If you’ve already built your Canvas course and want to reuse it for a new semester, follow these steps to copy your course content and update due dates!

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Step 1: Import Existing Content

1. Start in the blank course shell for the upcoming semester (this is usually created automatically 3-6 weeks before the semester starts). On the course shell’s home page, select Import Existing Content in the right-hand side area.

2. Choose “Copy a Canvas Course” under “Select Content Type.”

3. Type the name of your previous course, or the name of your sandbox course, in the “Search for a course” field, and select it.


Only courses you are enrolled in as a teacher (or teacher-similar role) will appear in the list. If you are trying to copy someone else’s course, you must first be added to that course.

Instructors can add three roles into their course without needing to request support:

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Designer

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Designer - Read Only

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Designer - Peers

Learn more about these Canvas course roles →

Instructors cannot add students into their course, or other instructors as the teacher role.

Complete this form to add other instructors to your course as a teacher →

Contact the Registrar for questions related to student enrollments.

4. Check the “Select specific content” box.
5. Under “Options,” select “Adjust events and due dates.”
1. Once that option is checked, you can set the beginning and end dates for the new semester. Canvas will try to shift all due dates in the copied content accordingly. Alternatively, you can select “Remove Dates” and then set them up later. See Fine-Tune Your Dates below.
6. Click the blue “+ Add to Import Queue” button.

7. Select the blue “Select Content” button in the Progress area.

8. Select the content you would like to copy. Many instructors will select everything except announcements. Then, select the blue “Select Content” button to confirm, and copy your course for the new semester.

Optional: Fine-Tune Your Dates

Canvas will shift dates, but you should still review them:

1. Go to Assignments area of your course, select the three vertical dots in the top right, and select “Edit Assignment Dates.”

2. You’ll see a table with all assignments, quizzes, discussions, etc., and their due dates. You can easily edit all dates here.

3. You can select multiple assignments and click Batch Edit to shift or remove due dates.

4. Make sure to click the blue “Save” button when you’re done batch editing and editing assignment dates.
5. Optional: You can also navigate to the Calendar in the global navigation menu to drag and drop assignments to different dates.

6. Use the View as Student button (top right of the Home page in your course) to preview your updated course and make sure all due dates and modules appear as expected.

Additional Resources