diff --git a/src/commons/application/actions/SessionActions.ts b/src/commons/application/actions/SessionActions.ts
index b5d47662b6..9176862b62 100644
--- a/src/commons/application/actions/SessionActions.ts
+++ b/src/commons/application/actions/SessionActions.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ import {
   LOGOUT_GOOGLE,
   REAUTOGRADE_ANSWER,
   REAUTOGRADE_SUBMISSION,
-  REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
+  REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN,
+  SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
   SET_GITHUB_ASSESSMENT,
   SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
   SET_GOOGLE_USER,
@@ -88,7 +89,11 @@ export const setGitHubAssessment = (missionRepoData: MissionRepoData) =>
 export const setGitHubOctokitObject = (authToken?: string) =>
   action(SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT, generateOctokitInstance(authToken || ''));
 
-export const removeGitHubOctokitObject = () => action(REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT);
+export const setGitHubAccessToken = (authToken?: string) =>
+  action(SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN, authToken);
+
+export const removeGitHubOctokitObjectAndAccessToken = () =>
+  action(REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN);
 
 export const submitAnswer = (id: number, answer: string | number | ContestEntry[]) =>
   action(SUBMIT_ANSWER, {
diff --git a/src/commons/application/actions/__tests__/SessionActions.ts b/src/commons/application/actions/__tests__/SessionActions.ts
index 56695f9987..26ee9fc95f 100644
--- a/src/commons/application/actions/__tests__/SessionActions.ts
+++ b/src/commons/application/actions/__tests__/SessionActions.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   LOGIN,
   REAUTOGRADE_ANSWER,
   REAUTOGRADE_SUBMISSION,
+  SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
   SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
   SET_TOKENS,
   SET_USER,
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ import {
   login,
   reautogradeAnswer,
   reautogradeSubmission,
+  setGitHubAccessToken,
   setGitHubOctokitObject,
   setTokens,
   setUser,
@@ -173,6 +175,15 @@ test('setGitHubOctokitInstance generates correct action object', async () => {
   expect(authObject.tokenType).toBe('oauth');
 });
 
+test('setGitHubAccessToken generates correct action object', () => {
+  const authToken = 'testAuthToken12345';
+  const action = setGitHubAccessToken(authToken);
+  expect(action).toEqual({
+    type: SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
+    payload: authToken
+  });
+});
+
 test('submitAnswer generates correct action object', () => {
   const id = 3;
   const answer = 'test-answer-here';
diff --git a/src/commons/application/reducers/SessionsReducer.ts b/src/commons/application/reducers/SessionsReducer.ts
index 5efc886d5e..ab6dc8aea2 100644
--- a/src/commons/application/reducers/SessionsReducer.ts
+++ b/src/commons/application/reducers/SessionsReducer.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ import { SourceActionType } from '../../utils/ActionsHelper';
 import { defaultSession } from '../ApplicationTypes';
 import { LOG_OUT } from '../types/CommonsTypes';
 import {
-  REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
+  REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN,
   SessionState,
+  SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
   SET_GITHUB_ASSESSMENT,
   SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
   SET_GOOGLE_USER,
@@ -40,6 +41,11 @@ export const SessionsReducer: Reducer<SessionState> = (
         ...state,
         githubOctokitObject: { octokit: action.payload }
       };
+    case SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN:
+      return {
+        ...state,
+        githubAccessToken: action.payload
+      };
     case SET_GOOGLE_USER:
       return {
         ...state,
@@ -109,10 +115,11 @@ export const SessionsReducer: Reducer<SessionState> = (
         ...state,
         remoteExecutionSession: action.payload
       };
-    case REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT:
+    case REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN:
       return {
         ...state,
-        githubOctokitObject: { octokit: undefined }
+        githubOctokitObject: { octokit: undefined },
+        githubAccessToken: undefined
       };
     default:
       return state;
diff --git a/src/commons/application/reducers/__tests__/SessionReducer.ts b/src/commons/application/reducers/__tests__/SessionReducer.ts
index 3f264c7b57..aa885d4d81 100644
--- a/src/commons/application/reducers/__tests__/SessionReducer.ts
+++ b/src/commons/application/reducers/__tests__/SessionReducer.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { defaultSession, GameState, Role, Story } from '../../ApplicationTypes';
 import { LOG_OUT } from '../../types/CommonsTypes';
 import {
   SessionState,
+  SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
   SET_TOKENS,
   SET_USER,
   UPDATE_ASSESSMENT,
@@ -82,6 +83,20 @@ test('SET_USER works correctly', () => {
   });
 });
 
