diff --git a/backup/util/helper/backup_cron_helper.class.php b/backup/util/helper/backup_cron_helper.class.php
index 683c4460e70..33917bd561d 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/backup_cron_helper.class.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/backup_cron_helper.class.php
@@ -68,6 +68,40 @@ abstract class backup_cron_automated_helper {
     /** Automated backup storage in course backup filearea and specified directory */
     const STORAGE_COURSE_AND_DIRECTORY = 2;
 
+    /**
+     * Get the courses to backup.
+     *
+     * When there are multiple courses to backup enforce some order to the record set.
+     * The following is the preference order.
+     * First backup courses that do not have an entry in backup_courses first,
+     * as they are likely new and never been backed up. Do the oldest modified courses first.
+     * Then backup courses that have previously been backed up starting with the oldest next start time.
+     *
+     * @param null|int $now timestamp to use in course selection.
+     * @return moodle_recordset The recordset of matching courses.
+     */
+    protected static function get_courses($now = null) {
+        global $DB;
+        if ($now == null) {
+            $now = time();
+        }
+
+        $sql = 'SELECT c.*,
+                       COALESCE(bc.nextstarttime, 1) nextstarttime
+                  FROM {course} c
+             LEFT JOIN {backup_courses} bc ON bc.courseid = c.id
+                 WHERE bc.nextstarttime IS NULL OR bc.nextstarttime < ?
+              ORDER BY nextstarttime ASC,
+                       c.timemodified ASC';
+
+        $params = array(
+            $now,  // Only get courses where the backup start time is in the past.
+        );
+        $rs = $DB->get_recordset_sql($sql, $params);
+
+        return $rs;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Runs the automated backups if required
      *
@@ -127,7 +161,7 @@ abstract class backup_cron_automated_helper {
                 $showtime = date('r', $nextstarttime);
             }
 
-            $rs = $DB->get_recordset('course');
+            $rs = self::get_courses($now); // Get courses to backup.
             foreach ($rs as $course) {
                 $backupcourse = $DB->get_record('backup_courses', array('courseid' => $course->id));
                 if (!$backupcourse) {
diff --git a/backup/util/helper/tests/cronhelper_test.php b/backup/util/helper/tests/cronhelper_test.php
index 274e6ddb54b..c67efe0157e 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/tests/cronhelper_test.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/tests/cronhelper_test.php
@@ -364,8 +364,107 @@ class backup_cron_helper_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         // Updated courses should be backed up.
         $this->assertTrue(testable_backup_cron_automated_helper::testable_is_course_modified($course->id, $timepriortobackup));
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Create courses and backup records for tests.
+     *
+     * @return array Created courses.
+     */
+    private function course_setup() {
+        global $DB;
+
+        // Create test courses.
+        $course1 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(array('timecreated' => 1551402000));
+        $course2 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(array('timecreated' => 1552179600));
+        $course3 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(array('timecreated' => 1552179600));
+        $course4 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(array('timecreated' => 1552179600));
+
+        // Create backup course records for the courses that need them.
+        $backupcourse3 = new stdClass;
+        $backupcourse3->courseid = $course3->id;
+        $backupcourse3->laststatus = testable_backup_cron_automated_helper::BACKUP_STATUS_OK;
+        $backupcourse3->nextstarttime = 1554858160;
+        $DB->insert_record('backup_courses', $backupcourse3);
+
+        $backupcourse4 = new stdClass;
+        $backupcourse4->courseid = $course4->id;
+        $backupcourse4->laststatus = testable_backup_cron_automated_helper::BACKUP_STATUS_OK;
+        $backupcourse4->nextstarttime = 1554858160;
+        $DB->insert_record('backup_courses', $backupcourse4);
+
+        return array($course1, $course2, $course3, $course4);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test the selection and ordering of courses to be backed up.
+     */
+    public function test_get_courses() {
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+
+        list($course1, $course2, $course3, $course4) = $this->course_setup();
+
+        $now = 1559215025;
+
+        // Get the courses in order.
+        $courseset = testable_backup_cron_automated_helper::testable_get_courses($now);
+
+        $coursearray = array();
+        foreach ($courseset as $course) {
+            if ($course->id != SITEID) { // Skip system course for test.
+                $coursearray[] = $course->id;
+            }
+
+        }
+        $courseset->close();
+
+        // First should be course 1, it is the oldest modified without a backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course1->id, $coursearray[0]);
+
+        // Second should be course 2, it is the next oldest modified without a backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course2->id, $coursearray[1]);
+
+        // Third should be course 3, it is the course with the oldest backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course3->id, $coursearray[2]);
+
+        // Fourth should be course 4, it is the course with the newest backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course4->id, $coursearray[3]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test the selection and ordering of courses to be backed up.
+     * Where it is not yet time to start backups for courses with existing backups.
+     */
+    public function test_get_courses_starttime() {
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+
+        list($course1, $course2, $course3, $course4) = $this->course_setup();
+
+        $now = 1554858000;
+
+        // Get the courses in order.
+        $courseset = testable_backup_cron_automated_helper::testable_get_courses($now);
+
+        $coursearray = array();
+        foreach ($courseset as $course) {
+            if ($course->id != SITEID) { // Skip system course for test.
+                $coursearray[] = $course->id;
+            }
+
+        }
+        $courseset->close();
+
+        // Should only be two courses.
+        // First should be course 1, it is the oldest modified without a backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course1->id, $coursearray[0]);
+
+        // Second should be course 2, it is the next oldest modified without a backup.
+        $this->assertEquals($course2->id, $coursearray[1]);
+    }
+
 }
 
+
+
 /**
  * Provides access to protected methods we want to explicitly test
  *
@@ -397,4 +496,15 @@ class testable_backup_cron_automated_helper extends backup_cron_automated_helper
     public static function testable_is_course_modified($courseid, $since) {
         return parent::is_course_modified($courseid, $since);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Provides access to protected method get_courses.
+     *
+     * @param int $now Timestamp to use.
+     * @return moodle_recordset The returned courses as a Moodle recordest.
+     */
+    public static function testable_get_courses($now) {
+        return parent::get_courses($now);
+    }
+
 }