diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
index b1d208433f..5e29bf1151 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ class RelatedProgramsTests(ProgramsApiConfigMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
 
     def expected_link_text(self, program):
         """Construct expected dashboard link text."""
-        return '{name} {category}'.format(name=program['name'], category=program['category'])
+        return u'{name} {category}'.format(name=program['name'], category=program['category'])
 
     def test_related_programs_listed(self):
         """Verify that related programs are listed when the programs API returns data."""
@@ -982,6 +982,14 @@ class RelatedProgramsTests(ProgramsApiConfigMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assert_related_programs(response)
         self.assertNotContains(response, unrelated_program['name'])
 
+    def test_program_title_unicode(self):
+        """Verify that the dashboard can deal with programs whose titles contain Unicode."""
+        self.programs[0]['name'] = u'Bases matemáticas para estudiar ingeniería'
+        self.mock_programs_api(self.programs)
+
+        response = self.client.get(self.url)
+        self.assert_related_programs(response)
+
 
 class UserAttributeTests(TestCase):
     """Tests for the UserAttribute model."""
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_course_listing.html b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_course_listing.html
index d0733d0fb9..c9d867c9b4 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_course_listing.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_course_listing.html
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ from student.helpers import (
           % for program in related_programs:
           <li>
             <span class="category-icon ${program['category'].lower()}-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
-            <span><a href="${program['detail_url']}">${'{name} {category}'.format(name=program['name'], category=program['category'])}</a></span>
+            <span><a href="${program['detail_url']}">${u'{name} {category}'.format(name=program['name'], category=program['category'])}</a></span>
           </li>
           % endfor
         </ul>