Education Minister Anne Tolley is dampening down expectations of any increase in tertiary funding in next month's Budget.
Ms Tolley's message to a gathering of tertiary sector representatives in Wellington on Wednesday was that money is tight.
Ms Tolley says the Government knows that universities, polytechnics and other tertiary education providers are facing increasing numbers of student enrolments this year as the recession prompts more people to sign up for training.
Nevertheless, the Government must restrain its overall costs, she says.
