Election of the National Council of University Students (C.N.S.U.) The election is regulated by decree of the Ministry of University and Research and is held approximately every two years.

Competences
The C.N.S.U. (Consiglio nazionale degli studenti universitari) is an advisory body which represents the students.
It provides opinions and proposals regarding:

• university system reorganization projects arranged by the Ministry for Universities and Research;
• Ministry decrees defining the general criteria for the discipline of the courses’ didactic regulations and the resources available for the advisory service and the support to student mobility;
• criteria for the utilization of the general funding available for universities.

It elects the student representatives for the National University Council (C.U.N.).
It can advise the Ministry on general matters relevant to universities.
It presents to the Ministry, within two years of its installation, a report on the condition of students at Italian universities.
It can petition the Ministry concerning matters of national relevance regarding didactics and students’ conditions. The Ministry has sixty days time to submit an answer.

Composition
The C.N.S.U. is composed of 30 members, 28 of them representing students enrolled in the university courses (diploma, bachelor and master courses), 1 representing PhD students and 1 representing students enrolled in specialization courses. The entire Italian territory is divided up into four electoral districts. Each one hosts the election of 7 representatives. The Council holds its office for 3 years and its members can be re-elected.