Police will question a group of up to 80 asylum seekers being temporarily housed at Macquarie University following the alleged indecent assault of a student as she slept in her student accommodation in Sydney's north.

A NSW Police spokesman said the group of male asylum seekers, believed to be from Sri Lanka, would be questioned with other people staying on campus after an intruder broke into the 20-year-old woman's room in Marsfield and allegedly assaulted her early on Thursday morning.

A female student was allegedly assaulted while sleeping in her Macquarie University accommodation. Credit:Michel O'Sullivan

Police said the woman was woken about 3.20am by a man who was indecently assaulting her in her room. The man fled from her room when she began screaming.

Detectives set up a crime scene at the student accommodation on Thursday and forensic police examined the student's room.