Yes. You can land a full-time consulting role after a Master's without completing a consulting internship.

An internship offers evidence of exposure and an internal evaluation, but firms also hire graduates based on academics, prior work, leadership, problem solving and interview performance. The recruiting channel may differ by office.

A candidate with research, an industry placement or a major student project can still demonstrate structured analysis and collaboration. The challenge is making that evidence concrete.

Target eligible graduate full-time openings directly, quantify your non-consulting experience, and prepare cases and fit stories. Use the Master’s-to-consulting recruiting roadmap to think through the route that fits your degree and experience rather than assuming an internship is mandatory.

Most of my MSc cohort is applying straight to graduate roles. Not everyone even has time for a summer internship.

Does a research assistant role help if you can show actual client-style problem solving?

I used my work-study project in interviews. There was a messy stakeholder situation I could explain pretty well.