diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/bulk_unenroll.py b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/bulk_unenroll.py
index e9932afe85..1412a0ba63 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/bulk_unenroll.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/bulk_unenroll.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         csv_path = options['csv_path']
         if csv_path:
-            with open(csv_path) as csv_file:
+            with open(csv_path, 'rb') as csv_file:
                 self.unenroll_users(csv_file)
         else:
             csv_file = BulkUnenrollConfiguration.current().csv_file
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/management/tests/test_bulk_unenroll.py b/common/djangoapps/student/management/tests/test_bulk_unenroll.py
index 3417b7c1a2..02ecc0da25 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/management/tests/test_bulk_unenroll.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/management/tests/test_bulk_unenroll.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class BulkUnenrollTests(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
             lines += str(enrollment.user.id) + "," + enrollment.user.username + "," + \
                 enrollment.user.email + "," + str(enrollment.course.id) + "\n"
 
-        csv_file = SimpleUploadedFile(name='test.csv', content=lines, content_type='text/csv')
+        csv_file = SimpleUploadedFile(name='test.csv', content=lines.encode('utf-8'), content_type='text/csv')
         BulkUnenrollConfiguration.objects.create(enabled=True, csv_file=csv_file)
 
         call_command("bulk_unenroll")
@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@ class BulkUnenrollTests(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
         for enrollment in self.enrollments:
             username = enrollment.user.username
             if username in users_unenrolled:
-                users_unenrolled[username].append(str(enrollment.course.id))
+                users_unenrolled[username].append(str(enrollment.course.id).encode('utf-8'))
             else:
-                users_unenrolled[username] = [str(enrollment.course.id)]
+                users_unenrolled[username] = [str(enrollment.course.id).encode('utf-8')]
 
             lines += str(enrollment.user.id) + "," + username + "," + \
                 enrollment.user.email + "," + str(enrollment.course.id) + "\n"
 
-        csv_file = SimpleUploadedFile(name='test.csv', content=lines, content_type='text/csv')
+        csv_file = SimpleUploadedFile(name='test.csv', content=lines.encode('utf-8'), content_type='text/csv')
         BulkUnenrollConfiguration.objects.create(enabled=True, csv_file=csv_file)
 
         with LogCapture(LOGGER_NAME) as log: