Cuts could have a bigger impact on further education than new legislation going through Holyrood, a college boss has told MSPs.
Paul Sherrington, the principal of Banff and Buchan College, was one of a number of college leaders quizzed by Holyrood's Education Committee.
MSPs are scrutinising a Bill from the Scottish Government which includes provisions for college regionalisation, which could lead to institutions merging or working together more closely.
Labour's Neil Bibby asked the college principals: "What will have the biggest impact on student learning - this Bill or continuing staff and funding cuts?"
Mr Sherrington replied: "Funding cuts." However, he added later: "It depends for how much longer and how deep those cuts continue to be."
In its submission to the committee, Edinburgh College warned the pace of cuts to the sector could create a "funding crisis" and staffing problems. College principal Mandy Exley said that "in the long term, the process of reform could help us to spend money more effectively and better".
But she also warned: "Of course if you take money away in the short term it has an impact and it always has a disproportionate impact on those that need it most, that's whether you are reforming welfare or reforming education."
Carol Turnbull, the principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, agreed with Ms Exley, saying regionalisation would "bring wider benefits".
She also stressed the importance of funding, saying: "As always budgets are extremely important and everyone across the public sector is extremely stretched. We have to recognise that and be innovative and creative about how we address those issues."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are maintaining college numbers and have a record number of Scots in higher education, expressed as full-time equivalent. The Scottish Government is committed to a successful college sector but this must include stripping out the duplication and waste which has diverted resources from the direct benefit of young people."
