diff --git a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.html b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.html
index 27cf706a1a..4154a9ce56 100644
--- a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.html
+++ b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.html
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 <div class="item-metadata" *ngIf="form">
-  <div class="button-row top d-flex my-2 space-children-mr">
+  <div class="button-row top d-flex my-2 space-children-mr ml-gap">
     <button class="mr-auto btn btn-success" [disabled]="form.newValue || (saving$ | async)"
             (click)="add()"><i class="fas fa-plus"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.add-button' | translate }}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-warning ml-2" *ngIf="isReinstatable" [disabled]="(saving$ | async)"
+    <button class="btn btn-warning ml-1" *ngIf="isReinstatable" [disabled]="(saving$ | async)"
             (click)="reinstate()"><i class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.reinstate-button' | translate }}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-primary ml-2" [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
+    <button class="btn btn-primary ml-1" [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
             (click)="submit()"><i class="fas fa-save"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.save-button' | translate }}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-danger ml-2" *ngIf="!isReinstatable"
+    <button class="btn btn-danger ml-1" *ngIf="!isReinstatable"
             [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
             (click)="discard()"><i class="fas fa-times"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.discard-button' | translate }}</span>
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
   </div>
   <div class="d-flex flex-row ds-field-row" *ngIf="form.newValue">
     <div class="lbl-cell ds-success">
-      <ds-metadata-field-selector [(mdField)]="newMdField"></ds-metadata-field-selector>
+      <ds-metadata-field-selector [(mdField)]="newMdField" [autofocus]="true"></ds-metadata-field-selector>
     </div>
     <div class="flex-grow-1 ds-drop-list">
-      <div class="d-flex flex-row ds-value-row ds-success">
+      <div class="d-flex flex-row ds-value-row ds-success h-100">
         <div class="flex-grow-1 ds-flex-cell ds-value-cell d-flex align-items-center">
           <textarea class="form-control" rows="2" [(ngModel)]="form.newValue.newValue.value"></textarea>
         </div>
@@ -44,16 +44,19 @@
         <div class="text-center ds-flex-cell ds-edit-cell">
           <div class="btn-group edit-field">
             <button class="btn btn-outline-success btn-sm ng-star-inserted" ngbTooltip="Confirm changes"
-                    [disabled]="!newMdField || (saving$ | async)" (click)="form.setMetadataField(newMdField); onValueSaved()">
+                    [disabled]="!newMdField || (saving$ | async) || (loadingFieldValidation$ | async)" (click)="setMetadataField()">
               <i class="fas fa-check fa-fw"></i>
             </button>
-            <button class="btn btn-outline-danger btn-sm" ngbTooltip="Remove" [disabled]="true">
+            <button class="btn btn-outline-danger btn-sm" ngbTooltip="Remove"
+                    [disabled]="true">
               <i class="fas fa-trash-alt fa-fw"></i>
             </button>
-            <button class="btn btn-outline-warning btn-sm" ngbTooltip="Undo changes" [disabled]="(saving$ | async)" (click)="form.newValue = undefined">
+            <button class="btn btn-outline-warning btn-sm" ngbTooltip="Undo changes"
+                    [disabled]="(saving$ | async) || (loadingFieldValidation$ | async)" (click)="form.newValue = undefined">
               <i class="fas fa-undo-alt fa-fw"></i>
             </button>
-            <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary ds-drag-handle btn-sm disabled" ngbTooltip="Drag to reorder" [disabled]="true">
+            <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary ds-drag-handle btn-sm disabled" ngbTooltip="Drag to reorder"
+                    [disabled]="true">
               <i class="fas fa-grip-vertical fa-fw"></i>
             </button>
           </div>
@@ -109,15 +112,15 @@
   <div *ngIf="isEmpty">
     <ds-alert [content]="dsoType + '.edit.metadata.empty'" [type]="AlertTypeEnum.Info"></ds-alert>
   </div>
-  <div class="button-row bottom">
+  <div class="button-row bottom d-inline-block w-100">
     <div class="mt-2 float-right space-children-mr ml-gap">
-      <button class="btn btn-warning ml-2" *ngIf="isReinstatable" [disabled]="(saving$ | async)"
+      <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable" [disabled]="(saving$ | async)"
               (click)="reinstate()"><i class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i> {{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.reinstate-button' | translate }}
       </button>
-      <button class="btn btn-primary ml-2" [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
+      <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
               (click)="submit()"><i class="fas fa-save"></i> {{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.save-button' | translate }}
       </button>
-      <button class="btn btn-danger ml-2" *ngIf="!isReinstatable"
+      <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="!isReinstatable"
               [disabled]="!hasChanges || (saving$ | async)"
               (click)="discard()"><i class="fas fa-times"></i> {{ dsoType + '.edit.metadata.discard-button' | translate }}
       </button>
diff --git a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.ts b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.ts
index 5f837e1b80..97f34ba2a3 100644
--- a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/dso-edit-metadata.component.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { Component, Injector, Input, OnDestroy, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, Injector, Input, OnDestroy, OnInit, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
 import { AlertType } from '../../shared/alert/aletr-type';
 import { DSpaceObject } from '../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
-import { DsoEditMetadataChangeType, DsoEditMetadataForm } from './dso-edit-metadata-form';
+import { DsoEditMetadataChangeType, DsoEditMetadataForm, DsoEditMetadataValue } from './dso-edit-metadata-form';
 import { map, switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { ActivatedRoute, Data } from '@angular/router';
 import { combineLatest as observableCombineLatest } from 'rxjs/internal/observable/combineLatest';
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { ResourceType } from '../../core/shared/resource-type';
 import { NotificationsService } from '../../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
 import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { DataService } from '../../core/data/data.service';
+import { MetadataFieldSelectorComponent } from './metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'ds-dso-edit-metadata',
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ import { DataService } from '../../core/data/data.service';
 })
 export class DsoEditMetadataComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   @Input() dso: DSpaceObject;
+  @ViewChild(MetadataFieldSelectorComponent) metadataFieldSelectorComponent: MetadataFieldSelectorComponent;
   updateDataService: UpdateDataService<DSpaceObject>;
   dsoType: string;
 
