If I want to do my PhD as well, can I do it after completing my masters in the UK?

Yes, you can go straight from a UK Master's into a PhD, and doing so is a common and well-respected path, especially if you use your Master's to sharpen your research focus first. A Master's is not always mandatory for a UK PhD, particularly in STEM, but having one with a Merit or Distinction makes you a genuinely competitive applicant. You do not need to wait until graduation to apply, since conditional offers based on your final results are standard.

Key Timing and Requirements

How to Strengthen Your Application

• Build a relationship with professors during your Master's, since this often helps you find internal funding or unadvertised project openings.
• Aim for a strong dissertation, since it is one of the clearest signals of your research potential to a PhD admissions panel.
• Apply for a conditional offer during your final months rather than waiting for your degree to be conferred.

My Advice

Start talking to your dissertation supervisor and one or two other professors about PhD opportunities as soon as your final year begins, since internal funding and project leads often come through those relationships before they are ever advertised. Apply for your PhD between November and January on a conditional basis, so you do not lose a full year waiting for your Master's results.