diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/api.py
index 8450f14fa9..d480ca9073 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/api.py
@@ -484,9 +484,9 @@ def get_active_web_certificate(course, is_preview_mode=None):
     return None
 
 
-def get_certificate_template(course_key, mode):
+def get_certificate_template(course_key, mode, language):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     """
-    Retrieves the custom certificate template based on course_key and mode.
+    Retrieves the custom certificate template based on course_key, mode, and language.
     """
     org_id, template = None, None
     # fetch organization of the course
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/models.py
index f356338d51..613fa69451 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/models.py
@@ -910,6 +910,7 @@ class CertificateGenerationCourseSetting(TimeStampedModel):
             defaults=default
         )
 
+    @classmethod
     def is_language_specific_templates_enabled_for_course(cls, course_key):
         """Check whether language-specific certificates are enabled for a course.
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_webview_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_webview_views.py
index e28529a83b..f14f907b67 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_webview_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_webview_views.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.test.client import Client, RequestFactory
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from util.date_utils import strftime_localized
-from mock import patch
+from mock import Mock, patch
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 
 from certificates.api import get_certificate_url
@@ -884,11 +884,13 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
 
     @override_settings(FEATURES=FEATURES_WITH_CUSTOM_CERTS_ENABLED)
     @override_settings(LANGUAGE_CODE='fr')
-    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_org_mode_course(self):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_org_mode_course(self, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests custom template search and rendering.
         This test should check template matching when org={org}, course={course}, mode={mode}.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         self._add_course_certificates(count=1, signatory_count=2)
         self._create_custom_template(org_id=1, mode='honor', course_key=unicode(self.course.id))
         self._create_custom_template(org_id=2, mode='honor')
@@ -913,12 +915,14 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
             self.assertContains(response, 'course name: course_title_0')
 
     @override_settings(FEATURES=FEATURES_WITH_CUSTOM_CERTS_ENABLED)
-    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_org(self):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_org(self, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests custom template search if we have a single template for organization and mode
         with course set to Null.
         This test should check template matching when org={org}, course=Null, mode={mode}.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         course = CourseFactory.create(
             org='cstX', number='cst_22', display_name='custom template course'
         )
@@ -940,11 +944,13 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
             self.assertContains(response, 'course name: course_title_0')
 
     @override_settings(FEATURES=FEATURES_WITH_CUSTOM_CERTS_ENABLED)
-    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_organization(self):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_organization(self, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests custom template search when we have a single template for a organization.
         This test should check template matching when org={org}, course=Null, mode=null.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         self._add_course_certificates(count=1, signatory_count=2)
         self._create_custom_template(org_id=1, mode='honor')
         self._create_custom_template(org_id=1, mode='honor', course_key=self.course.id)
@@ -962,11 +968,13 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
             self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
     @override_settings(FEATURES=FEATURES_WITH_CUSTOM_CERTS_ENABLED)
-    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_course_mode(self):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_course_mode(self, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests custom template search if we have a single template for a course mode.
         This test should check template matching when org=null, course=Null, mode={mode}.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         mode = 'honor'
         self._add_course_certificates(count=1, signatory_count=2)
         self._create_custom_template(mode=mode)
@@ -982,10 +990,12 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
             self.assertContains(response, 'mode: {}'.format(mode))
 
     @ddt.data(True, False)
-    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_unicode_data(self, custom_certs_enabled):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_custom_template_with_unicode_data(self, custom_certs_enabled, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests custom template renders properly with unicode data.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         mode = 'honor'
         self._add_course_certificates(count=1, signatory_count=2)
         self._create_custom_template(mode=mode)
@@ -1014,10 +1024,12 @@ class CertificatesViewsTests(CommonCertificatesTestCase):
                         self.assertContains(response, 'https://twitter.com/intent/tweet')
 
