A difficult question to answer!! I have a degree in Theoretical Physics and, although I got it 20 years ago, much of the concepts came back to me and many of the formulae were already ingrained! Yes, I'm sure it helped.
However, I couldn't possibly say whether I would have been actually disadvantaged if I didn't have a scientific background. Other aspects of the subject I found difficult; some of the Nav, and the AGK stuff with engines and mechanical bits!!!
Cheers
Whirls