I have made several inquiries about this through several avenues, but so far, I have not received an answer. Maybe someone here can help me. I am from Texas, currently attending a community college in my hometown, and hoping to attend a university in London for the fall semester next year (2016). I was looking at third party study abroad agencies, but the more I research the more I think direct enrollment is the better option for me. It would save me some money, I would be more immersed in the culture, and I would be more independent. My dilemma is with scholarships. Has anyone here done this before? Would I be limited in the scholarships I would qualify for? How do I know which ones I can get? Should I just apply for universities and ask this question of whichever university accepts me? I’ve never studied abroad before, so I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the steps I need to take. If anyone has any advice at all they can offer, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you!
First of all, congrats on your adventurousness!
Next, here are a few things about UK universities that you need to know:
=>UK students apply to a specific subject, and that is all they study- no GenEd, majors/minors/electives. So if you study (say) History, the only classes you take are in History.
=>They start at a level equivalent to sophomore year of university in the US and most non-science/non-language subject courses are three years.
=>In most subjects you have few if any choices in what you take (especially first year), which is why most study-abroad programs for the UK are geared towards (US) third year students- there are more (though still limited0 choices.
=>The agencies (or US universities) work with the UK universities to come up with a program that allows US students to fit into the UK system. You are right that direct enrollment would give you a more genuine experience, but direct enrollment as a visiting student is vanishingly rare, and I doubt that you will be able to arrange it. UK universities don’t allow their own students to come in and out for a term, the way that some of the large state universities in the US do- you are expected to come, do your three (or 4, if science/language) years full-time and leave.
=> There is no meaningful scholarship money in the UK even for fully enrolled international students (that is, international students who are doing their whole degree in the UK), and none at all for visiting students. Any scholarships will have to be from US groups.
The best, most cost-effective way for you to study abroad is to enroll in a University whose Tuition/Financial Aid package covers study abroad, and go through your university.
I am sorry to seem so negative- I actually am all for spreading your wings! - but at least you know more about how the system works and can look for solutions that work for you.
The other thing to keep in mind is that you want your classes to be accepted as transfer credit so you might want to check with the school you plan to transfer to after community college to make sure they accept the classes.
The best way to do that is to go to that schools study abroad department and talk to them about which schools in London do they accept transfer credit from.
I’d like to ask why you thought direct enrollment is a better option for you? have you tried to check diversityabroad.com? Not to push you through study abroad platforms but you just might want to reconsider the thought.
My sister applied in a study abroad program with diversityabroad.com I’d second @HumpyDumpy try to check them out, you won’t loose anything by trying 
For real?! @ready100 what country is she off too?
She’s off to Canada. Diversity Abroad has given her quite good choices and showed her a good career track.
Same thing for me, Dou you know anyone else who’s been under one of diversity abroad’s programs?