diff --git a/.changeset/2800.md b/.changeset/2800.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e051b0557
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/2800.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+'@backstage/core': minor
+'@backstage/core-api': minor
+---
+
+Updated the `GithubAuth.create` method to configure the default scope of the Github Auth Api. As a result the
+default scope is configurable when overwriting the Core Api in the app.
+
+```
+GithubAuth.create({
+  discoveryApi,
+  oauthRequestApi,
+  defaultScopes: ['read:user', 'repo'],
+}),
+```
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/github/GithubAuth.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/github/GithubAuth.ts
index 1d87ff3720..eb2f375ab0 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/github/GithubAuth.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/github/GithubAuth.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ type CreateOptions = {
   discoveryApi: DiscoveryApi;
   oauthRequestApi: OAuthRequestApi;
 
+  defaultScopes?: string[];
   environment?: string;
   provider?: AuthProvider & { id: string };
 };
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ class GithubAuth implements OAuthApi, SessionApi {
     environment = 'development',
     provider = DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
     oauthRequestApi,
+    defaultScopes = ['read:user'],
   }: CreateOptions) {
     const connector = new DefaultAuthConnector({
       discoveryApi,
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ class GithubAuth implements OAuthApi, SessionApi {
 
     const sessionManager = new StaticAuthSessionManager({
       connector,
-      defaultScopes: new Set(['read:user']),
+      defaultScopes: new Set(defaultScopes),
       sessionScopes: (session: GithubSession) => session.providerInfo.scopes,
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts b/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
index dedadf0456..e735e4d371 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ export const defaultApis = [
       oauthRequestApi: oauthRequestApiRef,
     },
     factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi }) =>
-      GithubAuth.create({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi }),
+      GithubAuth.create({
+        discoveryApi,
+        oauthRequestApi,
+        defaultScopes: ['read:user'],
+      }),
   }),
   createApiFactory({
     api: oktaAuthApiRef,