Hello,
Congratulations on starting your course! I always found criminology to be a very interesting subject!
I am an international student who also found it quite difficult to make friends during my first year.
My biggest advice would be to try to join different societies and try to meet different people there, there are often societies linked to your course or even societies for older students that you might fight interesting. My second tip would be to try to hangout in university social spaces, either in your accommodation, nearby cafes, or in university as an opportunity might arise where you might strike a conversation with someone and the rest would be history. One time, a person asked me to look after their stuff while they went to the loo and we became best friends! Finally, if you feel like you have time for a part-time job, working as a student ambassador is a great way to make friends, some extra cash, and it looks great on your cv.
Also, check with student support at your university as they often have schemes like Uni Buddy to help.
Best of luck,
Haya- MBBS 5