diff --git a/models/courses b/models/courses
index 206a6879e..758f6980d 100644
--- a/models/courses
+++ b/models/courses
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ Course    -- Information about a single course; contained info is always visible
     deregisterUntil  UTCTime Maybe -- unenrolement may be prohibited from a given date onwards
     registerSecret   Text Maybe    -- enrolement maybe protected by a simple common passphrase
     materialFree     Bool          -- False: only enrolled users may see course materials not stored in this table
-    applicationsRequired       Bool
+    applicationsRequired       Bool default=false
     applicationsInstructions   Html Maybe
-    applicationsText           Bool
-    applicationsFiles          UploadMode
-    applicationsRatingsVisible Bool
+    applicationsText           Bool default=false
+    applicationsFiles          UploadMode "default='{ \"mode\": \"no-upload\" }'::jsonb"
+    applicationsRatingsVisible Bool default=false
     TermSchoolCourseShort  term school shorthand    -- shorthand must be unique within school and semester
     TermSchoolCourseName   term school name         -- name must be unique within school and semester
     deriving Generic