diff --git a/media/player/videojs/classes/plugin.php b/media/player/videojs/classes/plugin.php
index 1f29e2e5b8f..53d723ba705 100644
--- a/media/player/videojs/classes/plugin.php
+++ b/media/player/videojs/classes/plugin.php
@@ -115,6 +115,12 @@ class media_videojs_plugin extends core_media_player_native {
         if ($this->youtube) {
             $datasetup[] = '"techOrder": ["youtube"]';
             $datasetup[] = '"sources": [{"type": "video/youtube", "src":"' . $urls[0] . '"}]';
+
+            // Check if we have a time parameter.
+            if ($time = $urls[0]->get_param('t')) {
+                $datasetup[] = '"youtube": {"start": "' . self::get_start_time($time) . '"}';
+            }
+
             $sources = ''; // Do not specify <source> tags - it may confuse browser.
             $isaudio = false; // Just in case.
         } else if ($flashtech) {
@@ -218,6 +224,30 @@ class media_videojs_plugin extends core_media_player_native {
         parent::pick_video_size($width, $height);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Method to convert Youtube time parameter string, which can contain human readable time
+     * intervals such as '1h5m', '1m10s', etc or a numeric seconds value
+     *
+     * @param string $timestr
+     * @return int
+     */
+    protected static function get_start_time(string $timestr): int {
+        if (is_numeric($timestr)) {
+            // We can return the time string itself if it's already numeric.
+            return (int) $timestr;
+        }
+
+        try {
+            // Parse the time string as an ISO 8601 time interval.
+            $timeinterval = new DateInterval('PT' . core_text::strtoupper($timestr));
+
+            return ($timeinterval->h * HOURSECS) + ($timeinterval->i * MINSECS) + $timeinterval->s;
+        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            // Invalid time interval.
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+
     public function get_supported_extensions() {
         global $CFG;
         require_once($CFG->libdir . '/filelib.php');
diff --git a/media/player/videojs/tests/player_test.php b/media/player/videojs/tests/player_test.php
index b3a576d3deb..aa8de9f56ee 100644
--- a/media/player/videojs/tests/player_test.php
+++ b/media/player/videojs/tests/player_test.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
  * @copyright 2016 Marina Glancy
  * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
-class media_videojs_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
+class media_videojs_player_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
 
     /**
      * Pre-test setup. Preserves $CFG.
@@ -273,19 +273,6 @@ class media_videojs_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->youtube_plugin_engaged($t);
         $this->assertContains('list=PLxcO_MFWQBDcyn9xpbmx601YSDlDcTcr0', $t);
 
-        // Format: youtube video with start time.
-        $url = new moodle_url('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=1h11s');
-        $t = $manager->embed_url($url);
-        $this->youtube_plugin_engaged($t);
-        $this->assertContains('t=1h11s', $t);
-
-        // Format: youtube video within playlist with start time.
-        $url = new moodle_url('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv2f_xfmbD8&index=4&list=PLxcO_MFWQBDcyn9xpbmx601YSDlDcTcr0&t=1m5s');
-        $t = $manager->embed_url($url);
-        $this->youtube_plugin_engaged($t);
-        $this->assertContains('list=PLxcO_MFWQBDcyn9xpbmx601YSDlDcTcr0', $t);
-        $this->assertContains('t=1m5s', $t);
-
         // Format: youtube playlist - not supported.
         $url = new moodle_url('http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=PL6E18E2927047B662');
         $t = $manager->embed_url($url);
@@ -296,7 +283,41 @@ class media_videojs_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $url = new moodle_url('http://www.youtube.com/p/PL6E18E2927047B662');
         $t = $manager->embed_url($url);
         $this->assertNotContains('mediaplugin_videojs', $t);
+    }
 
+    /**
+     * Data provider for {@see test_youtube_start_time}
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function youtube_start_time_provider(): array {
+        return [
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=1h11s', 3611],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv2f_xfmbD8&index=4&list=PLxcO_MFWQBDcyn9xpbmx601YSDlDcTcr0&t=1m5s', 65],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=1h10m30s', 4230],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=3m', 180],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=43s', 43],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=1234', 1234],
+            ['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNJMF1l3udM&t=invalid', 0],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test Youtube video embedding with URL's containing start time interval
+     *
+     * @param string $url
+     * @param int $expectedstart
+     *
+     * @dataProvider youtube_start_time_provider
+     */
+    public function test_youtube_start_time(string $url, int $expectedstart) {
+        set_config('youtube', 1, 'media_videojs');
+        set_config('useflash', 0, 'media_videojs');
+
+        $embedcode = core_media_manager::instance()->embed_url(new moodle_url($url));
+
+        $this->youtube_plugin_engaged($embedcode);
+        $this->assertContains("&quot;youtube&quot;: {&quot;start&quot;: &quot;{$expectedstart}&quot;}", $embedcode);
     }
 
     /**