DCUSU provides social events and activities for undergraduate students and is also involved in the provision of some services including counselling and an official representation pathway between students and university authorities.

For example, in March 2017 a referendum was held to change the constitution, with 1,731 students voting in favour.

[4] Referendums in 2016 resulted in the Students' Union declaring a pro-choice stance on abortion,[5] and support for legalisation of cannabis use by adults.

Having voted to disaffiliate in 2002, a referendum which took place in March 2013, where the student body had voted to re-affiliate with USI, was declared void by then Students' Union President Paul Doherty.

He questioned the constitutionality of the vote, alleging that the students' union executive did not run an information campaign for the referendum.