diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/tests/test_views.py
index e1d6962402..32684badba 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/tests/test_views.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class ReceiptViewTests(UserMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         else:
             expected_pattern = r"<title>(\s+)Payment Failed"
         response = self.post_to_receipt_page(post_data)
-        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content, expected_pattern)
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content.decode('utf-8'), expected_pattern)
 
     @ddt.data('ACCEPT', 'REJECT', 'ERROR')
     def test_cybersource_decision(self, decision):
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class ReceiptViewTests(UserMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         post_data = {'decision': decision, 'reason_code': '200', 'signed_field_names': 'dummy'}
         expected_pattern = r"<title>(\s+)Receipt" if decision == 'ACCEPT' else r"<title>(\s+)Payment Failed"
         response = self.post_to_receipt_page(post_data)
-        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content, expected_pattern)
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content.decode('utf-8'), expected_pattern)
 
     @ddt.data(True, False)
     @mock.patch('lms.djangoapps.commerce.views.is_user_payment_error')
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ class ReceiptViewTests(UserMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
         user_message = "There was a problem with this transaction"
         system_message = "A system error occurred while processing your payment"
-        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content, user_message if is_user_message_expected else system_message)
-        self.assertNotRegexpMatches(response.content, user_message if not is_user_message_expected else system_message)
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(response.content.decode('utf-8'), user_message if is_user_message_expected else system_message)
+        self.assertNotRegexpMatches(response.content.decode('utf-8'), user_message if not is_user_message_expected else system_message)
 
     @with_comprehensive_theme("edx.org")
     def test_hide_nav_header(self):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
index 2c658685b0..8133af78c5 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
@@ -80,30 +80,30 @@ class I18nTestCase(BaseI18nTestCase):
     def test_default_is_en(self):
         self.release_languages('fr')
         response = self.client.get('/')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "en")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "en")
         self.assertEqual(response['Content-Language'], 'en')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "lang_en")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "lang_en")
 
     def test_esperanto(self):
         self.release_languages('fr, eo')
         response = self.client.get('/', HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE='eo')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "eo")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "eo")
         self.assertEqual(response['Content-Language'], 'eo')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "lang_eo")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "lang_eo")
 
     def test_switching_languages_bidi(self):
         self.release_languages('ar, eo')
         response = self.client.get('/')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "en")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "en")
         self.assertEqual(response['Content-Language'], 'en')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "lang_en")
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "ltr")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "lang_en")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "ltr")
 
         response = self.client.get('/', HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE='ar')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "ar")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "ar")
         self.assertEqual(response['Content-Language'], 'ar')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "lang_ar")
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "body", "class", "rtl")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "lang_ar")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "body", "class", "rtl")
 
 
 class I18nRegressionTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class I18nRegressionTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
         # Regression test; LOC-72, and an issue with Django
         self.release_languages('es-419')
         response = self.client.get('/', HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE='es-419')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "es-419")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "es-419")
 
     def test_unreleased_lang_resolution(self):
         # Regression test; LOC-85
@@ -126,12 +126,12 @@ class I18nRegressionTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
         # in the http request (NOT with the ?preview-lang query param) should
         # receive files for 'fa'
         response = self.client.get(self.url, HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE='fa-ir')
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "fa")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "fa")
 
         # Now try to access with dark lang
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'preview_language': 'fa-ir', 'action': 'set_preview_language'})
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "fa-ir")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "fa-ir")
 
     def test_preview_lang(self):
         self.user_login()
@@ -141,23 +141,23 @@ class I18nRegressionTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
         site_lang = settings.LANGUAGE_CODE
         # Visit the front page; verify we see site default lang
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", site_lang)
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", site_lang)
 
         # Verify we can switch language using the preview-lang query param
         # Set the language
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'preview_language': 'eo', 'action': 'set_preview_language'})
 
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "eo")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "eo")
         # We should be able to see released languages using preview-lang, too
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'preview_language': 'es-419', 'action': 'set_preview_language'})
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "es-419")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "es-419")
 
         # Clearing the language should go back to site default
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'action': 'reset_preview_language'})
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", site_lang)
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", site_lang)
 
 
 class I18nLangPrefTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
@@ -187,18 +187,18 @@ class I18nLangPrefTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
 
         # Visit the front page; verify we see site default lang
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", self.site_lang)
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", self.site_lang)
 
         # Set user language preference
         self.set_lang_preference('ar')
         # and verify we now get an ar response
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", 'ar')
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", 'ar')
 
         # Verify that switching language preference gives the right language
         self.set_lang_preference('es-419')
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", 'es-419')
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", 'es-419')
 
     def test_preview_precedence(self):
         # Regression test; LOC-87
@@ -210,13 +210,13 @@ class I18nLangPrefTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'preview_language': 'eo', 'action': 'set_preview_language'})
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
 
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", 'eo')
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", 'eo')
         # Hitting another page should keep the dark language set.
         response = self.client.get(reverse('courses'))
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", "eo")
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", "eo")
 
         # Clearing language must set language back to preference language
         self.client.post(self.preview_language_url, {'action': 'reset_preview_language'})
         response = self.client.get(self.url)
 
-        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content, "html", "lang", 'ar')
+        self.assert_tag_has_attr(response.content.decode('utf-8'), "html", "lang", 'ar')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
index 5a300de3e9..1a63165790 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def load_serialized_data(response, key):
     Extract and deserialize serialized data from the response.
     """
     pattern = re.compile(u'{key}: (?P<data>\\[.*\\])'.format(key=key))
-    match = pattern.search(response.content)
+    match = pattern.search(response.content.decode('utf-8'))
     serialized = match.group('data')
 
     return json.loads(serialized)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/support/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/support/tests/test_views.py
index 8094e69838..f0194d25c7 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/support/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/support/tests/test_views.py
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class SupportViewEnrollmentsTests(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, SupportViewTestCase
             data['course_id'] = six.text_type(self.course.id)
         response = self.client.post(self.url, data)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
-        self.assertIsNotNone(re.match(error_message, response.content))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(re.match(error_message, response.content.decode('utf-8')))
         self.assert_enrollment(CourseMode.AUDIT)
         self.assertIsNone(ManualEnrollmentAudit.get_manual_enrollment_by_email(self.student.email))