UTSW Medical Center High School Student Tours
Spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists and health care professionals with a STARS Medical Center Student Tour at UT Southwestern! Designed for students in grades 9–12, our engaging, curriculum-connected tours provide an exciting opportunity to explore the world of biomedical research, medicine, and health care.
Each tour is customized to support your classroom goals. During the tour request process, teachers will select 6 educational topics that best align with their students' interests and curriculum. These topics serve as the foundation for the tour experience and are presented through engaging lectures led by UT Southwestern faculty, staff, or subject matter experts.
When available, tours may also include a guided visit to a research laboratory, core facility, or clinical space, allowing students to experience firsthand how scientific discoveries, advanced technologies, and patient care come together in an academic medical center. Tour locations are based on availability and operational considerations.
Whether students are exploring future career paths or expanding on topics covered in class, a STARS tour offers a memorable educational experience that brings science to life.
New 2026 Tour Request Process
The STARS team is excited to welcome you and your students to UT Southwestern Medical Center!
To get started, teachers and/or administrators should first select an available date on the STARS Tour Calendar, then complete and submit the online Tour Request Form.
Once the form is submitted, the teacher’s principal or designated administrator will automatically receive a request to approve the tour. Your selected date will be held for five (5) business days while we await approval. Once approval is received, the STARS team will confirm your tour date via email and begin coordinating the details of your visit.
We look forward to hosting you and your students! Please note that if approval is not received within five (5) business days, your selected date will be released.
| Steps | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select a Date | View Available Tour Dates | Choose an available date from the Calendly STARS Tour Calendar. |
| 2. Submit Request | Complete Tour Request Form | Provide school/teacher information, approving administrator contact information, student group details, and 6 preferred tour topics. |
| 3. Approval Process | Administrative Review | Your date is held for 5 business days while STARS obtains approval from the designated school administrator. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email. If approval is not received within 5 business days, the date is released. |
| 4. Tour Planning | Confirmation & Coordination | After confirmation, the STARS Tour Team coordinates speakers, facilities, and logistics. Final itineraries and visit details are typically sent about 2 weeks before the tour. |
Important: Selecting a date and submitting a request does not confirm a tour. Tours are confirmed only after you receive an official confirmation email from the STARS Tour Team.
Scheduling Guidelines
| Guideline | Details |
|---|---|
| One Tour Per Teacher | Each teacher may request one tour per school year. |
| First-Come, First-Served | Dates are assigned in the order requests are approved. |
| Reserve Early | Tour dates are often fully booked by mid-October. |
| Plan Ahead | Submit requests at least 2 months before your preferred tour date. |
| Planning Timeline | Tour coordination generally requires 4–6 weeks. |
STARS STEM Virtual Spotlight
Can't make it to campus for an in-person STARS Student Tour? Bring the STARS experience to your classroom through our monthly STEM Spotlight Live Event!
Join us on the third Thursday of each month for an interactive virtual experience featuring engaging presentations on biomedical research, health care, and science-related topics. Each session provides students with the opportunity to learn from UT Southwestern experts and explore exciting pathways in STEM and health care from wherever they are.
See our schedule and topics below and register your class for an upcoming session.
| STEM Virtual Event Date | STEM Virtual Event Title |
|---|---|
| September 17 | TBD |
| October 15 | TBD |
| November 19 | TBD |
| December 17 | TBD |
| January 21 | TBD |
| February 18 | TBD |
| April 15 | TBD |
| May 6 | TBD |