diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_complete.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_complete.py
index 38ff2f1782..c6f9ac85c1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_complete.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_complete.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 """
 Helper functions for the course complete event that was originally included with the Badging MVP.
 """
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 import hashlib
 import logging
 
+import six
 from django.urls import reverse
 from django.utils.text import slugify
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
@@ -29,8 +32,8 @@ def course_slug(course_key, mode):
     Badgr's max slug length is 255.
     """
     # Seven digits should be enough to realistically avoid collisions. That's what git services use.
-    digest = hashlib.sha256(u"{}{}".format(unicode(course_key), unicode(mode))).hexdigest()[:7]
-    base_slug = slugify(unicode(course_key) + u'_{}_'.format(mode))[:248]
+    digest = hashlib.sha256(u"{}{}".format(six.text_type(course_key), six.text_type(mode))).hexdigest()[:7]
+    base_slug = slugify(six.text_type(course_key) + u'_{}_'.format(mode))[:248]
     return base_slug + digest
 
 
@@ -57,15 +60,16 @@ def evidence_url(user_id, course_key):
     Generates a URL to the user's Certificate HTML view, along with a GET variable that will signal the evidence visit
     event.
     """
+    course_id = six.text_type(course_key)
     return site_prefix() + reverse(
-        'certificates:html_view', kwargs={'user_id': user_id, 'course_id': unicode(course_key)}) + '?evidence_visit=1'
+        'certificates:html_view', kwargs={'user_id': user_id, 'course_id': course_id}) + '?evidence_visit=1'
 
 
 def criteria(course_key):
     """
     Constructs the 'criteria' URL from the course about page.
     """
-    about_path = reverse('about_course', kwargs={'course_id': unicode(course_key)})
+    about_path = reverse('about_course', kwargs={'course_id': six.text_type(course_key)})
     return u'{}{}'.format(site_prefix(), about_path)
 
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_meta.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_meta.py
index bdbd08b765..fcf6f32f1f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_meta.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/course_meta.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ Events which have to do with a user doing something with more than one course, s
 as enrolling in a certain number, completing a certain number, or completing a specific set of courses.
 """
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from badges.models import BadgeClass, CourseEventBadgesConfiguration
 from badges.utils import requires_badges_enabled
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_complete.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_complete.py
index 967f0251a3..000af23f2e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_complete.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_complete.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 """
 Tests for the course completion helper functions.
 """
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from badges.events import course_complete
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_meta.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_meta.py
index 51721f2da1..95a274c94f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_meta.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/events/tests/test_course_meta.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 """
 Tests the course meta badging events
 """
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import six
+from six.moves import range, zip
 from ddt import data, ddt, unpack
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
@@ -142,11 +146,11 @@ class CourseGroupBadgeTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.courses = []
         for _badge_class in self.badge_classes:
             self.courses.append([CourseFactory().location.course_key for _i in range(3)])
-        lines = [badge_class.slug + ',' + ','.join([unicode(course_key) for course_key in keys])
+        lines = [badge_class.slug + ',' + ','.join([six.text_type(course_key) for course_key in keys])
                  for badge_class, keys in zip(self.badge_classes, self.courses)]
         config = '\r'.join(lines)
         self.config = CourseEventBadgesConfigurationFactory(course_groups=config)
-        self.config_map = dict(zip(self.badge_classes, self.courses))
+        self.config_map = dict(list(zip(self.badge_classes, self.courses)))
 
     def test_no_match(self):
         """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/factories.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/factories.py
index 0afb020b4f..2042876d9b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/factories.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/factories.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 """
 Factories for Badge tests
 """
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from random import random
 
 import factory
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/test_models.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/test_models.py
index 995710fed0..844e28292e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/tests/test_models.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """
 Tests for the Badges app models.
 """
-from path import Path
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.core.files.images import ImageFile
 from django.core.files.storage import default_storage
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@ from django.db.utils import IntegrityError
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from mock import Mock, patch
+from path import Path
+from six.moves import range
 
 from badges.models import (
     BadgeAssertion,