In the English-speaking world, master’s degree programmes are booming. Not only are more programmes being provided, with more people studying for master’s degrees, but the nature of the degree itself is changing: it has become essentially a professional degree. In respone to market forces, a variety of approaches to curriculum design, teaching, learning and assessment have evolved. This text considers evidence and experiences of academics in South Africa, the USA, Australia and Britain, creating an overall picture of developments, accompanied by a set of practical and conceptual problems.