diff --git a/src/admin/manage_courses.php b/src/admin/manage_courses.php
index df1f726f..3809bc4b 100644
--- a/src/admin/manage_courses.php
+++ b/src/admin/manage_courses.php
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ if ($course_id) {
                             <div class="col-md-6">
                                 <div class="form-group">
                                     <label for="code">Course Code</label>
-                                    <input type="text" id="code" name="code" class="form-control" maxlength="12" value="<?php echo $course ? htmlspecialchars($course['code']) : ''; ?>" placeholder="Optional code e.g., CRSE001">
+                                    <input type="text" id="code" name="code" class="form-control" maxlength="12" value="<?php echo $course ? htmlspecialchars($course['code']) : ''; ?>" placeholder="Optional code e.g., CRSE001" data-manual="0">
+                                    <small class="form-text text-muted">Auto-generated from type + date (you can edit manually)</small>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
 
@@ -151,4 +152,70 @@ if ($course_id) {
     });
 </script>
 
+<script>
+    // Auto-generate course code from type and date: ABBREVIATION_MMDD
+    (function(){
+        var typeMap = {
+            'driver_training': 'DRVTRN',
+            'bush_mechanics': 'BUSHMEC',
+            'rescue_recovery': 'RESREC',
+            'ladies_driver_training': 'LADYTRN'
+        };
+
+        var $type = document.getElementById('course_type');
+        var $date = document.getElementById('date');
+        var $code = document.getElementById('code');
+
+        function getMMDDFromISO(isoDate) {
+            if (!isoDate) return '';
+            // expecting YYYY-MM-DD
+            var parts = isoDate.split('-');
+            if (parts.length !== 3) return '';
+            return parts[1] + parts[2];
+        }
+
+        function generateCode() {
+            try {
+                var manual = $code.getAttribute('data-manual') === '1';
+                if (manual) return; // user has manually edited
+                var t = $type.value;
+                var d = $date.value;
+                if (!t || !d) return;
+                var abbr = typeMap[t] || t.toUpperCase().replace(/[^A-Z0-9]/g,'').substring(0,7);
+                var mmdd = getMMDDFromISO(d);
+                if (!mmdd) return;
+                var newCode = abbr + '_' + mmdd;
+                $code.value = newCode;
+            } catch (e) {
+                console.error('generateCode error', e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // mark manual when user types
+        $code.addEventListener('input', function(){
+            var val = $code.value.trim();
+            if (val.length === 0) {
+                $code.setAttribute('data-manual','0');
+            } else {
+                // if value matches auto pattern for currently selected type+date, keep as auto; otherwise mark manual
+                var expected = '';
+                try { expected = (typeMap[$type.value] || $type.value.toUpperCase().replace(/[^A-Z0-9]/g,'').substring(0,7)) + '_' + ( ($date.value) ? $date.value.split('-')[1] + $date.value.split('-')[2] : '' ); } catch(e){ expected=''; }
+                if (val === expected) {
+                    $code.setAttribute('data-manual','0');
+                } else {
+                    $code.setAttribute('data-manual','1');
+                }
+            }
+        });
+
+        $type.addEventListener('change', generateCode);
+        $date.addEventListener('change', generateCode);
+
+        // generate on load if empty
+        if ($code.value.trim().length === 0) {
+            generateCode();
+        }
+    })();
+</script>
+
 <?php include_once($rootPath . '/components/insta_footer.php'); ?>
diff --git a/src/processors/process_course.php b/src/processors/process_course.php
index 5c93080a..be546a78 100644
--- a/src/processors/process_course.php
+++ b/src/processors/process_course.php
@@ -43,6 +43,22 @@ try {
         throw new Exception('Invalid date format');
     }
 
+    // If code not provided, generate from type + date using ABBR_MMDD format
+    if (empty($code)) {
+        $abbrMap = [
+            'driver_training' => 'DRVTRN',
+            'bush_mechanics' => 'BUSHMEC',
+            'rescue_recovery' => 'RESREC',
+            'ladies_driver_training' => 'LADYTRN'
+        ];
+
+        $abbr = $abbrMap[$course_type] ?? strtoupper(preg_replace('/[^A-Z0-9]/', '', $course_type));
+        // ensure abbr fits (reserve 1 char for underscore and 4 for MMDD)
+        $abbr = substr($abbr, 0, 7);
+        $mmdd = date('md', strtotime($date));
+        $code = strtoupper(substr($abbr . '_' . $mmdd, 0, 12));
+    }
+
     if ($capacity <= 0) {
         throw new Exception('Capacity must be greater than 0');
     }