Abstract: This study sought to understand the experiences of All-but-Dissertation (ABD) students that led them to withdraw from a Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) programme. A total of 27 students from three Philippine universities were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Results show that most participants were driven by extrinsic motivations and viewed graduate education as a pathway to a better life. The challenges they faced were both internal and external in nature (e.g. study-work conflicts and personal problems), which are comparable to those in other disciplines. Most reasons (e.g. limited research experience and dissertation anxiety) for dropping out from this professional doctorate align with findings from studies on Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. However, two reasons unique to ABD students in the DIT programme were the inclusion of software development and the selection of computing research topics. Overall, these findings provide empirical evidence for addressing issues related to dissertation delays, prolonged doctoral completion times, and attrition in graduate education. Practical and managerial implications derived from this study could inform graduate school policies and practices, with potential applications across other doctoral disciplines.