+test('SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN works correctly', () => {
+  const token = 'githubAccessToken';
+  const action = {
+    type: SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN,
+    payload: token
+  };
+  const result: SessionState = SessionsReducer(defaultSession, action);
+
+  expect(result).toEqual({
+    ...defaultSession,
+    githubAccessToken: token
+  });
+});
+
 test('UPDATE_HISTORY_HELPERS works on non-academy location', () => {
   const payload = '/playground';
   const historyHelper: HistoryHelper = {
diff --git a/src/commons/application/types/SessionTypes.ts b/src/commons/application/types/SessionTypes.ts
index 9171b424bc..bf47d456b8 100644
--- a/src/commons/application/types/SessionTypes.ts
+++ b/src/commons/application/types/SessionTypes.ts
@@ -22,13 +22,15 @@ export const SET_USER = 'SET_USER';
 export const SET_GOOGLE_USER = 'SET_GOOGLE_USER';
 export const SET_GITHUB_ASSESSMENT = 'SET_GITHUB_ASSESSMENT';
 export const SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT = 'SET_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT';
+export const SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN = 'SET_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN';
 export const SUBMIT_ANSWER = 'SUBMIT_ANSWER';
 export const SUBMIT_ASSESSMENT = 'SUBMIT_ASSESSMENT';
 export const SUBMIT_GRADING = 'SUBMIT_GRADING';
 export const SUBMIT_GRADING_AND_CONTINUE = 'SUBMIT_GRADING_AND_CONTINUE';
 export const REAUTOGRADE_SUBMISSION = 'REAUTOGRADE_SUBMISSION';
 export const REAUTOGRADE_ANSWER = 'REAUTOGRADE_ANSWER';
-export const REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT = 'REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT';
+export const REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN =
+  'REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN';
 export const UNSUBMIT_SUBMISSION = 'UNSUBMIT_SUBMISSION';
 export const UPDATE_HISTORY_HELPERS = 'UPDATE_HISTORY_HELPERS';
 export const UPDATE_ASSESSMENT_OVERVIEWS = 'UPDATE_ASSESSMENT_OVERVIEWS';
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ export type SessionState = {
   readonly googleUser?: string;
   readonly githubAssessment?: MissionRepoData;
   readonly githubOctokitObject: { octokit: Octokit | undefined };
+  readonly githubAccessToken?: string;
   readonly remoteExecutionDevices?: Device[];
   readonly remoteExecutionSession?: DeviceSession;
 };
diff --git a/src/commons/sagas/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts b/src/commons/sagas/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
index 1d531a76d8..95100f763e 100644
--- a/src/commons/sagas/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
+++ b/src/commons/sagas/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ function* githubLoginSaga() {
 
   broadcastChannel.onmessage = receivedMessage => {
     store.dispatch(actions.setGitHubOctokitObject(receivedMessage.data));
+    store.dispatch(actions.setGitHubAccessToken(receivedMessage.data));
     showSuccessMessage('Logged in to GitHub', 1000);
   };
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ function* githubLogoutSaga() {
     return;
   }
 
-  yield put(actions.removeGitHubOctokitObject());
+  yield put(actions.removeGitHubOctokitObjectAndAccessToken());
   yield call(showSuccessMessage, `Logged out from GitHub`, 1000);
   yield call(history.push, '/githubassessments/missions');
 }
diff --git a/src/commons/sagas/__tests__/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts b/src/commons/sagas/__tests__/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
index bbb6d91f88..69094a4f2f 100644
--- a/src/commons/sagas/__tests__/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
+++ b/src/commons/sagas/__tests__/GitHubPersistenceSaga.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { expectSaga } from 'redux-saga-test-plan';
 
 import { actions } from '../../../commons/utils/ActionsHelper';
-import { REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT } from '../../application/types/SessionTypes';
+import { REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN } from '../../application/types/SessionTypes';
 
