diff --git a/jupyterhub/app.py b/jupyterhub/app.py
index 65059520..49191ed8 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/app.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/app.py
@@ -286,6 +286,10 @@ class JupyterHub(Application):
     def _template_paths_default(self):
         return [os.path.join(self.data_files_path, 'templates')]
 
+    template_vars = Dict(
+        help="Extra variables to be passed into jinja templates",
+    ).tag(config=True)
+
     confirm_no_ssl = Bool(False,
         help="""DEPRECATED: does nothing"""
     ).tag(config=True)
@@ -1526,6 +1530,7 @@ class JupyterHub(Application):
             static_url_prefix=url_path_join(self.hub.base_url, 'static/'),
             static_handler_class=CacheControlStaticFilesHandler,
             template_path=self.template_paths,
+            template_vars=self.template_vars,
             jinja2_env=jinja_env,
             version_hash=version_hash,
             subdomain_host=self.subdomain_host,
diff --git a/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py b/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
index dd434dcb..e4637b15 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):
     @property
     def template_namespace(self):
         user = self.get_current_user()
-        return dict(
+        ns = dict(
             base_url=self.hub.base_url,
             prefix=self.base_url,
             user=user,
@@ -762,6 +762,9 @@ class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):
             static_url=self.static_url,
             version_hash=self.version_hash,
         )
+        if self.settings['template_vars']:
+            ns.update(self.settings['template_vars'])
+        return ns
 
     def write_error(self, status_code, **kwargs):
         """render custom error pages"""