Founded in March 2017, Leicester International Institute, Dalian University of Technology (DLI) is a Sino-foreign cooperative education institution approved by the Ministry of Education. As a non-independent legal entity, DLI is jointly established by Dalian University of Technology (DUT), a "Double First-Class" university in China, and the University of Leicester (UoL), a world-renowned institution consistently ranked among the global top 200.

Based in Panjin, Liaoning Province, DLI leverages DUT's disciplinary strengths and UoL's cutting-edge research resources to pioneer an international education model tailored for small and medium-sized cities—characterized by high standards, innovative approaches, and global engagement.

Initially offering three undergraduate programs: Process Equipment and Control Engineering, Applied Chemistry, and Mathematical and Physical Sciences, DLI expanded in March 2025 with the addition of Pharmacy and Environmental Ecology Engineering programs, as well as master’s and doctoral programs across all five disciplines. This has formed a comprehensive bachelor-master-doctor training system covering Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, Pharmacy, and Environmental Science, with a total enrollment capacity of 2,390 students.

DLI admits students through the national college entrance examination (Gaokao) under the first-tier batch. All enrolled students hold dual registration at both DUT and UoL, granting them access to the learning resources, rights, and management systems of both institutions.

With the distinctive feature of dual registration and dual degree conferral, DLI adopts a "4+0" model as its primary delivery mode, supplemented by "2+2" and "3+1" pathways. The institute deeply integrates Chinese and British educational philosophies, exploring a dual-driven approach of "internationalization at home" and "research internationalization," aiming to cultivate globally competitive talents with a strong sense of national responsibility. This effort serves China's strategy of opening up its education sector, the revitalization of Northeast China, and the advancement of "Double First-Class" university construction.