Russell & Ivy is a specialist graduate recruitment agency connecting verified graduates from Russell Group and Ivy League universities with employers who value proven academic achievement.
The name combines Russell Group (the UK’s 24 leading research universities) and Ivy League (the eight prestigious US universities). These 32 institutions represent the foundation of our candidate pool.
No. Russell & Ivy Recruitment Ltd is an independent UK company with no connection to RIDA or any other organisation using similar names.
We verify before we shortlist. Every candidate’s degree classification and university attendance is authenticated directly with the awarding institution before you see their CV. Other agencies verify after interview — or not at all.
All 24 Russell Group universities and all 8 Ivy League universities. We may consider graduates from other internationally recognised institutions on a case-by-case basis, subject to equivalency assessment.
What degree classifications do you accept?
We offer two tiers:
∙ Premier: First Class Honours or Distinction only
∙ Select: Upper Second Class (2:1) or above
Both tiers are fully verified.
We obtain official transcripts directly from the university registrar or via HEDD (Higher Education Degree Datacheck). We confirm degree classification, successful completion, and university attendance. International qualifications are assessed through UK ENIC for equivalency.
No. Russell & Ivy is completely free for candidates. Our fees are paid by employers.
You must have graduated from a Russell Group or Ivy League university with:
∙ Premier tier: First Class Honours, Distinction, or US equivalent (Summa/Magna Cum Laude)
∙ Select tier: Upper Second Class (2:1) or above, Merit/Distinction, or US equivalent (Cum Laude or above)
You must have successfully completed your degree course.
Yes. We accept graduates from any year, provided you meet our university and classification criteria.
You can register in your final year, but we cannot verify your degree until it has been officially awarded. We’ll complete verification once your results are confirmed.
We may accept your application if your university is internationally recognised and your qualification is equivalent to a UK First Class, Distinction, or 2:1. We use UK ENIC to assess equivalency.
Typically 5–10 working days, depending on your university’s response time.
Never. We will always contact you first, explain the opportunity, and get your explicit permission before putting you forward for any role.
Yes. Russell & Ivy Recruitment Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller.
All candidate data is processed in accordance with GDPR. We obtain explicit consent before any verification activity. Your data is stored securely and never shared without your permission. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.
Yes. You can request deletion of your data at any time by emailing hello@russellandivy.com.