diff --git a/config/config.example.yml b/config/config.example.yml
index 5fad57c654..7c784b4a8e 100644
--- a/config/config.example.yml
+++ b/config/config.example.yml
@@ -371,6 +371,6 @@ vocabularies:
     enabled: true
 
 # Default collection/community sorting order at Advanced search, Create/update community and collection when there are not a query. 
-collectionSelectionSort:
-  sortMetadata: "dc.title"
-  sortDirection: "ASC"
\ No newline at end of file
+comcolSelectionSort:
+  sortMetadata: 'dc.title'
+  sortDirection: 'ASC'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/dso-selector/dso-selector.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/dso-selector/dso-selector.component.spec.ts
index 7c28859388..e2acd17bc0 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/dso-selector/dso-selector.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/dso-selector/dso-selector.component.spec.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { PaginatedSearchOptions } from '../../search/models/paginated-search-opt
 import { hasValue } from '../../empty.util';
 import { createPaginatedList } from '../../testing/utils.test';
 import { NotificationsService } from '../../notifications/notifications.service';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
 
 describe('DSOSelectorComponent', () => {
   let component: DSOSelectorComponent;
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ describe('DSOSelectorComponent', () => {
   ];
 
   const searchService = {
-    search: (options: PaginatedSearchOptions) => {
+    search: (options: PaginatedSearchOptions, responseMsToLive?: number, useCachedVersionIfAvailable = true) => {
       if (hasValue(options.query) && options.query.startsWith('search.resourceid')) {
         return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList([searchResult]));
       } else if (options.pagination.currentPage === 1) {
@@ -120,6 +121,43 @@ describe('DSOSelectorComponent', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('search', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      spyOn(searchService, 'search').and.callThrough();
+    });
+
+    it('should specify how to sort if no query is given', () => {
+      component.sort = new SortOptions('dc.title', SortDirection.ASC);
+      component.search(undefined, 0);
+
+      expect(searchService.search).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        jasmine.objectContaining({
+          query: undefined,
+          sort: jasmine.objectContaining({
+            field: 'dc.title',
+            direction: SortDirection.ASC,
+          }),
+        }),
+        null,
+        true
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should not specify how to sort if a query is given', () => {
+      component.sort = new SortOptions('dc.title', SortDirection.ASC);
+      component.search('testQuery', 0);
+
+      expect(searchService.search).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        jasmine.objectContaining({
+          query: 'testQuery',
+          sort: null,
+        }),
+        null,
+        true
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('when search returns an error', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       spyOn(searchService, 'search').and.returnValue(createFailedRemoteDataObject$());
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-collection-parent-selector/create-collection-parent-selector.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-collection-parent-selector/create-collection-parent-selector.component.ts
index 8b38b62378..e0b7c1675b 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-collection-parent-selector/create-collection-parent-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-collection-parent-selector/create-collection-parent-selector.component.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ import {
     getCollectionCreateRoute,
     COLLECTION_PARENT_PARAMETER
 } from '../../../../collection-page/collection-page-routing-paths';
-
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
 /**
  * Component to wrap a list of existing communities inside a modal
  * Used to choose a community from to create a new collection in
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ export class CreateCollectionParentSelectorComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWra
   selectorTypes = [DSpaceObjectType.COMMUNITY];
   action = SelectorActionType.CREATE;
   header = 'dso-selector.create.collection.sub-level';
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
 
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute, private router: Router) {
     super(activeModal, route);
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-community-parent-selector/create-community-parent-selector.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-community-parent-selector/create-community-parent-selector.component.ts
index a7f583df50..005c0e5f23 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-community-parent-selector/create-community-parent-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-community-parent-selector/create-community-parent-selector.component.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
     getCommunityCreateRoute,
     COMMUNITY_PARENT_PARAMETER
 } from '../../../../community-page/community-page-routing-paths';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
 
 /**
  * Component to wrap a button - for top communities -
@@ -29,7 +31,8 @@ export class CreateCommunityParentSelectorComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWrap
   objectType = DSpaceObjectType.COMMUNITY;
   selectorTypes = [DSpaceObjectType.COMMUNITY];
   action = SelectorActionType.CREATE;
-
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
+  
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute, private router: Router) {
     super(activeModal, route);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-item-parent-selector/create-item-parent-selector.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-item-parent-selector/create-item-parent-selector.component.ts
index b109be0af2..ed8a7b0780 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-item-parent-selector/create-item-parent-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/create-item-parent-selector/create-item-parent-selector.component.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { DSpaceObjectType } from '../../../../core/shared/dspace-object-type.mod
 import { DSpaceObject } from '../../../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
 import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
 import { DSOSelectorModalWrapperComponent, SelectorActionType } from '../dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
 
 /**
  * Component to wrap a list of existing collections inside a modal
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ export class CreateItemParentSelectorComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWrapperCo
   selectorTypes = [DSpaceObjectType.COLLECTION];
   action = SelectorActionType.CREATE;
   header = 'dso-selector.create.item.sub-level';
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
 
