A growing number of international students at an elite Melbourne university are being violently robbed.

Chinese students at Monash University are falling victim to gang violence in the suburban suburb of Clayton - having their wallets, phones and credit cards stolen.

In the last 18 days police have been notified of 13 separate attacks on people as young as 19 to as old as 55, the Herald Sun reported.

Kuan Gao, a 19-year-old Chinese student, had his iPhone and wallet stolen from him by three African men at night when he was walking near the university on April 18.

A growing number of international students at Monash University in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton are being violently robbed, many of whom are Chinese students

'They said very urgently "give us your wallet." In the meantime, one guy asked me to reset my iPhone settings. I knew they were going to rob me,' Mr Gao said.

He said he wasn't able to run away because they blocked him, and the road was too long.

The mugging problem in the area is so bad that there's even posters telling people to beware of thugs.

'Warning: Take care when walking through laneway. There have been several incidents of ­assault and burglaries,' the sign reads.

In the last 18 days police have been notified of 13 separate attacks on people as young as 19 to as old as 55, and are now chasing suspects described as African in appearance (stock image)

Mr Gao said he is now forced to take Ubers home at night, as he needs to walk down the dangerous alleyway to get home.

Another student was mugged at knifepoint near the campus a month earlier, where his attackers even stole the jacket and shirt from his back after taking his brand new iPhone XR.

Some of the victims were subjected to assaults even after giving up their valuables.

Authorities believe the same thugs are targeting people in Burwood, Mulgrave, Mount Waverly, Box Hill, Glen Waverly and Oakleigh.

Police raided homes in Melbourne's south east and arrested suspects over attacks carried out between April 25 and May 12.

A foreign student was mugged at knifepoint near Monash's Clayton campus earlier this year, where his attackers even stole the jacket and shirt from his back after taking his brand new iPhone and wallet (stock image)

Some of the alleged culprits haven't been arrested, and police are after suspects they say are of African appearance.

Police are reminding the public that they'll be ramping up their presence in those areas.

Monash University students are able to be escorted by security to their cars, public transport or colleges.

