Soest

A historic town surrounded by nature

A small city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Soest is located around 50km east of Dortmund. Sports and recreation are important in Soest, with the Möhne lake and surrounding forests being hives of activity.

The city is believed to have been inhabited for over 4,000 years. Medieval churches, Renaissance paintings, and several museums are among the historic and cultural offerings in Soest.

More about Soest

Soest has a population of 49,642 including 4,276 international residents. The Soest campus of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences has, on average, 3,000 students each year. Out of the university's five campuses, Soest has the highest proportion of international students due to having three English-language courses and a large number of exchange students.

Studying and Working in Soest

Soest is home to one of the five campuses of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences. The university partners with local companies – such as Alcoa, Delta Energy Systems, and Kuchenmeister – to give students real-life practical experience in addition to their studies. Students are also able to combine their studies with dual degrees at the Swiss-German University of Asia (SGU).

Soest has around 20,000 jobs, many of which are in manufacturing in industries such as automotive, plastics, and food. There is also a growing energy and building technology sector plus goldsmiths and the headquarters of a national electrician company.