Hey guys, I am happy that I have stumbled across this amazing forum. I would like to seek your advice regarding my PhD applications. My Undergraduate Scores were very close to a distinction however my research project was wrecked. As a result, I decided to go for a self funded masters at the University of Edinburgh which is pretty good compared to the undergrad university. I got the Masters with a Merit since I got some C's in some courses however, I got a distinction in the Masters Thesis along with a good recommendation from my thesis advisor. Currently, I am applying for a PhD. I understand that most applicants are phenomenal. However, since these universities care about research quality, they might overlook these C's. Am I right? If not, how can I improve myself such that they overlook these grades? Finally, it is very hard to find internships and research jobs in my country, can you suggest alternatives?

P.S I do not have any publications