Purpose The transition from medical student to doctor is important and often challenging. This qualitative study aimed to identify the training needs of medical students for surgical rotations. Methodology Final year (MD4) medical students from across all University of Melbourne Clinical Schools were invited to participate in interviews. Transcriptions underwent thematic analysis. Students were asked: 1. Do you feel prepared for work on a surgical rotation next year? Why/Why not? 2. What skills do you think will be important when you are an intern on a surgical rotation next year? 3. Which skills have you been taught? 4. How were you taught? What worked well? What didn’t work well? 5. What changes in the curriculum would you recommend to improve your preparedness for internship? Results 12 students were interviewed. Overall, students felt prepared for work as interns from exposure on surgical rotations during their MD4 year. Fluid and analgesia management, wound care, urethral catheterisation, nasogastric tube insertion and suturing were identified as important skills for surgical rotations. Compulsory ‘refresher’ courses for procedural skills during MD4 year and additional ‘hands-on’ protected teaching during clinical rotations were identified as potential improvements in the curriculum. Conclusion Students expressed high levels of work preparedness as interns and identified similar skills that would be important during their surgical rotations. Additional teaching for procedural skills during MD4 and hands-on teaching during their clinical rotations were recommended as improvements to the curriculum.