diff --git a/mod/forum/externallib.php b/mod/forum/externallib.php
index a6f246c07ab..b0d901b8aac 100644
--- a/mod/forum/externallib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/externallib.php
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ class mod_forum_external extends external_api {
                 $forum->numdiscussions = forum_count_discussions($forum, $cm, $course);
                 $forum->cmid = $forum->coursemodule;
                 $forum->cancreatediscussions = forum_user_can_post_discussion($forum, null, -1, $cm, $context);
+                $forum->istracked = forum_tp_is_tracked($forum);
 
                 // Add the forum to the array to return.
                 $arrforums[$forum->id] = $forum;
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ class mod_forum_external extends external_api {
                     'numdiscussions' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'Number of discussions in the forum', VALUE_OPTIONAL),
                     'cancreatediscussions' => new external_value(PARAM_BOOL, 'If the user can create discussions', VALUE_OPTIONAL),
                     'lockdiscussionafter' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'After what period a discussion is locked', VALUE_OPTIONAL),
+                    'istracked' => new external_value(PARAM_BOOL, 'If the user is tracking the forum', VALUE_OPTIONAL),
                 ), 'forum'
             )
         );
diff --git a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
index d5ed26524f3..ea9f5a1f0d5 100644
--- a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
 global $CFG;
 
 require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/webservice/tests/helpers.php');
+require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/mod/forum/lib.php');
 
 class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
 
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
 
         // Create a user.
-        $user = self::getDataGenerator()->create_user();
+        $user = self::getDataGenerator()->create_user(array('trackforums' => 1));
 
         // Set to the user.
         self::setUser($user);
@@ -72,12 +73,14 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $record = new stdClass();
         $record->introformat = FORMAT_HTML;
         $record->course = $course1->id;
+        $record->trackingtype = FORUM_TRACKING_FORCED;
         $forum1 = self::getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', $record);
 
         // Second forum.
         $record = new stdClass();
         $record->introformat = FORMAT_HTML;
         $record->course = $course2->id;
+        $record->trackingtype = FORUM_TRACKING_OFF;
         $forum2 = self::getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', $record);
         $forum2->introfiles = [];
 
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         // Expect one discussion.
         $forum1->numdiscussions = 1;
         $forum1->cancreatediscussions = true;
+        $forum1->istracked = true;
         $forum1->introfiles = [];
 
         $record = new stdClass();
@@ -102,6 +106,7 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $forum2->numdiscussions = 2;
         // Default limited role, no create discussion capability enabled.
         $forum2->cancreatediscussions = false;
+        $forum2->istracked = false;
 
         // Check the forum was correctly created.
         $this->assertEquals(2, $DB->count_records_select('forum', 'id = :forum1 OR id = :forum2',
diff --git a/mod/forum/upgrade.txt b/mod/forum/upgrade.txt
index 287838ede47..7cd1a709cb8 100644
--- a/mod/forum/upgrade.txt
+++ b/mod/forum/upgrade.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 This files describes API changes in /mod/forum/*,
 information provided here is intended especially for developers.
 
+=== 3.3 ===
+  * External function get_forums_by_courses now returns and additional field "istracked" that indicates if the user
+   is tracking the related forum.
+
 === 3.2 ===
  * The setting $CFG->forum_replytouser has been removed in favour of a centralized noreplyaddress setting.
    Please use $CFG->noreplyaddress setting instead.