diff --git a/course/classes/output/manage_categories_action_bar.php b/course/classes/output/manage_categories_action_bar.php
index 44882bc141c..01314a2d6bf 100644
--- a/course/classes/output/manage_categories_action_bar.php
+++ b/course/classes/output/manage_categories_action_bar.php
@@ -154,11 +154,17 @@ class manage_categories_action_bar implements \renderable {
      *              - renderedcontent Rendered content to be displayed in line with the tertiary nav
      */
     public function export_for_template(\renderer_base $output): array {
-        return [
+        $data = [
             'urlselect' => $this->get_dropdown($output),
             'categoryselect' => $this->get_category_select($output),
             'search' => $this->get_search_form(),
             'heading' => $this->heading,
         ];
+
+        if ($this->searchvalue !== '') {
+            $backbutton = new \single_button(new moodle_url('/course/management.php'), get_string('back'), 'get');
+            $data['backbutton'] = $backbutton->export_for_template($output);
+        }
+        return $data;
     }
 }
diff --git a/course/templates/manage_category_actionbar.mustache b/course/templates/manage_category_actionbar.mustache
index a88e40defc6..f35d067c78c 100644
--- a/course/templates/manage_category_actionbar.mustache
+++ b/course/templates/manage_category_actionbar.mustache
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@
             "helpicon":false,
             "attributes":[]
         },
+        "backbutton": {
+            "url": "https://moodle.local/course/management.php",
+            "icon": "",
+            "title": "Back",
+            "classes": "btn btn-secondary"
+        },
         "search": {
             "action": "https://moodle.local/admin/search.php",
             "extraclasses": "my-2",
@@ -109,8 +115,13 @@
                 {{> core/url_select }}
             </div>
         {{/categoryselect}}
-        {{#search}}
+        {{#backbutton}}
             <div class="navitem">
+                {{> core/single_button }}
+            </div>
+        {{/backbutton}}
+        {{#search}}
+            <div class="navitem ms-auto">
                 {{> core/search_input }}
             </div>
         {{/search}}
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/course_search.feature b/course/tests/behat/course_search.feature
index 6125955b7f5..c5856b6944d 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/course_search.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/course_search.feature
@@ -20,12 +20,14 @@ Feature: Courses can be searched for and moved in bulk.
   Scenario: Search courses finds correct results
     Given I log in as "admin"
     And I go to the courses management page
+    And I should not see "Back" in the "region-main" "region"
     When I set the field "Search" to "Biology"
     And I press "Search"
     Then I should see "Biology Y1"
     And I should see "Biology Y2"
     And I should not see "English Y1"
     And I should not see "English Y2"
+    And I should see "Back" in the "region-main" "region"
 
   Scenario: Search courses displays contact names
     Given the following "users" exist: