diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/models.py
index ce80f47121..a80388f971 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/models.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pytz
 import logging
+import smtplib
 from datetime import datetime
 from django.db import models
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -9,7 +10,9 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 from django.db import transaction
 from model_utils.managers import InheritanceManager
 from courseware.courses import get_course_about_section
+from django.core.mail import send_mail
 
+from mitxmako.shortcuts import render_to_string
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from xmodule.course_module import CourseDescriptor
 
@@ -121,6 +124,17 @@ class Order(models.Model):
         orderitems = OrderItem.objects.filter(order=self).select_subclasses()
         for item in orderitems:
             item.purchase_item()
+        # send confirmation e-mail
+        subject = _("Order Payment Confirmation")
+        message = render_to_string('emails/order_confirmation_email.txt', {
+            'order': self,
+            'order_items': orderitems
+        })
+        try:
+            send_mail(subject, message,
+                      settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL, [self.user.email])
+        except smtplib.SMTPException:
+            log.error('Failed sending confirmation e-mail for order %d', self.id)
 
 
 class OrderItem(models.Model):
@@ -307,8 +321,8 @@ class CertificateItem(OrderItem):
         item.status = order.status
         item.qty = 1
         item.unit_cost = cost
-        item.line_desc = "{mode} certificate for course {course_id}".format(mode=item.mode,
-                                                                            course_id=course_id)
+        item.line_desc = _("{mode} certificate for course {course_id}").format(mode=item.mode,
+                                                                               course_id=course_id)
         item.currency = currency
         order.currency = currency
         order.save()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_models.py b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_models.py
index 65483d7404..42df02267d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_models.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from factory import DjangoModelFactory
 from mock import patch
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
+from django.core import mail
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import DatabaseError
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
@@ -77,6 +78,12 @@ class OrderTest(TestCase):
         cart.purchase()
         self.assertTrue(CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled(self.user, self.course_id))
 
+        # test e-mail sending
+        self.assertEquals(len(mail.outbox), 1)
+        self.assertEquals('Order Payment Confirmation', mail.outbox[0].subject)
+        self.assertIn(settings.PAYMENT_SUPPORT_EMAIL, mail.outbox[0].body)
+        self.assertIn(unicode(cart.total_cost), mail.outbox[0].body)
+
     def test_purchase_item_failure(self):
         # once again, we're testing against the specific implementation of
         # CertificateItem
@@ -87,6 +94,8 @@ class OrderTest(TestCase):
                 cart.purchase()
                 # verify that we rolled back the entire transaction
                 self.assertFalse(CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled(self.user, self.course_id))
+                # verify that e-mail wasn't sent
+                self.assertEquals(len(mail.outbox), 0)
 
     def purchase_with_data(self, cart):
         """ purchase a cart with billing information """
diff --git a/lms/templates/emails/order_confirmation_email.txt b/lms/templates/emails/order_confirmation_email.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4bbc70491b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/templates/emails/order_confirmation_email.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<%! from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _ %>
+
+${_("Thank you for your order! Payment was successful, and you should be able to see the results on your dashboard.")}
+
+${_("Your order number is: {order_number}").format(order_number=order.id)}
+
+${_("Items in your order:")}
+
+${_("Quantity - Description - Price")}
+%for order_item in order_items:
+    ${order_item.qty} - ${order_item.line_desc} - $(order_item.line_cost}
+%endfor
+${_("Total: {total_cost}").format(total_cost=order.total_cost)}
+
+${_("If you have any issues, please contact us at {billing_email}").format(billing_email=settings.PAYMENT_SUPPORT_EMAIL)}