Among other things, the importance of the natural sciences lies in providing insights for practice-oriented areas such as medicine, agriculture or technology. The natural sciences, which deal mainly with inanimate nature or matter, include physics, chemistry, geology and astronomy (exact natural sciences). On the other hand, the biological sciences (biology, genetics, anthropology, physiology) investigate phenomena of living nature or matter.
The most important auxiliary discipline for the natural sciences is mathematics. It deals with problems that can be represented by numbers and geometric figures, and with the formal structures and systems derived from them. Mathematics and science form the foundations of engineering.
The methods of scientists are observing, describing, comparing, arranging, summarizing and measuring. From the data obtained, they develop hypotheses, models and theories. Logical thinking and an affinity for exploring are therefore requirements for a STEM study (mathematics, computer science, science and technology). Since the language of science is English, good knowledge of this language is a prerequisite for successful studies and even for getting admitted at some universities.
Some universities offer pre-courses in chemistry, mathematics, computer science or physics to give insight into how they work during their studies and to close any knowledge gaps. The advice centers of the universities offer information concerning these offers.
