Tayssir Benchoubane: Combined Honours, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Bachelor of Economics
Just two years after arriving in Canada to study at Carleton, Tayssir Benchoubane found himself working at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in Ottawa.
“It was such an interesting experience to work in this department as an immigrant myself,” recalls Tayssir. “As a communications and events coordinator, I helped shape the government’s messaging on immigration.”
Tayssir was one of the many Carleton students accepted into the Federal Student Worker Employee Program (FSWEP), which employs university students in government departments. Tayssir says Carleton’s proximity to the federal government was just one of the many advantages to studying in Canada’s capital.
“I think Carleton really has the capital advantage for Political Science and Economics: it aligned best with what I wanted to do,” says Benchoubane.
He also benefited from Carleton’s proximity to the Bank of Canada. Benchoubane won first place in the 2025 Bank of Canada poster competition for his research paper, “Shopping for Answers: The Impact of Geographic Grocery-Retailer Concentration on Canada’s Municipal Food Prices.”
Benchoubane will present his research at the 2025 Canadian Economic Association meeting in Montreal. He credits his professors and staff for encouraging his research.
“The professors and staff were so responsive, pushing me along the way,” says Tayssir, who thanked the undergraduate administrators in both Political Science and Economics for their help.
Another highlight of Tayssir’s experience was serving as the associate vice-president for campaigns at the Carleton University Student Association. He ran campaigns on welfare initiatives, financial literacy, and mental health. His most successful campaign was to pass a levy to increase funding for the on-campus food bank. It passed with the highest voter turnout ever.
“If you want to help others, get involved with student politics,” he says. “We need more people who actually care about students in those roles.”
After graduation, Tayssir will pursue a Carleton University Research Opportunity (CUROP), run by FPGA. He will continue to study the impact of grocery retail concentration on municipal food prices under the supervision of Economics Professor Hashmat Khan.
Following that, he will enter law school in September, with an interest in anti-trust enforcement and litigation.
“Wherever I end up, I will always appreciate the opportunities I received here at Carleton.”