   /**
    * If present this value is used to filter collection list by entity type
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component.ts
index fcb8aea9d2..3f81687c9f 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ import { RemoteData } from '../../../core/data/remote-data';
 import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
 import { DSpaceObjectType } from '../../../core/shared/dspace-object-type.model';
 import { hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../../empty.util';
-import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
-import { environment } from '../../../../environments/environment';
+import { SortOptions } from '../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
 
 export enum SelectorActionType {
   CREATE = 'create',
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ export abstract class DSOSelectorModalWrapperComponent implements OnInit {
   /**
    * Default DSO ordering
    */
-  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.collectionSelectionSort.sortMetadata, environment.collectionSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
+  defaultSort: SortOptions;
 
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute) {
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-collection-selector/edit-collection-selector.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-collection-selector/edit-collection-selector.component.ts
index cfc2ea282d..ed117995b8 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-collection-selector/edit-collection-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-collection-selector/edit-collection-selector.component.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import {
   SelectorActionType
 } from '../dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component';
 import { getCollectionEditRoute } from '../../../../collection-page/collection-page-routing-paths';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
 
 /**
  * Component to wrap a list of existing collections inside a modal
@@ -22,7 +24,8 @@ export class EditCollectionSelectorComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWrapperComp
   objectType = DSpaceObjectType.COLLECTION;
   selectorTypes = [DSpaceObjectType.COLLECTION];
   action = SelectorActionType.EDIT;
-
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
+  
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute, private router: Router) {
     super(activeModal, route);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-community-selector/edit-community-selector.component.ts b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-community-selector/edit-community-selector.component.ts
index d73a7b48c5..ce09cd498e 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-community-selector/edit-community-selector.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/dso-selector/modal-wrappers/edit-community-selector/edit-community-selector.component.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import {
   SelectorActionType
 } from '../dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component';
 import { getCommunityEditRoute } from '../../../../community-page/community-page-routing-paths';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
 
 /**
  * Component to wrap a list of existing communities inside a modal
@@ -23,7 +25,8 @@ export class EditCommunitySelectorComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWrapperCompo
   objectType = DSpaceObjectType.COMMUNITY;
   selectorTypes = [DSpaceObjectType.COMMUNITY];
   action = SelectorActionType.EDIT;
-
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
+  
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute, private router: Router) {
     super(activeModal, route);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search-form/scope-selector-modal/scope-selector-modal.component.ts b/src/app/shared/search-form/scope-selector-modal/scope-selector-modal.component.ts
index 86c3010287..3301435956 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search-form/scope-selector-modal/scope-selector-modal.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search-form/scope-selector-modal/scope-selector-modal.component.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
 import { DSpaceObjectType } from '../../../core/shared/dspace-object-type.model';
 import { DSOSelectorModalWrapperComponent, SelectorActionType } from '../../dso-selector/modal-wrappers/dso-selector-modal-wrapper.component';
 import { DSpaceObject } from '../../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
+import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../../../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../environments/environment';
 
 /**
  * Component to wrap a button - to select the entire repository -
@@ -33,6 +35,11 @@ export class ScopeSelectorModalComponent extends DSOSelectorModalWrapperComponen
    */
   scopeChange = new EventEmitter<DSpaceObject>();
 
+  /**
+   * Default DSO ordering
+   */
+  defaultSort = new SortOptions(environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortField, environment.comcolSelectionSort.sortDirection as SortDirection);
+
   constructor(protected activeModal: NgbActiveModal, protected route: ActivatedRoute) {
     super(activeModal, route);
   }
diff --git a/src/config/app-config.interface.ts b/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
index 1bc3e33b8a..e3f8988744 100644
--- a/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
+++ b/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ interface AppConfig extends Config {
   info: InfoConfig;
   markdown: MarkdownConfig;
   vocabularies: FilterVocabularyConfig[];
-  collectionSelectionSort: DiscoverySortConfig;
+  comcolSelectionSort: DiscoverySortConfig;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/config/default-app-config.ts b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
index 89a627f459..67c2feada8 100644
--- a/src/config/default-app-config.ts
+++ b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ export class DefaultAppConfig implements AppConfig {
     ];
 
   // Configuration that determines the metadata sorting of community and collection edition and creation when there are not a search query.
-  collectionSelectionSort: DiscoverySortConfig = {
-    sortMetadata:'dc.title',
+  comcolSelectionSort: DiscoverySortConfig = {
+    sortField:'dc.title',
     sortDirection:'ASC',
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/config/discovery-sort.config.ts b/src/config/discovery-sort.config.ts
index 3f08b3fb17..c0d5e5e391 100644
--- a/src/config/discovery-sort.config.ts
+++ b/src/config/discovery-sort.config.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { Config } from './config.interface';
  */
 export class DiscoverySortConfig implements Config {
 
-  public sortMetadata: string;
+  public sortField: string;
   /**
    * ASC / DESC values expected
    */
diff --git a/src/environments/environment.test.ts b/src/environments/environment.test.ts
index 8b132dab60..08d7739f7d 100644
--- a/src/environments/environment.test.ts
+++ b/src/environments/environment.test.ts
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ export const environment: BuildConfig = {
     enabled: false,
     mathjax: false,
   },
-  collectionSelectionSort: {
-    sortMetadata:'dc.title',
+  comcolSelectionSort: {
+    sortField:'dc.title',
     sortDirection:'ASC',
   },