Getting around Swansea city centre can require a degree in its own right, writes Jon May.

With the one-way streets and the horrifically out-of-date SatNav systems sending you through roads that no longer exist, you might be in luck if you’re coming to study Geography.

We’ve picked out a few highlights of the beautiful city and some of the most important places you’ll hear about when you meet other people.

For example, Wind Street is the main party central area in central Swansea. You’ll need to pronounce it like “Wine Street” to avoid ridicule.

Remember it’s pronounced like booze (which the street is pretty famous for), not like the weather.

Safety is first and foremost though. Whilst Wind Street is a great haven for revellers, it’s also the second most violent street in the UK.

Be on your guard and if you feel uncomfortable, leave or alert the many security staff and police officers patrolling the area.

The train station is to the north of the city, just missed out on our map below. The 24 hour Tesco, Primark and the Swansea Indoor Market (pictured below centre) are the best places in town to grab a bargain, whether it be loo roll, some new jeans or some vegetables for dinner (yes, that’s right, people occasionally eat them!)

The bus station, the gym and Sin City are also vitally important places any student should know about and the Odeon Cinema offers a great deal on Wednesdays for Orange customers. If your friend has O2, you can also get some free popcorn with the O2 Priortity Moments App for iPhone and Android.

Not listed on this map that you’ll need to know about is that the nearest Accident and Emergency department is at Morriston Hospital about 30 minutes north-east.

You can catch the number 4 bus to Morriston (the purple bendy bus) and it stops outside. In life or death sitauations, call for an ambulance. You’ll get there quicker and you won’t need to pay £4.20 for a return.

Just northeast of the Odeon Cinema is a Lidl supermarket which sells German and generally cheap food. From amazing Swedish biscuits (a personal favourite, but a sure way to early diabetes) to a bit of Bratwurst, the budget chain store always has a lot to offer students.

Located near the top of the map is Swansea Police Station. Hopefully you’ll never have to visit, but it’s always best to know where it is if you need it.

There is also a whole host of restaurants, such as the great all-you-can-eat Cosmos and Peachy Keens (another personal recommendation!) which will fill any black hole-like stomach for less than a tenner.

If you’re a bit more cultured, there is also the Swansea Grand Theatre, with acts such as Michael McIntyre, Rhod Gilbert and Kevin Bridges.

Head into town, get lost and immerse yourself in the city centre and you’ll soon get to know it like the back of your hand. There are plenty of “City Information Points” if you get really lost.

Campus is where you’ll spend most of your academic time and, if you’re living in halls, where you’ll be for most of your first year.

If you’re a returning student, the first thing you’ll notice that’s wrong with this map is that the Level 2 Shop no longer exists. It will however be replaced by a CostCutter supermarket where Niche and Bake’n’Take used to be on the ground floor.

Divas, now revamped and improved, sits on the first floor of Union House and is home to the Tooters and OMG nights on Friday and Saturday nights respectively.

JCs Bar, the place where everyone knows your name, is still on the second floor of Fulton House and looks great after the refurbishment last summer.

The library is often missed off important campus destinations, but as assignment dates loom and essays need writing, you’ll find this becomes your new home.

All the halls of residences for on-campus accommodation can be located at the back of campus, with Penmaen and Horton being the newer blocks (with fire alarms that are too sensitive!) to Cefn Bryn and Rhossili at the back. The halls are often named after places in the Gower region.

The post office can be found to the front of Fulton House, running all services you’d expect from sending letters abroad to paying for your television license and car tax.

There is also a Minor Injuries Unit at Singleton Hospital, located on campus. Unfortunately this is only for small treatments and there isn’t an X-Ray facility. The nearest A&E department is at Morriston Hospital.

There are nine coffee shops in total on campus. Bonus points if you can drink a coffee in each of them. The university-owned caffeine outlets serve Starbucks, although disappointingly, don’t do the frappacinos.

The Taliesin Arts Centre on campus shows performances and a selection of world cinema films.

The beach is literally a stone’s throw away and many societies will organise beach barbeques during good weather.

The boating lake offers crazy golf and swan pedalos during the summer and the Pub on the Pond next door offers some great lunchtime offers.

A relaxing way to spend a summer’s afternoon is spent sitting on the balcony on Fulton House just watching the world go by.