diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/serializers.py
index 9ac371805db0..9762498ac310 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/serializers.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 class StringListField(serializers.ListField):
     def to_internal_value(self, data):
-        try:
-            return data[0].split(',')
-        except IndexError:
+        if not data:
             return []
+        if isinstance(data, list):
+            data = data[0]
+        return data.split(',')
 
 
 class BulkEnrollmentSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/tests/test_views.py
index 4a2ca20faf47..99eaac523445 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_enroll/tests/test_views.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from rest_framework.test import APIRequestFactory, APITestCase, force_authenticate
 
+from bulk_enroll.serializers import BulkEnrollmentSerializer
 from bulk_enroll.views import BulkEnrollView
 from courseware.tests.helpers import LoginEnrollmentTestCase
 from microsite_configuration import microsite
@@ -74,6 +75,22 @@ def request_bulk_enroll(self, data=None, **extra):
         response.render()
         return response
 
+    def test_course_list_serializer(self):
+        """
+        Test that the course serializer will work when passed a string or list.
+
+        Internally, DRF passes the data into the value conversion method as a list instead of
+        a string, so StringListField needs to work with both.
+        """
+        for key in [self.course_key, [self.course_key]]:
+            serializer = BulkEnrollmentSerializer(data={
+                'identifiers': 'percivaloctavius',
+                'action': 'enroll',
+                'email_students': False,
+                'courses': key,
+            })
+            self.assertTrue(serializer.is_valid())
+
     def test_non_staff(self):
         """ Test that non global staff users are forbidden from API use. """
         self.staff.is_staff = False