diff --git a/course/format/formatlegacy.php b/course/format/formatlegacy.php
index 61a5658392b5c..516f3c5f94a7c 100644
--- a/course/format/formatlegacy.php
+++ b/course/format/formatlegacy.php
@@ -178,4 +178,28 @@ function ajax_section_move() {
             return parent::ajax_section_move();
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of blocks to be automatically added for the newly created course
+     *
+     * This function checks the existence of the file config.php in the course format folder.
+     * If file exists and contains the code
+     * $format['defaultblocks'] = 'leftblock1,leftblock2:rightblock1,rightblock2';
+     * these blocks are used, otherwise parent function is called
+     *
+     * @return array of default blocks, must contain two keys BLOCK_POS_LEFT and BLOCK_POS_RIGHT
+     *     each of values is an array of block names (for left and right side columns)
+     */
+    public function get_default_blocks() {
+        global $CFG;
+        $formatconfig = $CFG->dirroot.'/course/format/'.$this->format.'/config.php';
+        $format = array(); // initialize array in external file
+        if (is_readable($formatconfig)) {
+            include($formatconfig);
+        }
+        if (!empty($format['defaultblocks'])) {
+            return blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($format['defaultblocks']);
+        }
+        return parent::get_default_blocks();
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/course/format/lib.php b/course/format/lib.php
index 7a0484cd7d0c2..9496601e9b420 100644
--- a/course/format/lib.php
+++ b/course/format/lib.php
@@ -391,6 +391,26 @@ public function extend_course_navigation(&$navigation, navigation_node $node) {
         }
         return array();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of blocks to be automatically added for the newly created course
+     *
+     * @see blocks_add_default_course_blocks()
+     *
+     * @return array of default blocks, must contain two keys BLOCK_POS_LEFT and BLOCK_POS_RIGHT
+     *     each of values is an array of block names (for left and right side columns)
+     */
+    public function get_default_blocks() {
+        global $CFG;
+        if (!empty($CFG->defaultblocks)){
+            return blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($CFG->defaultblocks);
+        }
+        $blocknames = array(
+            BLOCK_POS_LEFT => array(),
+            BLOCK_POS_RIGHT => array('search_forums', 'news_items', 'calendar_upcoming', 'recent_activity')
+        );
+        return $blocknames;
+    }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/blocklib.php b/lib/blocklib.php
index e9c133ffed6ec..66773d221a8f8 100644
--- a/lib/blocklib.php
+++ b/lib/blocklib.php
@@ -2105,30 +2105,12 @@ function blocks_add_default_course_blocks($course) {
     } else if ($course->id == SITEID) {
         $blocknames = blocks_get_default_site_course_blocks();
 
-    } else {
-        $defaultblocks = 'defaultblocks_' . $course->format;
-        if (!empty($CFG->$defaultblocks)) {
-            $blocknames = blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($CFG->$defaultblocks);
-
-        } else {
-            $formatconfig = $CFG->dirroot.'/course/format/'.$course->format.'/config.php';
-            $format = array(); // initialize array in external file
-            if (is_readable($formatconfig)) {
-                include($formatconfig);
-            }
-            if (!empty($format['defaultblocks'])) {
-                $blocknames = blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($format['defaultblocks']);
+    } else if (!empty($CFG->{'defaultblocks_' . $course->format})) {
+        $blocknames = blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($CFG->{'defaultblocks_' . $course->format});
 
-            } else if (!empty($CFG->defaultblocks)){
-                $blocknames = blocks_parse_default_blocks_list($CFG->defaultblocks);
+    } else {
+        $blocknames = course_get_format($course)->get_default_blocks();
 
-            } else {
-                $blocknames = array(
-                    BLOCK_POS_LEFT => array(),
-                    BLOCK_POS_RIGHT => array('search_forums', 'news_items', 'calendar_upcoming', 'recent_activity')
-                );
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     if ($course->id == SITEID) {