Urgent-Transitional arrangement for unmarried partner visa??

[Aalam]

Hi everyone, I am stuck in a right mess and seems like no matter how hard i try i just cant find the right information. Most of the posts on these forums are really helpful and am hoping i will get some iSome solution to my problem as well.

I have been living in London for 7 years now, first as a student then on Tier 2 PSW visa, and then last year I changed into the unmarried partner category as me and my partner who is a British Cititzen had been living together for 2 and a half years and I got my probationary visa until March 2012.

I understand the next step would be to apply for ILR provided that we are still together but although we lstill ive together, things aren’t as it used to be, and although we are still very close, I don’t think I want to be a dependant of him anymore incase things don’t work out for us in the end.

I have been working full time for the past 3 years and am due to start a part time Masters degree in September 2011, and by the time my visa expires, I'd have been living in the Uk for 8 years, and in the UKBA website, it says if any such partnership ends, the dependant might still appeal to stay in the country depending on their status and situation.

I know i can apply for ILR after being in the country for 10 years but am short by 2 years and i dont know what the next step can be?

Could you please tell me if there is any other transitional arrangement I can qualify for or how to extend my visa after its expiration date, under the circumstances I am in?

I did not want to leve things for last minute as I understand gathering evidence for Home office usually takes time and any info at this point would be hugely appreciated as my future is very uncertain right now.