diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
index fd35621d0d..6ce29b5d08 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
@@ -683,6 +683,9 @@ class TestCreateOrder(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         data = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(data['override_custom_receipt_page'], "http://testserver/shoppingcart/postpay_callback/")
 
+        # Verify that the course ID is included in "merchant-defined data"
+        self.assertEqual(data['merchant_defined_data1'], unicode(self.course.id))
+
     def test_create_order_set_donation_amount(self):
         # Verify the student so we don't need to submit photos
         self._verify_student()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index a854b9346c..f055fea197 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from verify_student.models import (
 from reverification.models import MidcourseReverificationWindow
 import ssencrypt
 from xmodule.modulestore.exceptions import ItemNotFoundError
-from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from .exceptions import WindowExpiredException
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class VerifyView(View):
         """
         upgrade = request.GET.get('upgrade', False)
 
-        course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+        course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
         # If the user has already been verified within the given time period,
         # redirect straight to the payment -- no need to verify again.
         if SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification.user_has_valid_or_pending(request.user):
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class VerifiedView(View):
         Handle the case where we have a get request
         """
         upgrade = request.GET.get('upgrade', False)
-        course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+        course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
         if CourseEnrollment.enrollment_mode_for_user(request.user, course_id) == ('verified', True):
             return redirect(reverse('dashboard'))
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def create_order(request):
         attempt.save()
 
     course_id = request.POST['course_id']
-    course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+    course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
     donation_for_course = request.session.get('donation_for_course', {})
     current_donation = donation_for_course.get(unicode(course_id), decimal.Decimal(0))
     contribution = request.POST.get("contribution", donation_for_course.get(unicode(course_id), 0))
@@ -239,10 +239,13 @@ def create_order(request):
     callback_url = request.build_absolute_uri(
         reverse("shoppingcart.views.postpay_callback")
     )
+
     params = get_signed_purchase_params(
         cart, callback_url=callback_url
     )
+
     params['success'] = True
+    params['merchant_defined_data1'] = unicode(course_id)
     return HttpResponse(json.dumps(params), content_type="text/json")
 
 
@@ -331,7 +334,7 @@ def show_requirements(request, course_id):
     Show the requirements necessary for the verification flow.
     """
     # TODO: seems borked for professional; we're told we need to take photos even if there's a pending verification
-    course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+    course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
     upgrade = request.GET.get('upgrade', False)
     if CourseEnrollment.enrollment_mode_for_user(request.user, course_id) == ('verified', True):
         return redirect(reverse('dashboard'))
@@ -430,7 +433,7 @@ class MidCourseReverifyView(View):
         """
         display this view
         """
-        course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+        course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
         course = modulestore().get_course(course_id)
         course_enrollment = CourseEnrollment.get_or_create_enrollment(request.user, course_id)
         course_enrollment.update_enrollment(mode="verified")
@@ -454,7 +457,7 @@ class MidCourseReverifyView(View):
         """
         try:
             now = datetime.datetime.now(UTC)
-            course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
+            course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
             window = MidcourseReverificationWindow.get_window(course_id, now)
             if window is None:
                 raise WindowExpiredException