Elena Schörling

• 60 ECTS
• One-year MSc in Crisis and Security Management at Leiden University, specializing in Intelligence and National Security.
• Programme focuses on democratic governance of security institutions, accountability mechanisms, and intelligence oversight in democratic states.
• Students develop practical competencies through portfolio-based assessment rather than exams.
• Prepares professionals for roles in EU and national security governance
• The programme builds practical skills in:

- Intelligence analysis methodologies and tradecraft.

- Risk and scenario assessment for complex security problems.

- Production of concise, decision-maker-oriented briefs for national and EU security actors.

- Critical thinking to weigh hypotheses, detect patterns, and derive logical conclusions.

• One-year MSc in Crisis and Security Management at Leiden University, specializing in Intelligence and National Security.
• Programme focuses on democratic governance of security institutions, accountability mechanisms, and intelligence oversight in democratic states.
• Students develop practical competencies through portfolio-based assessment rather than exams.
• Prepares professionals for roles in EU and national security governance
• The programme builds practical skills in:

- Intelligence analysis methodologies and tradecraft.

- Risk and scenario assessment for complex security problems.

- Production of concise, decision-maker-oriented briefs for national and EU security actors.

- Critical thinking to weigh hypotheses, detect patterns, and derive logical conclusions.

• 190 ECTS | EQF 6
• English-taught, research-oriented programme covering global politics, international cooperation, security, and EU affairs. Core training in International Relations, EU politics, international political economy, global security, international law and human rights, and migration governance.
• Strong methodological foundation in qualitative and quantitative research, statistics, and research design.
• Completed a Minor in Global Migration Studies, with a focus on migration policy, citizenship, and EU border governance.
• Bachelor’s thesis examined Frontex and search-and-rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean.

• 30 ECTS
• English‑taught minor on the drivers, dynamics and consequences of global migration, covering historical and contemporary migration flows, integration policies and public debates.
• Developed a solid understanding of migration and integration policy and the ability to critically analyse political discourses and policy responses to migration.
• Strengthened skills in writing and presenting clear, evidence‑based analyses on complex migration issues to academic and non‑academic audiences.

• 15 ECTS
• Interdisciplinary Leiden–Delft–Erasmus minor “Security, Safety & Justice” on how governments and public institutions manage security risks in areas such as counter‑terrorism, cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
• Developed the ability to identify security, safety and justice dimensions in policy problems and to formulate well‑argued, analytically grounded positions on current security debate.

Security Integration Project – Flight MH17

• Analysed the downing of flight MH17 using Perrow’s Normal Accident Theory and official investigation material to assess air traffic control as a complex socio‑technical system and to locate risk, responsibility and accountability within European aviation governance.
• Produced a concise, evidence‑based report that translated technical system analysis into clear implications for regulators, policymakers and public debate on civil aviation safety in conflict zones.

• German Abitur
• Chosen advanced courses in Politics & Economics and Biology combining (1) in‑depth training in democratic politics, economic systems and public debate with (2) rigorous scientific work on genetics, ecology and evolution, including experimental design, data analysis and critical reflection on the societal impact of science.

Advanced course (Leistungskurs) in Politics & Economics:

• Covering:

- democratic institutions,

- political participation,

- economic systems and globalisation.

• Trained to analyse; political and economic processes, power relations and distributional conflicts,
• Trained to evaluate; policy options with reference to the German Basic Law and social‑market‑economy principles,
• Trained to develop well‑argued positions on issues such as European integration, social justice and sustainable development.

Advanced course (Leistungskurs) in Biology:

• Focusing on

- molecular & cell biology,

- genetics, ecology,

- neurobiology & evolution.

• Built strong skills in;

- scientific reasoning, planning & evaluating experiments, - interpreting quantitative data

- discussing ethical & societal implications of topics (such as genetic engineering, biodiversity loss and environmental change.)

• Completed lower secondary education at an integrated comprehensive school with a European profile, including 7 years of bilingual social‑studies classes (history and geography) taught in English.
• The school’s “Europaschule” focus and bilingual track strengthened early analytical skills in;

- politics‑related subjects,

- subject‑specific English and intercultural competence,

- supported by a German‑French school exchange and certified French language training (DELF)

• Completed extended Realschule track qualifying for upper secondary education, with strong results across German, maths, sciences, languages and social studies.
• Key projects: Practical project on planned obsolescence and repair (incl. restoring an old wooden box) and a research/presentation project on Edward Snowden, surveillance and privacy, strengthening early research, critical‑thinking and presentation skills.
• Award: School prize for best presentation exam at the school festival, recognising outstanding structure, argumentation and delivery on a complex topic