I know people that have done this. It's hard but it's achievable. Just say you will be doing the MSc stuff on evenings and weekends, but try to do it during the day as well where you can.

In most places there are targets for completing students, so it should be within their interest to let you continue on the program. Just work with your supervisor to find out exactly what you need to achieve and then go on and do it.

TheEngineer - a similar thing happened to me with a funding application. It sucks.

Gotta_m - yes, try again to get the reference. It's really not fair that won't give it because he wants you to stay in the lab, but you should check what he is sending beforehand...

yes, use essay writing services to write a paper. Brilliant idea.

Most people on here are from the UK so you might not get many responses because we can't convert your grades into British equivalents

I'm submitting my first draft this week. My supervisors have seen all chapters individually. I'm expecting to submit my final thesis within a month of today. Let's see if that pans out!

That's how I would approach it so i think you are on the right track.

Many people on here have got 2.1s and some have 2.2s and have gone on to do a PhD. A PhD requires a particular set of skills and just because you are a good undergrad doesn't mean you will make a good PhD student.

You're not alone... I've been here all weekend, just days from final submission to supervisors and I can't freaking wait to be rid of this thesis and enjoy the sunshine!

In Italy it's just a presentation and audience questions I think, so not too arduous.

I do agree changing things to the whim of an examiner is pointless.

Most minor corrections, at least in science, are doable within a week but you get a month for them, so this is easily done on evenings and weekends if you are working in the day. Most science students don't get major revisions unless they have a crap supervisor or have not listened to their supervisor (or aren't capable of writing a decent thesis), since experiments are likely to need repeating and examiners know that students won't be funded and won't be able to do them so there's no point in asking them to. Plus, you generally pass after minor or major corrections if you have done as asked.

What's a two page cover letter Literarytheorist? You spend a couple of hours on it once, and then you adapt it for subsequent applications. It's not that difficult. I agree it adds little that the CV hasn't already provided, but it shows writing ability if nothing else.

My supervisor would feel like this if I tried to publish something with someone else without him. I think it is him wanting to feel valued, rather than being jealous. It's as if I publish something alone, he wouldn't feel needed and therefore I would be getting too big for my boots, because I do still need him. Could it be the same with yours?

I'd do it, it will give you an advantage over other PhD candidates if the positions you are applying for are very competitive