diff --git a/src/Foundation.hs b/src/Foundation.hs
index 9f11f90bd..71999df4a 100644
--- a/src/Foundation.hs
+++ b/src/Foundation.hs
@@ -1311,6 +1311,7 @@ siteLayout' headingOverride widget = do
       addScript $ StaticR js_utils_checkAll_js
       addScript $ StaticR js_utils_form_js
       addScript $ StaticR js_utils_inputs_js
+      addScript $ StaticR js_utils_massInput_js
       addScript $ StaticR js_utils_modal_js
       addScript $ StaticR js_utils_showHide_js
       -- addScript $ StaticR js_utils_tabber_js
diff --git a/src/Handler/Utils/Form/MassInput.hs b/src/Handler/Utils/Form/MassInput.hs
index c91b60d20..f6a383e7c 100644
--- a/src/Handler/Utils/Form/MassInput.hs
+++ b/src/Handler/Utils/Form/MassInput.hs
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ import qualified Data.Foldable as Fold
 
 import Control.Monad.Reader.Class (MonadReader(local))
 
+import Text.Hamlet (hamletFile)
+
 
 $(mapM tupleBoxCoord [2..4])
 
@@ -413,6 +415,12 @@ massInput MassInput{..} FieldSettings{..} fvRequired initialResult csrf = do
 
   MsgRenderer mr <- getMsgRenderer
 
+  whenM (hasCustomHeader HeaderMassInputShortcircuit) . liftHandlerT $ do
+    PageContent{..} <- widgetToPageContent $(widgetFile "widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone")
+    ur <- getUrlRenderParams
+
+    sendResponse $ $(hamletFile "templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone-wrapper.hamlet") ur
+
   let
     fvLabel = toHtml $ mr fsLabel
     fvTooltip = toHtml . mr <$> fsTooltip
diff --git a/src/Utils.hs b/src/Utils.hs
index 5f31dfec5..9e79c33e7 100644
--- a/src/Utils.hs
+++ b/src/Utils.hs
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ takeSessionJson key = lookupSessionJson key <* deleteSession (toPathPiece key)
 -- Custom HTTP Request-Headers --
 ---------------------------------
 
-data CustomHeader = HeaderIsModal | HeaderDBTableShortcircuit
+data CustomHeader = HeaderIsModal | HeaderDBTableShortcircuit | HeaderMassInputShortcircuit
   deriving (Eq, Ord, Enum, Bounded, Read, Show, Generic)
 