     @override_settings(FEATURES=FEATURES_WITH_CUSTOM_CERTS_ENABLED)
-    def test_certificate_asset_by_slug(self):
+    @patch('certificates.views.webview.get_course_run_details')
+    def test_certificate_asset_by_slug(self, mock_get_course_run_details):
         """
         Tests certificate template asset display by slug using static.certificate_asset_url method.
         """
+        mock_get_course_run_details.return_value = {'language': 'en'}
         self._add_course_certificates(count=1, signatory_count=2)
         self._create_custom_template(mode='honor')
         test_url = get_certificate_url(
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/views/webview.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/views/webview.py
index 8098b3258d..e9cd754eb9 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/views/webview.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/views/webview.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from certificates.api import (
     has_html_certificates_enabled
 )
 from certificates.models import (
+    CertificateGenerationCourseSetting,
     CertificateHtmlViewConfiguration,
     CertificateSocialNetworks,
     CertificateStatuses,
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ from courseware.access import has_access
 from courseware.courses import get_course_by_id
 from edxmako.shortcuts import render_to_response
 from edxmako.template import Template
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.catalog.utils import get_course_run_details
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
 from openedx.core.lib.courses import course_image_url
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.certificates.api import display_date_for_certificate
@@ -224,7 +226,7 @@ def _update_context_with_basic_info(context, course_id, platform_name, configura
     )
 
 
-def _update_course_context(request, context, course, platform_name):
+def _update_course_context(request, context, course, course_key, platform_name):
     """
     Updates context dictionary with course info.
     """
@@ -248,6 +250,11 @@ def _update_course_context(request, context, course, platform_name):
                                                               '{partner_short_name}.').format(
             partner_short_name=context['organization_short_name'],
             platform_name=platform_name)
+    # If language specific templates are enabled for the course, add course_run specific information to the context
+    if CertificateGenerationCourseSetting.is_language_specific_templates_enabled_for_course(course_key):
+        fields = ['start', 'end', 'max_effort', 'language']
+        course_run_data = get_course_run_details(course_key, fields)
+        context.update(course_run_data)
 
 
 def _update_social_context(request, context, course, user, user_certificate, platform_name):
@@ -413,7 +420,7 @@ def _render_certificate_template(request, context, course, user_certificate):
     Picks appropriate certificate templates and renders it.
     """
     if settings.FEATURES.get('CUSTOM_CERTIFICATE_TEMPLATES_ENABLED', False):
-        custom_template = get_certificate_template(course.id, user_certificate.mode)
+        custom_template = get_certificate_template(course.id, user_certificate.mode, context.get('language'))
         if custom_template:
             template = Template(
                 custom_template,
@@ -571,7 +578,7 @@ def render_html_view(request, user_id, course_id):
     _update_organization_context(context, course)
 
     # Append course info
-    _update_course_context(request, context, course, platform_name)
+    _update_course_context(request, context, course, course_key, platform_name)
 
     # Append user info
     _update_context_with_user_info(context, user, user_certificate)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/factories.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/factories.py
index 69c0906d38..0ad304b426 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/factories.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/factories.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ class CourseRunFactory(DictFactoryBase):
     title = factory.Faker('catch_phrase')
     type = 'verified'
     uuid = factory.Faker('uuid4')
+    language = 'en'
+    max_effort = 5
 
