Students from the Isle of Man who decide to go to university will continue to be supported by the Department of Education.

Education Minister Anne Craine says the skills and talents of young people who have studied off-Island will be needed once the current economic situation eases.

It has therefore been decided that the department will continue to pay tuition fees for university courses.

In certain circumstances, depending on the income of their families, young people will also still be able to apply for maintenance grants, which have been increased in line with inflation.

Mrs Craine's comments follow the suggestion tuition fees for students in the United Kingdom might be doubled.