 // mock away the store
 jest.mock('../../../pages/createStore');
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const GitHubPersistenceSaga = require('../GitHubPersistenceSaga').default;
 test('logoutGitHub results in REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT being dispatched', async () => {
   await expectSaga(GitHubPersistenceSaga)
     .put({
-      type: REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT,
+      type: REMOVE_GITHUB_OCTOKIT_OBJECT_AND_ACCESS_TOKEN,
       payload: undefined,
       meta: undefined,
       error: undefined
diff --git a/src/pages/__tests__/createStore.test.ts b/src/pages/__tests__/createStore.test.ts
index e2eb8ab990..2f0c3a57b9 100644
--- a/src/pages/__tests__/createStore.test.ts
+++ b/src/pages/__tests__/createStore.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ const mockChangedStoredState: SavedState = {
     accessToken: 'yep',
     refreshToken: 'refresherOrb',
     role: undefined,
-    name: 'Jeff'
+    name: 'Jeff',
+    userId: 1,
+    githubAccessToken: 'githubAccessToken'
   },
   playgroundEditorValue: 'Nihao everybody',
   playgroundIsEditorAutorun: true,
@@ -30,7 +32,9 @@ const mockChangedState: OverallState = {
     accessToken: 'yep',
     refreshToken: 'refresherOrb',
     role: undefined,
-    name: 'Jeff'
+    name: 'Jeff',
+    userId: 1,
+    githubAccessToken: 'githubAccessToken'
   },
   workspaces: {
     ...defaultState.workspaces,
@@ -62,10 +66,22 @@ describe('createStore() function', () => {
   });
   test('has correct getState() when called with storedState', () => {
     localStorage.setItem('storedState', compressToUTF16(JSON.stringify(mockChangedStoredState)));
-    expect(createStore(history).getState()).toEqual({
+
+    /**
+     * Jest toEqual is unable to compare equality of functions (in the Octokit object).
+     * Thus we simply check that it is defined when loading storedState.
+     *
+     * See https://github.com/facebook/jest/issues/8166
+     */
+    const received = createStore(history).getState() as any;
+    const octokit = received.session.githubOctokitObject.octokit;
+    delete received.session.githubOctokitObject.octokit;
+
+    expect(received).toEqual({
       ...mockChangedState,
       router: defaultRouter
     });
+    expect(octokit).toBeDefined();
     localStorage.removeItem('storedState');
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/pages/createStore.ts b/src/pages/createStore.ts
index f8a747ecb6..4f936d56a1 100644
--- a/src/pages/createStore.ts
+++ b/src/pages/createStore.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { History } from 'history';
 import { throttle } from 'lodash';
 import { applyMiddleware, compose, createStore as _createStore } from 'redux';
 import createSagaMiddleware from 'redux-saga';
+import { generateOctokitInstance } from 'src/commons/utils/GitHubPersistenceHelper';
 
 import { defaultState } from '../commons/application/ApplicationTypes';
 import createRootReducer from '../commons/application/reducers/RootReducer';
@@ -47,7 +48,12 @@ function loadStore(loadedStore: SavedState | undefined) {
     ...defaultState,
     session: {
       ...defaultState.session,
-      ...(loadedStore.session ? loadedStore.session : {})
+      ...(loadedStore.session ? loadedStore.session : {}),
+      githubOctokitObject: {
+        octokit: loadedStore.session.githubAccessToken
+          ? generateOctokitInstance(loadedStore.session.githubAccessToken)
+          : undefined
+      }
     },
     workspaces: {
       ...defaultState.workspaces,
diff --git a/src/pages/localStorage.ts b/src/pages/localStorage.ts
index 657ac421e8..c27deeca64 100644
--- a/src/pages/localStorage.ts
+++ b/src/pages/localStorage.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ export const saveState = (state: OverallState) => {
         refreshToken: state.session.refreshToken,
         role: state.session.role,
         name: state.session.name,
-        userId: state.session.userId
+        userId: state.session.userId,
+        githubAccessToken: state.session.githubAccessToken
       },
       achievements: state.achievement.achievements,
       playgroundEditorValue: state.workspaces.playground.editorValue,