The TriennialConference of the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (later renamed as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India - UELCI), which met at Guntur in 1926, felt the need for a theological college for the Lutheran Churches in India. On July 6, 1927 when sucha college started, only students from TELC enrolled for the first divinity class. A summer palace bought in 1859 by the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission from an Indian Raja, became the Centre firstly. Bishop Johannes Sandegren, the first Principal of the college, named it Gurukul, meaning a Guru (teacher) living together with his Sishyas (disciples). Though it was planned at an All India level it was only in July 1931 that the United Lutheran Theological College (Gurukul) was established with students and staff from United Lutheran Mission (UMS), Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC), Church of Sweden Mission (CSwM), Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission (LELM), Danish Missionary Society (DMS) and the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC). Dr. Frolich of LELM was made the principal of this United Lutheran Theological College.

In 1953, Gurukul received a new life with a wider participation of the Lutheran Churches and so named as Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute. The college was then affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College for Graduate and Post Graduate Studies. Dr. Sigfrid Estborn became its Principal. Then Gurukul merged with the United Theological College, Bangalore and Serampore College, West Bengal in 1971. From then on, Gurukul became a Centre for continuing and extension education for the churches in India under the stewardship of Dr. K. Rajaratnam, a visionary and dynamic leader.

The reopening of Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) studies at Gurukul by the 20th Triennial Conference held at Madras in 1984 enabled the reviving of the regular BD studies at Gurukul from June 1985. A Bold Theological Vision, as envisioned by Dr. K. Rajaratnam, became the corner stone of academic activities of the college. In 1987, Master of Theology (M.Th.) studies were introduced in two branches - Christian Theology and Religions. In fifteen years, new branches - Old Testament, New Testament, History of Christianity, Communication, Women's Studies and Missiology were added. By 1999, with the approval of the Senate of Serampore College, Doctor of Theology (D.Th.) program in Christian Theology commenced. Old Testament, Religions, Communication and were later added.

Ecumenicity in character and practice is the special feature of the new resurrected Gurukul. It is reflected in the composition of Governing Board, Staff and Students of the College. It is quite obvious as the Gurukul community now is composed of staff and students representing the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches (UELCI), Church of South India (CSI), Church of North India (CNI), Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar (MTC), Orthodox Church, Assembly of God, Mara Evangelical Church, Methodist Church in India (MCI), Baptists, Independent and Charismatic Churches. There are two representatives from the Church of South India and the Church of North India in the College Council.