Tien-Lu Li received his college training at the Peking Methodist University, from which he received an Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908. He was instructor in English at Peking Methodist University before going to America for advanced education.
Mr. Li received his Master of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1914 and Doctor of Philosophy degree from the same school in 1916.
Mr. Tien-Lu attended Washington Conference as secretary of the Chinese delegation. Than he occupied various positions as president of the Peking Academy in 1922-1923, dean of the School of Arts of Shantung Christian University in 1923-1927 when he was appointed vice-president of that institution, president of the University in 1929-1930, dean of the Nanking Theological Seminary since 1930.