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ export class DsoEditMetadataComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   hasChanges: boolean;
   isEmpty: boolean;
   saving$: BehaviorSubject<boolean> = new BehaviorSubject<boolean>(false);
+  loadingFieldValidation$: BehaviorSubject<boolean> = new BehaviorSubject<boolean>(false);
 
   /**
    * The AlertType enumeration for access in the component's template
@@ -120,6 +123,17 @@ export class DsoEditMetadataComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     });
   }
 
+  setMetadataField() {
+    this.loadingFieldValidation$.next(true);
+    this.metadataFieldSelectorComponent.validate().subscribe((valid) => {
+      this.loadingFieldValidation$.next(false);
+      if (valid) {
+        this.form.setMetadataField(this.newMdField);
+        this.onValueSaved();
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   add(): void {
     this.newMdField = undefined;
     this.form.add();
diff --git a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.html b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.html
index d2761e52a6..2a69c21188 100644
--- a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.html
+++ b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.html
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 <div class="w-100 position-relative">
-  <input type="text"
-         class="form-control"
+  <input type="text" #mdFieldInput
+         class="form-control" [ngClass]="{ 'is-invalid': showInvalid }"
          [value]="mdField"
          [formControl]="input"
          (focusin)="query$.next(mdField)"
          (dsClickOutside)="query$.next(null)"
          (click)="$event.stopPropagation();" />
+  <div class="invalid-feedback show-feedback" *ngIf="showInvalid">Invalid metadata field, please pick an existing one from the suggestions when searching</div>
   <div class="autocomplete dropdown-menu" [ngClass]="{'show': (mdFieldOptions$ | async)?.length > 0}">
     <div class="dropdown-list">
       <div *ngFor="let mdFieldOption of (mdFieldOptions$ | async)">
diff --git a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.ts b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.ts
index 17050a76ba..cde41dee96 100644
--- a/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/dso-shared/dso-edit-metadata/metadata-field-selector/metadata-field-selector.component.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,25 @@
-import { Component, EventEmitter, Input, OnDestroy, OnInit, Output } from '@angular/core';
-import { switchMap, debounceTime, distinctUntilChanged } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import {
+  AfterViewInit,
+  Component,
+  ElementRef,
+  EventEmitter,
+  Input,
+  OnDestroy,
+  OnInit,
+  Output,
+  ViewChild
+} from '@angular/core';
+import { switchMap, debounceTime, distinctUntilChanged, map, tap, take } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { followLink } from '../../../shared/utils/follow-link-config.model';
 import {
-  getAllSucceededRemoteData,
+  getAllSucceededRemoteData, getFirstCompletedRemoteData, getFirstSucceededRemoteData,
   metadataFieldsToString
 } from '../../../core/shared/operators';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/internal/Observable';
 import { RegistryService } from '../../../core/registry/registry.service';
 import { FormControl } from '@angular/forms';
 import { BehaviorSubject } from 'rxjs/internal/BehaviorSubject';
-import { hasValue } from '../../../shared/empty.util';
+import { hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../../../shared/empty.util';
 import { Subscription } from 'rxjs/internal/Subscription';
 
 @Component({
@@ -17,9 +27,11 @@ import { Subscription } from 'rxjs/internal/Subscription';
   styleUrls: ['./metadata-field-selector.component.scss'],
   templateUrl: './metadata-field-selector.component.html'
 })
-export class MetadataFieldSelectorComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
+export class MetadataFieldSelectorComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit {
   @Input() mdField: string;
+  @Input() autofocus = false;
   @Output() mdFieldChange = new EventEmitter<string>();
+  @ViewChild('mdFieldInput', { static: true }) mdFieldInput: ElementRef;
   mdFieldOptions$: Observable<string[]>;
 
   public input: FormControl = new FormControl();
@@ -27,6 +39,7 @@ export class MetadataFieldSelectorComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   query$: BehaviorSubject<string> = new BehaviorSubject<string>(null);
   debounceTime = 300;
   selectedValueLoading = false;
+  showInvalid = false;
 
   subs: Subscription[] = [];
 
@@ -49,6 +62,7 @@ export class MetadataFieldSelectorComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     this.mdFieldOptions$ = this.query$.pipe(
       distinctUntilChanged(),
       switchMap((query) => {
+        this.showInvalid = false;
         if (query !== null) {
           return this.registryService.queryMetadataFields(query, null, true, false, followLink('schema')).pipe(
             getAllSucceededRemoteData(),
@@ -61,6 +75,20 @@ export class MetadataFieldSelectorComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     );
   }
 
+  ngAfterViewInit(): void {
+    this.mdFieldInput.nativeElement.focus();
+  }
+
+  validate(): Observable<boolean> {
+    return this.registryService.queryMetadataFields(this.mdField, null, true, false, followLink('schema')).pipe(
+      getFirstSucceededRemoteData(),
+      metadataFieldsToString(),
+      take(1),
+      map((fields: string[]) => fields.indexOf(this.mdField) > -1),
+      tap((exists) => this.showInvalid = !exists),
+    );
+  }
+
   select(mdFieldOption: string) {
     this.selectedValueLoading = true;
     this.input.setValue(mdFieldOption);