How should I handle this on an application form?

[TheHouseofMirth]

My Dad become seriously ill and died right at the end of my university course. As a result I failed to hand in a piece of coursework and technically never finished my course nor graduated. It was during the early 1990's recession but I was lucky to get a job through a friend in a fairly new company. I stayed there for over 10 years and as the company grew my roles changed and I worked my way up to a fairly senior role. I left 5 years ago to have DS1.

I'm now applying for jobs but I'm not sure what to say about my degree. If a form doesn't ask for actual grades I'm just putting down my dates and subject and if the subject arises at interview then I'm confident I can explain it. What I'm less sure about is a form which asks for the grade. I think it looks sloppy to omit things from a form so should I put a brief note on there to explain?

Mmm, sounds sensible. Something like 'Did not take final exams due to death of parent'. I think that you could actually have asked for your University's equivalent to a 'Deemed to have deserved honours' grade at the time, which would have allowed you to graduate, but obviously this was not exactly high on your list of priorities!

I have to say that technically, I don't have an MPhil (never attended graduation ceremony due to gran's illness) but I put it on my CV regardless.

did you have any good exam grades up until then? or could you ask for a reference from your university to say you were on course for... but dropped out due to bereavement?
That way you could mention it in the supporting info

Grendel, surely if you passed they would have sent you your certificate some other way and you stil have the MPhil?

Oh yes, it's just never come up, and should anyone ask, I can show them my transcript of marks (which I received in advance) rather than a degree certificate.