $DB->get_record('data_fields', array('type' => 'number'));
@@ -771,6 +779,7 @@ class mod_data_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(mod_data_external::search_entries_returns(), $result);
         $this->assertCount(0, $result['entries']);  // Only one matching everything.
         $this->assertEquals(0, $result['totalcount']);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $result['maxcount']);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/mod/data/upgrade.txt b/mod/data/upgrade.txt
index 7ee17a884e8..92ede9dcf5f 100644
--- a/mod/data/upgrade.txt
+++ b/mod/data/upgrade.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 This files describes API changes in /mod/data - plugins,
 information provided here is intended especially for developers.
 
+=== 3.4 ===
+* External function mod_data_external::search_entries() now returns the maxcount field: Total count of records that the user could
+    see in the database (if all the search criterias were removed).
+
 === 3.3.2 ===
 * data_refresh_events() Now takes two additional parameters to refine the update to a specific instance. This function
   now optionally takes the module instance object or ID, and the course module object or ID. Please try to send the full