<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001261654</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001371105</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Smith Sherrell</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20410 NORTH 19TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Effective July 6, 2009, Sherrell Smith ceased to be a Section 16 reporting person.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Chad A. Freed, Attorney in fact for Sherrell Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
