Well, I understand your situation Oo. It's kind of a big answer, but I would be glad if you could read it, hehe.
I'm Brazilian, 22 years old. I could be considered a twink, although I am not that slim anymore, but way far from being considered chubby.
I realized that I was gay when I was 11-12, but we hear so much bad things about gay men, so much prejudice, that it kind of sticks on our mind so I didn't want to accept it. With time I started to pay attention to some characteristics that I liked more on men, and with 15 I saw the term Bear, it was when I finally found myself, that I could really understand what I liked. But since I was a teenager and didn't have any contact with this kind of men, I still couldn't accept myself. When I was 17 - 18 I went to the USA stayed there for a while, well there it's obvious that I saw a lot of Bears, so I started to understand more about it, but still didn't had any change to be with someone. When I came back, a few months later I became friends with a guy, same age as me, and bearish type XD. After a while I realized that I liked him, and I think it was just on that moment that I finally accepted myself Oo.
Because I took so long to accept myself, I still am afraid of coming out, never told anyone I know about it, and the fact that I am not effeminate, helps hiding it. And like you said, it's hard to explain that you are attracted to hairy overweight guys, also my body is not what i consider attractive, and it doesn`t help with my self-stem Oo. And since I never told anyone about it, I don't have to say that this friend of mine don't know that I like him, so makes it even harder.
Well, in Brazil unfortunately there is still a lot of prejudice in here. The Bear community exists, its not that small, but many people here complain about it, it's not like in the USA, or some other countries. Also here there is a lot of violence, and some other problems, and because of all that, I want to go out of the country, next year I am going to Canada. To make it harder, the friend I like is going with me, he's going to be my roommate Oo, and I am really afraid of telling him that I like him, I still don't know if he's straight or not ….
So I understand what you feel about going to another country, about liking bears, etc..
Now, finally answering you question, hehe, you should do your best to accomplish what you want, about the money and you being accepted in the university, there is not much I can say. About the community, well the bear community is known by being receptive.
But you need to remember that this isn't your only chance to go to another country, there is nothing that stop you from going to another country, from trying other stuff. About the money, you could try to find a work, and try to raise some money to keep you there if your parents can't. Don't know how it works for Bulgarians on another countries Oo, but there are countries where the bear community is bigger and you can work and study, so it pretty much would solve your problem if you can't stay on the UK. Well, like I said try your best to accomplish what you want, but you need to know that there are plenty alternatives, you just need to want it.
Well, I hope my answer help you somehow. And if you don't mind, I would like to make a question. How can I get the courage to come out? I've been trying for a while, I want it, but I can't.