The Lutheran Theological Institute was constituted by consolidating the Umphumulo Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) and the Lutheran House of Studies in Pietermaritzburg (Luthos) in January 2003. The LTI does not only accommodate ELCSA and UELCSA theology students from South Africa but also international postgraduate students from the rest of Africa, from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The Lutheran Theological Institute - Students Residence(LTI), Pietermaritzburg is an institution for the study of theology, established by the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (UELCSA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) and is administered by the South African Lutheran Theological Training Trust (SALTTT). Its doctrinal basis is laid down in its constitution and those of the participating churches. The LTI Students Residence sees itself as a Christian community that provides accommodation and a spiritual and devotional home for staff and students of the LTI and other students. It exists within a diversity of traditions, cultures and lifestyles. By living together, in studying, worship and extra-mural activities students, workers and staff learn to respect and honour each other and to apply what they confess in their outreach into society.