diff --git a/course/format/singleactivity/lib.php b/course/format/singleactivity/lib.php
index 50fa91a7f20..6556c127e50 100644
--- a/course/format/singleactivity/lib.php
+++ b/course/format/singleactivity/lib.php
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ class format_singleactivity extends format_base {
     /** @var cm_info the current activity. Use get_activity() to retrieve it. */
     private $activity = false;
 
+    /** @var int The category ID guessed from the form data. */
+    private $categoryid = false;
+
     /**
      * The URL to use for the specified course
      *
@@ -145,6 +148,30 @@ class format_singleactivity extends format_base {
      */
     public function course_format_options($foreditform = false) {
         static $courseformatoptions = false;
+
+        $fetchtypes = $courseformatoptions === false;
+        $fetchtypes = $fetchtypes || ($foreditform && !isset($courseformatoptions['activitytype']['label']));
+
+        if ($fetchtypes) {
+            $availabletypes = $this->get_supported_activities();
+            if ($this->course) {
+                // The course exists. Test against the course.
+                $testcontext = context_course::instance($this->course->id);
+            } else if ($this->categoryid) {
+                // The course does not exist yet, but we have a category ID that we can test against.
+                $testcontext = context_coursecat::instance($this->categoryid);
+            } else {
+                // The course does not exist, and we somehow do not have a category. Test capabilities against the system context.
+                $testcontext = context_system::instance();
+            }
+            foreach (array_keys($availabletypes) as $activity) {
+                $capability = "mod/{$activity}:addinstance";
+                if (!has_capability($capability, $testcontext)) {
+                    unset($availabletypes[$activity]);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         if ($courseformatoptions === false) {
             $config = get_config('format_singleactivity');
             $courseformatoptions = array(
@@ -153,9 +180,13 @@ class format_singleactivity extends format_base {
                     'type' => PARAM_TEXT,
                 ),
             );
+
+            if (!isset($availabletypes[$config->activitytype])) {
+                $courseformatoptions['activitytype']['default'] = array_keys($availabletypes)[0];
+            }
         }
+
         if ($foreditform && !isset($courseformatoptions['activitytype']['label'])) {
-            $availabletypes = $this->get_supported_activities();
             $courseformatoptionsedit = array(
                 'activitytype' => array(
                     'label' => new lang_string('activitytype', 'format_singleactivity'),
@@ -183,6 +214,11 @@ class format_singleactivity extends format_base {
      */
     public function create_edit_form_elements(&$mform, $forsection = false) {
         global $PAGE;
+
+        if (!$this->course && $submitvalues = $mform->getSubmitValues()) {
+            $this->categoryid = $submitvalues['category'];
+        }
+
         $elements = parent::create_edit_form_elements($mform, $forsection);
         if (!$forsection && ($course = $PAGE->course) && !empty($course->format) &&
                 $course->format !== 'site' && $course->format !== 'singleactivity') {
diff --git a/course/format/singleactivity/tests/behat/create_course.feature b/course/format/singleactivity/tests/behat/create_course.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6eee07ff1cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/course/format/singleactivity/tests/behat/create_course.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+@format @format_singleactivity
+Feature: Courses can be created in Single Activity mode
+  In order to create a single activity course
+  As a manager
+  I need to create courses and set default values on them
+
+  Scenario: Create a course as a custom course creator
+    Given the following "users" exist:
+      | username  | firstname | lastname | email          |
+      | kevin  | Kevin   | the        | kevin@example.com |
+    And the following "roles" exist:
+      | shortname | name    | archetype |
+      | creator   | Creator |           |
+    And the following "system role assigns" exist:
+      | user   | role    | contextlevel |
+      | kevin  | creator | System       |
+    And I log in as "admin"
+    And I set the following system permissions of "Creator" role:
+      | capability | permission |
+      | moodle/course:create | Allow |
+      | moodle/course:update | Allow |
+      | moodle/course:manageactivities | Allow |
+      | moodle/course:viewparticipants | Allow |
+      | moodle/role:assign | Allow |
+      | mod/quiz:addinstance | Allow |
+    And I log out
+    And I log in as "kevin"
+    And I am on site homepage
+    When I press "Add a new course"
+    And I set the following fields to these values:
+      | Course full name  | My first course |
+      | Course short name | myfirstcourse |
+      | Format | Single activity format |
+    And I press "Update format"
+    Then I should see "Quiz" in the "Type of activity" "field"
+    And I should not see "Forum" in the "Type of activity" "field"
+    And I press "Save and display"
+    And I should see "Adding a new Quiz"