1. Where are classes held?

Classes are held in the new globally linked Levin facility on 116 E 55th Street in Manhattan (NYC).  The building is minutes away from NYC assets such as Wall Street, the UN, and numerous multinational firms and banks – not to mention landmarks such as Central Park, the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station. 

Levin’s campus is a forty-thousand square foot complex and a historic landmark building in the city.  The global technology nexus at Levin enables interactive connectivity to key international and strategic partners.  The combination of a campus located in the global financial center of the world with cutting edge technological interfaces enables Levin to be a leader in cultivating cross-border and cross-cultural learning.

2. How does Levin connect students with NYC firms?

Students have many avenues of access to NYC firms:

·        The global action projects provide a 12 week engagement with a leading NYC firm for a team of students.  Sponsoring companies put student teams onto a problem they are facing for the students to research and propose a solution.  The project involves continuous communication with sponsors over the 3-month term. 

·        Levin introduces students to multiple networking events throughout the semester where there are opportunities to get connected to NYC firms.  For example, the Fall 2007 class received an invited to a UBS event entitled “Redesigning Your Career.”  Students receive emails throughout the semester and may choose to attend as many value-added networking events as fit their schedule. 

·        Students are also connected with a number of high-ranking professionals of NYC firms via the Distinguished Speakers’ Series.  Well prepared students who enhance the session with good questions can be noticed by these guests and be invited for an informational or follow-up interview. 

3. Tell me more about the project

The Global Action Project is a team-based capstone project.  Levin identifies multinational banks and finance firms with a problem to solve.  Students are invited to apply to the roster of projects and a team is selected to work with the company as ‘consultants.’  Student teams work as a consulting team to solve the problem and deliver the solution at an end of term presentation to the sponsor.  Each team is assigned a faculty mentor to guide the project and to ensure value and substance for both clients and students. 

    Past Projects include:

–        Bear Stearns:  “Modeling Stock Price Movement”

–        CLSA:  “IPO Targeting in the Chinese Market”

–        Credit Suisse:  “Spin-Off Market Positioning and Strategy”

–        General Atlantic:  “Correlation of IRR”

–        General Atlantic:  “ Global Risk Management”

–        Morgan Stanley:  “Impact on global clients of changes in US Tax Regulations”

–        M&T Bank:  “Trade Financing in the Ukraine”

–        UBS:  “Implications of Unbundling Services on the Business Model”

4.  What is the “Discover New York” culture series? 

New York City is one of the most ethnically diverse and culturally global cities in the world.  The “Discover New York” series is a series of extra-curricula activities developed to expose students to some of the diversity that New York has to offer.  Students experience New York in a deeper way than might be possible on an every day basis by visiting mini-cultural epicenters, gaining some history, and having some fun!  Past activities in the ‘Discover New York” series have included walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, taking a Circle Line Tour around Manhattan, and tasting the food and music in a well-known Harlem restaurant.  This is also a great way to get to know your classmates outside the classroom!

5. What’s so global about the semester? 

Lots of things!  Levin’s faculty comes with plenty of global experience ranging from China to Latin America.  The cases used are multi-national cases that focus on applying finance skills to cross-border management, mitigating cross-cultural risks, and effectively running global organizations.  Projects are with global banks and firms, and require taking into account the global context in which the organization functions.  Levin students enrolled in the Fall 2007 semester represented 8 countries, bringing valuable knowledge and background to the table.   The courses all conceptualize and apply international finance and global investment banking.

6. What career services are offered?

We have a 1-credit module built into the semester for career building, and a career-services person on our full-time staff.  Classes in the career building course include: networking skills; presentation skills; resume preparation and interviewing skills.

7. Is student housing available?

Student housing details are available in the months prior to the semester, and will be posted on the Levin website.  Past accommodations have been available at International House and the de Hirsch Residence at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan.  Former students have also used Craigslist.com to locate sub-lets in Manhattan.  Levin staff can assist students with references to housing options but students are responsible for all room and board costs.

8. What is the cost of attendance?

The Levin Semester in New York tuition is $6000.  This includes the course packet with cases but it does not include books or living expenses.  Tuition scholarships for qualified students are available for Fall 2008.

9. Who are the faculty?

The Levin faculty includes a balance of academic experts and practitioners from leading firms.  This mix brings a unique balance of theory and application to the classroom.  Supplementing the faculty-led classes are guest lecturers who bring a unique perspective to the classroom by introducing real-world topics pertinent to their firms, current-events, and the experiences in achieving their current position.  Practitioner faculty use cases and examples from their experience to create an application-oriented learning experience.

10. Who are the students?

Students at the Levin Institute are diverse, competitive, globally-minded students who want to take their understanding of finance to the next level.  Students are second-year graduate students who have taken at least a Master’s level Introductory Finance course, Investments course and Managerial Economics course and recent graduates with a Masters degree seeking certification in International Finance.

11. What have former students said about the program?

The quotes below are from Fall ’07 post-program student evaluation forms: 

 “It impacted the learning experience significantly to have so many international students”

“The (global) context of the material taught and the project were the greatest strengths of the program”

“The distinguished speakers’ series significantly enhances and complements the Levin program”

“The GAP (global action project) was the reason I came to Levin and I was not disappointed.”

“The interaction with project sponsors and the vastness of the professor’s knowledge was a key part in the program”

“This semester was an unequivocal opportunity to experience NYC, the financial center of the world”

“We are dealing with more real-world issues (at Levin), not just textbooks”

12. Are scholarships available?

Yes!  Merit-based scholarships are available: click here

Program Dates

Pre-Requisites

FAQ’s

Application Form

2008 Scholarship Application Form

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