Teofilo Kisanji University is owned by the Moravian Church in Tanzania. Its origin is a Theological College, which was established in the early 1960s. In 2004, the Moravian leaders decided to transform the Theological College into a University. The University was granted a certificate of Provisional Registration in April, 2006 and a Certificate of Full Registration in September 2007. In 2010, the University received a signed charter and rules from the President of the United Republic of Tanzania.