The Education Minister says it is inevitable that Island students will have to pay tuition fees.
It follows an ongoing debate about whether to introduce the fees which would save government around £4 million.
Proposals went before Tynwald earlier this week but a vote has been deferred to February.
The Department of Education and Children says if the decision goes against it, it would have to look at things like cutting the youth service, reducing to a four day week and closing schools.
Tim Crookall says something has to give:
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