 
 class CourseFactory(DictFactoryBase):
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/test_utils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/test_utils.py
index cb59c44f12..ad4a3d7bf0 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.catalog.tests.factories import CourseRunFactory, Pr
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.catalog.tests.mixins import CatalogIntegrationMixin
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.catalog.utils import (
     get_course_runs,
+    get_course_run_details,
     get_program_types,
     get_programs,
     get_programs_with_type
@@ -304,3 +305,31 @@ class TestGetCourseRuns(CatalogIntegrationMixin, TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(mock_get_edx_api_data.called)
         self.assert_contract(mock_get_edx_api_data.call_args)
         self.assertEqual(data, catalog_course_runs)
+
+
+@skip_unless_lms
+@mock.patch(UTILS_MODULE + '.get_edx_api_data')
+class TestGetCourseRunDetails(CatalogIntegrationMixin, TestCase):
+    """
+    Tests covering retrieval of information about a specific course run from the catalog service.
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestGetCourseRunDetails, self).setUp()
+        self.catalog_integration = self.create_catalog_integration(cache_ttl=1)
+        self.user = UserFactory(username=self.catalog_integration.service_username)
+
+    def test_get_course_run_details(self, mock_get_edx_api_data):
+        """
+        Test retrieval of details about a specific course run
+        """
+        course_run = CourseRunFactory()
+        course_run_details = {
+            'language': course_run['language'],
+            'start': course_run['start'],
+            'end': course_run['end'],
+            'max_effort': course_run['max_effort']
+        }
+        mock_get_edx_api_data.return_value = course_run_details
+        data = get_course_run_details(course_run['key'], ['language', 'start', 'end', 'max_effort'])
+        self.assertTrue(mock_get_edx_api_data.called)
+        self.assertEqual(data, course_run_details)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
index 3386b805dc..efa4951bce 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
@@ -185,3 +185,39 @@ def get_course_runs():
         course_runs = get_edx_api_data(catalog_integration, 'course_runs', api=api, querystring=querystring)
 
     return course_runs
+
+
+def get_course_run_details(course_run_key, fields):
+    """
+    Retrieve information about the course run with the given id
+
+    Arguments:
+        course_run_key: key for the course_run about which we are retrieving information
+
+    Returns:
+        dict with language, start date, end date, and max_effort details about specified course run
+    """
+    catalog_integration = CatalogIntegration.current()
+    course_run_details = dict()
+    if catalog_integration.enabled:
+        try:
+            user = catalog_integration.get_service_user()
+        except ObjectDoesNotExist:
+            msg = 'Catalog service user {} does not exist. Data for course_run {} will not be retrieved'.format(
+                catalog_integration.service_username,
+                course_run_key
+            )
+            logger.error(msg)
+            return course_run_details
+        api = create_catalog_api_client(user)
+
+        cache_key = '{base}.course_runs'.format(base=catalog_integration.CACHE_KEY)
+
+        course_run_details = get_edx_api_data(catalog_integration, 'course_runs', api, resource_id=course_run_key,
+                                              cache_key=cache_key, many=False, traverse_pagination=False, fields=fields)
+    else:
+        msg = 'Unable to retrieve details about course_run {} because Catalog Integration is not enabled'.format(
+            course_run_key
+        )
+        logger.error(msg)
+    return course_run_details
diff --git a/openedx/core/lib/edx_api_utils.py b/openedx/core/lib/edx_api_utils.py
index ce9e9d85ba..f10f1030df 100644
--- a/openedx/core/lib/edx_api_utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/lib/edx_api_utils.py
@@ -15,8 +15,20 @@ from openedx.core.lib.token_utils import JwtBuilder
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def get_fields(fields, response):
+    """Extracts desired fields from the API response"""
+    results = {}
+    for field in fields:
+        try:
+            results[field] = response[field]
+        # TODO: Determine what exception would be raised here if response does not have the specified field
+        except:
+            msg = '{resource} does not have the attribute {field}'.format(resource, field)
+            log.exception(msg)
+
+
 def get_edx_api_data(api_config, resource, api, resource_id=None, querystring=None, cache_key=None, many=True,
-                     traverse_pagination=True):
+                     traverse_pagination=True, fields=None):
     """GET data from an edX REST API.
 
     DRY utility for handling caching and pagination.
@@ -59,7 +71,10 @@ def get_edx_api_data(api_config, resource, api, resource_id=None, querystring=No
         response = endpoint(resource_id).get(**querystring)
 
         if resource_id is not None:
-            results = response
+            if fields:
+                results = get_fields(fields, response)
+            else:
+                results = response
         elif traverse_pagination:
             results = _traverse_pagination(response, endpoint, querystring, no_data)
         else: