Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) has its origins in the Yan'an Research Academy of Natural Sciences (延安自然科学研究院).

BIT was established May 1939 in Yan'an, Shaanxi by the Chinese Communist Party with the aim of training science and engineering professionals.

[2] In January 1940 when China was undergoing the most difficult phase of the War of Resistance Against Japan the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party reformed the Yan'an Research Academy of Natural Sciences into the Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences (延安自然科学院).

Li Fuchun, secretary of the CCP Committee for Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region, was appointed as the first president and was succeeded by educationist Xu Teli.

[3] During the founding period the Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences received support from international organizations and individuals including Rewi Alley.

[3][4] During the Cultural Revolution most research at Beijing Institute of Technology came to a halt but quickly resumed after 1976.

[3][5] On April 2, 1988, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) was officially named and defined as a comprehensive university specializing in engineering while integrating science, management, and liberal arts.

At that time, it comprised 16 departments and 33 majors, including vehicle engineering, applied physics, foreign languages, and industrial design.

[11] Founded in 1984, the Qinhuangdao campus offers one-year pre-university program for ethnic minority students whose first language is not Mandarin.

The speciality of Zhuhai campus lies in providing continuing education, distance learning courses.

The campus is managed by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and focuses on serving the development of the Pearl River Delta region.