Why do students go up and down to Oxford and Cambridge but to and from other universitys?

Answer 1

Although many have come to regard the terminology as having some sort of status value and have therefore perpetuated it, this is not how it originated. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in England and in times past the term 'going up' came to be used - meaning going up from the country. (Until the 19th century most undergraduates would have come from rural shires). Likewise, 'going down' meant that the student was going back down to the country - either at the end of term, or at the end of his studies. Being 'sent down' meant being expelled and another term for it was 'being rusticated', which literally means being sent back to the country (although I understand that being rusticated now, can mean a suspension, rather than explulsion). So the answer to your question is that the terms relating to Oxford and Cambridge, rather than other universities, are purely historic and originated from description, rather than being terms denoting superiority.

Answer 2

The answer is how the students perceive their social status. They go up to university down to anywhere else because they perceive their university as the highest you can get. (Snob value if you like). PS universities not unversitys

Answer 3

This is not a Physics question and should be addressed somewhere else.
However I'll tell you that the use of up and down is idiomatic and reflects the importance of the place to and from you are travelling. If it is a large city or important town the English tendency is to use up and down instead of to and from.

Answer 4

Snob value.

Everything is down after Oxbridge.