I moved from Leeds to Brighton two days ago as I have a place at Sussex University, because I applied late for accommodation I am having to stay with a student family in what’s called a homestay programme. The family I am living with are lovely and friendly and have made me feel really welcome, however so far I haven’t socialised with anyone from the university itself even though I’ve taken the bus route to the campus and back every day and attended the freshers fair, I’ve already noticed most people are in small groups and feel totally isolated with no way of making new friends. Also as this week is freshers week I have loads of vouchers for free nights out and drinks etc, and can’t go because I haven’t any friends yet 
I arrived for private accommodation a week ago in Birmingham for the same reason, and know exactly how you felt! All i can say is, you wont be the only one, and even though your accommodation may put you at a slight disadvantage, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to make new friends. If small groups have formed, everybody is still new, everybody is still scared and everybody wants to make new friends and give a good impression! So be confident, you need to have the guts to go and talk to people at every chance you get, on the freshers bus into town or any chance you do see other people from your uni, be brave and talk to them, nobody knows you and nobody knows any different, giving you a fantastic opportunity to become the kind of person you have always wanted to be, that’s not to say lie, but do sell yourself, be interesting, as well as all the things you’d hope to find in a friend, such as a good listener, up for fun, kind, funny and unbitchy. Be creative, use every chance you get to spark up a conversation, on my first day of uni induction, I noticed a girl by the window trying to get some signal, so i wondered over pretending to have the same problem, just as an ice breaker and a reason to introduce myself! I know what i’ve said so far is kind of general, and your question is more about where you can actually meet people. I was lucky that my course began its inductions within a few days of being here, and this is a really good place to meet people all in the same situation as you, probably with similar interests, but most of all the people that you will be spending the next few years with, so try really hard to portray the good qualities people admire in others towards them, in order to give yourself a good chance at making strong friendships within the class. Give yourself a good chance, introduce yourself to as many people as possible and keep your options open, uni is about meeting new people and experiencing different types of people and environments, be open minded and give even the people you perhaps wouldn’t normally a chance, they may surprise you! Attend as many ice breakers and uni welcomers as you can, although it might be scary on your own,others will be too, it will only force you to talk to and meet people. Another good tool is your uni online forum, try putting up a note explaining that you want to meet people from X area, is anybody studying X, you will find that they’ll be many who want to meet new people, who appreciate your initiative. Join as many facebook groups as you can related to your uni or being a student in brighton, its a good place to meet people without the confrontation! When you get into the uni, look for different society’s that interest you. This is a great way to meet people because you will all be there for one cause, i joined the film society, which is watching a film, and talking about whether you liked it or not afterwards. This is a great place to meet people with a similar humour and taste as my own. If you have anything you are passionate about in particular, like a sport you play, cause you support or team you follow, sign up! When you do meet people, suggest going to do things together such as nights out, because it gives you something to bond with the people over in the future, and gives everyone a chance to show themselves with there hair down, whilst opening more doors to meeting people! Just don’t worry yourself, I spent my first 2 nights here feeling like the loneliest person in the world, its now a week and a half later and it already feels like my home, i’m talking to people, meeting people, and experiencing things i have never done, despite not being the most confident person back home, you are there to enjoy yourself . So don’t sweat it, its only 2 days in, nobody is going to have made friends for life yet, and even if they have, there is no need to say they won’t want one more! obviously being away from the rest of the freshers has set you back slightly, you should just see that as all the more reason to be determined to meet people and be the kind of person others really want to make friends with. Once you have made some friends, it will be easier to go out, and you may even find your niche, where you find lots of people with similar interests as your own. Brighton is an incredibly friendly place, and people from out of town will pick up that vibe, nobody is going to shoot you down for trying to talk to them, if they don’t seem interested, shake yourself off and try somebody else. Good luck, and have fun!