 instance Universe CustomHeader
diff --git a/static/js/utils/massInput.js b/static/js/utils/massInput.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa8e075bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/js/utils/massInput.js
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+(function() {
+  'use strict';
+
+  /**
+   *
+   * Mass Input Utility
+   *  allows form shapes to be manipulated asynchronously:
+   *  will asynchronously submit the containing form and replace the contents
+   *  of the mass input element with the one from the BE response
+   *  The utility will only trigger an AJAX request if the mass input element has
+   *  an active/focused element whilst the form is being submitted.
+   *
+   * Attribute:   uw-mass-input
+   *
+   * Example usage:
+   *  <form method="POST" action="...">
+   *   <input type="text">
+   *   <div uw-mass-input>
+   *     <input type="text">
+   *     <button type="submit">
+   */
+
+  var MASS_INPUT_UTIL_NAME = 'massInput';
+  var MASS_INPUT_UTIL_SELECTOR = '[uw-mass-input]';
+
+  var MASS_INPUT_CELL_SELECTOR = '.massinput__cell';
+  var MASS_INPUT_ADD_CELL_SELECTOR = '.massinput__cell--add';
+  var MASS_INPUT_INITIALIZED_CLASS = 'mass-input--initialized';
+
+  var massInputUtil = function(element) {
+    var massInputId;
+    var massInputFormSubmitHandler;
+    var massInputForm;
+
+    function init() {
+      if (!element) {
+        throw new Error('Mass Input utility cannot be setup without an element!');
+      }
+
+      massInputId = element.id;
+      massInputForm = element.closest('form');
+
+      if (!massInputForm) {
+        throw new Error('Mass Input utility cannot be setup without being wrapped in a <form>!');
+      }
+
+      massInputFormSubmitHandler = makeSubmitHandler();
+      massInputForm.addEventListener('submit', massInputFormSubmitHandler);
+
+      // mark initialized
+      element.classList.add(MASS_INPUT_INITIALIZED_CLASS);
+
+      return {
+        name: MASS_INPUT_UTIL_NAME,
+        element: element,
+        destroy: function() {
+          reset();
+        },
+      };
+    }
+
+    function makeSubmitHandler() {
+      if (!HttpClient) {
+        throw new Error('HttpClient not found!');
+      }
+
+      var method = massInputForm.getAttribute('method') || 'POST';
+      var url = massInputForm.getAttribute('action') || window.location.href;
+      var enctype = massInputForm.getAttribute('enctype') || 'application/json';
+
+      var requestFn;
+      if (HttpClient[method.toLowerCase()]) {
+        requestFn = HttpClient[method.toLowerCase()];
+      }
+
+      return function(event) {
+        // check if event occured from either a mass input add/delete button or
+        // from inside one of massinput's inputs (i.e. they are focused/active)
+        var activeElement = element.querySelector(':focus, :active');
+        if (!activeElement) {
+          return false;
+        }
+
+        // find the according massinput cell thats hosts the element that triggered the submit
+        var massInputCell = activeElement.closest(MASS_INPUT_CELL_SELECTOR);
+        if (!massInputCell) {
+          return false;
+        }
+
+        var submitButton = massInputCell.querySelector('button[type="submit"][name][value]');
+        if (!submitButton) {
+          return false;
+        }
+
+        var isAddCell = massInputCell.matches(MASS_INPUT_ADD_CELL_SELECTOR);
+        var submitButtonIsActive = submitButton.matches(':focus, :active');
+        // if the cell is not an add cell the active element must at least be the cells submit button
+        if (!isAddCell && !submitButtonIsActive) {
+          return false;
+        }
+
+        event.preventDefault();
+        var requestBody = serializeForm(submitButton, enctype);
+
+        if (requestFn && requestBody) {
+          requestFn(
+            url,
+            {
+              'Content-Type': enctype,
+              'Mass-Input-Shortcircuit': massInputId,
+            },
+            requestBody,
+          ).then(function(response) {
+            return response.text();
+          }).then(function(response) {
+            processResponse(response);
+            if (isAddCell) {
+              reFocusAddCell();
+            }
+          });
+        }
+      };
+    }
+
+    function processResponse(response) {
+      element.innerHTML = response;
+
+      prefixInputIds();
+      reset()
+
+      if (UtilRegistry) {
+        UtilRegistry.setupAll(element);
+      }
+    }
+
+    function prefixInputIds() {
+      var idAttrs = ['id', 'for', 'data-conditional-input'];
+      idAttrs.forEach(function(attr) {
+        Array.from(element.querySelectorAll('[' + attr + ']')).forEach(function(input) {
+          var value = element.id + '__' + input.getAttribute(attr);
+          input.setAttribute(attr, value);
+        });
+      });
+    }
+
+    function serializeForm(submitButton, enctype) {
+      var formData = new FormData(massInputForm);
+
+      // manually add name and value of submit button to formData
+      formData.append(submitButton.name, submitButton.value);
+
+      if (enctype === 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded') {
+        return new URLSearchParams(formData);
+      } else if (enctype === 'multipart/form-data') {
+        return formData;
+      } else {
+        throw new Error('Unsupported form enctype: ' + enctype);
+      }
+    }
+
+    function reFocusAddCell() {
+      var addCell = element.querySelector(MASS_INPUT_ADD_CELL_SELECTOR);
+      if (!addCell) {
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      var addCellInput = addCell.querySelector('input:not([type="hidden"])');
+      if (addCellInput) {
+        // clear the inputs value
+        // TBD: make this work for checkboxes and radioboxes
+        // where the value should not be cleared
+        addCellInput.value = '';
+        addCellInput.focus();
+      }
+    }
+
+    function reset() {
+      element.classList.remove(MASS_INPUT_INITIALIZED_CLASS);
+      massInputForm.removeEventListener('submit', massInputFormSubmitHandler)
+    }
+
+    return init();
+  };
+
+  // register mass input util
+  if (UtilRegistry) {
+    UtilRegistry.register({
+      name: MASS_INPUT_UTIL_NAME,
+      selector: MASS_INPUT_UTIL_SELECTOR,
+      setup: massInputUtil
+    });
+  }
+})();
diff --git a/templates/course/lecturerMassInput/layout.hamlet b/templates/course/lecturerMassInput/layout.hamlet
index 8dc00bc90..65352dd95 100644
--- a/templates/course/lecturerMassInput/layout.hamlet
+++ b/templates/course/lecturerMassInput/layout.hamlet
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ $newline never
 <table>
   <tbody>
     $forall coord <- review liveCoords lLength
-      <tr .massinput--cell>
+      <tr .massinput__cell>
         ^{cellWdgts ! coord}
         <td>
           ^{fvInput (delButtons ! coord)}
   <tfoot>
