Universities are under "unprecedented financial pressure," and it could risk the breadth of study options available to learners.
That's according to the Tertiary Education Commission, a Crown agency, in its briefing to the incoming Tertiary Education Minister.
In the briefing, provided to ministers in November, the government's education agencies also urged the incoming coalition to tackle disparities for Māori, Pacific and disabled students across all levels of education.
Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.