Brunei Darussalam has a longstanding association with the Commonwealth. In particular, its links with the United Kingdom in the field of education date back to the 1950s. Most of the current technocrats and high level government officials attended institutions of higher learning in the United Kingdom . As a member of the Commonwealth, Brunei Darussalam has also benefited from programmes organised by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC).

The Minister of Education attends the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM).

A particular highlight of Brunei Darussalam's collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning was evidenced when it co-hosted the Pan - Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning held in Bandar Seri Begawan in 1999.

Brunei Darussalam assumed its membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) on 17 June, 1986.