-    <tr .massinput--add>
+    <tr .massinput__cell.massinput__cell--add>
       ^{addWdgts ! (0, 0)}
diff --git a/templates/sheetCorrectors/layout.hamlet b/templates/sheetCorrectors/layout.hamlet
index 3f6bb4f87..172f813f8 100644
--- a/templates/sheetCorrectors/layout.hamlet
+++ b/templates/sheetCorrectors/layout.hamlet
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ $newline never
       <td>
   <tbody>
     $forall coord <- review liveCoords lLength
-      <tr .massinput--cell .table__row>
+      <tr .massinput__cell .table__row>
         ^{cellWdgts ! coord}
         <td>
           ^{fvInput (delButtons ! coord)}
   <tfoot>
-    <tr .massinput--add>
+    <tr .massinput__cell.massinput__cell--add>
       ^{addWdgts ! (0, 0)}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientAdd.hamlet b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientAdd.hamlet
index 3c99d2964..086224486 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientAdd.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientAdd.hamlet
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 $newline never
-<div .recipient-category__option-add>
+<div .recipient-category__option-add.massinput__cell.massinput__cell--add>
   #{csrf}
   ^{fvInput addView}
   ^{fvInput submitView}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientEmail.hamlet b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientEmail.hamlet
index 5290fcef2..a3c4f711b 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientEmail.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientEmail.hamlet
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 $newline never
-<div .recipient-category__option>
+<div .recipient-category__option.massinput__cell>
   #{csrf}
   ^{fvInput tickView}
   <label .recipient-category__option-label for=#{fvId tickView}>
diff --git a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientName.hamlet b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientName.hamlet
index 96b650b0d..4dd5ee014 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/communication/recipientName.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/communication/recipientName.hamlet
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 $newline never
-<div .recipient-category__option>
+<div .recipient-category__option.massinput__cell>
   #{csrf}
   ^{fvInput tickView}
   <label .recipient-category__option-label for=#{fvId tickView}>
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/list/layout.hamlet b/templates/widgets/massinput/list/layout.hamlet
index 5f5676bb6..0af005b4e 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/massinput/list/layout.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/massinput/list/layout.hamlet
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 $newline never
 <table>
   <tbody>
-    <tr .massinput--cell>
+    <tr .massinput__cell>
       $forall coord <- review liveCoords lLength
         <td>
           ^{cellWdgts ! coord}
         <td>
           ^{fvInput (delButtons ! coord)}
   <tfoot>
-    <tr>
+    <tr .massinput__cell.massinput__cell--add>
+      <td>
       <td>
-      <td .massinput--add>
         ^{addWdgts ! (0, 0)}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone-wrapper.hamlet b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone-wrapper.hamlet
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6cfbcf2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone-wrapper.hamlet
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+$newline never
+$# Wrapper around massinput-standalone
+$#   pageTitle :: Html
+$#   pageHead  :: HtmlUrl url
+$#   pageBody  :: HtmlUrl url
+$#
+$# Probably only `pageBody` is relevant
+^{pageBody}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone.hamlet b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone.hamlet
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fef23b58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput-standalone.hamlet
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+$newline never
+$# Version of `widgets/massinput/massinput` for when short-circuiting happens
+$# i.e. the response is only this widget wrapped in `massinput-standalone-wrapper.hamlet`
+#{csrf}
+^{shapeInput}
+^{miWidget}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.hamlet b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.hamlet
index 3dde7384d..9a8ef2534 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.hamlet
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 $newline never
-<div .massinput ##{fvId}>
+<div .massinput uw-mass-input ##{fvId}>
   #{csrf}
   ^{shapeInput}
   ^{miWidget}
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.julius b/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.julius
deleted file mode 100644
index 3c6c2a25b..000000000
--- a/templates/widgets/massinput/massinput.julius
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
-  var form = document.getElementById(#{String fvId}).closest('form');
-
-
-  var formSubmit = form.querySelector('input[type=submit], button[type=submit]:not(.btn-mass-input-add):not(.btn-mass-input-delete)');
-  var cellInputs = Array.from(form.querySelectorAll('.massinput--cell input:not([type=hidden])'));
-
-  cellInputs.forEach(function(input) {
-      makeImplicitSubmit(input, formSubmit);
-  });
-
-
-  Array.from(form.querySelectorAll('.massinput--add')).forEach(function(wrapper) {
-    var addSubmit = wrapper.querySelector('.btn-mass-input-add');
-    var addInputs = Array.from(wrapper.querySelectorAll('input:not([type=hidden]):not(.btn-mass-input-add)'));
-
-    addInputs.forEach(function(input) {
-      makeImplicitSubmit(input, addSubmit);
-    });
-  });
-
-  // Override implicit submit (pressing enter) behaviour to trigger a specified submit button instead of the default
-  function makeImplicitSubmit(input, submit) {
-    if (!submit) {
-      throw new Error('implicitSubmit(input, options) needs to be passed a submit element via options');
-    }
-
-    var doSubmit = function(event) {
-      if (event.keyCode == 13) {
-        event.preventDefault();
-        submit.click();
-      }
-    };
-
-    input.addEventListener('keypress', doSubmit);
-  }
-});
diff --git a/templates/widgets/massinput/row.hamlet b/templates/widgets/massinput/row.hamlet
index 8c43c9896..f26de8b05 100644
--- a/templates/widgets/massinput/row.hamlet
+++ b/templates/widgets/massinput/row.hamlet
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-<ul .massinput--row .#{"massinput--dim" <> toPathPiece dimIx}>
+<ul .massinput__row .#{"massinput--dim" <> toPathPiece dimIx}>
   $forall (cellCoord, cell) <- cells
-    <li .massinput--cell data-massinput-coord=#{toPathPiece cellCoord}>
+    <li .massinput__cell data-massinput-coord=#{toPathPiece cellCoord}>
       ^{cell}
   $maybe add <- addWidget
-    <li .massinput--add>
+    <li .massinput__cell.massinput__cell--add>
       ^{add}