A LIBYAN student who sexually assaulted seven girls and women in Melbourne has been jailed for more than five years.

Almahde Ahmad Atagore, 28, had been in Australia only a month and was having trouble adapting to the Australian culture when he committed the attacks, a court heard.

Atagore, who is a Muslim, was upset and sexually aroused at the way women in Australia dressed and behaved, the Victorian County Court heard today.

Between August and September last year Atagore, who was in Australia on a Libyan government scholarship, embarked on a string of sexual assaults over four days in Mentone and at Flinders Street railway station.

His youngest victim was just 13.

Sentencing Atagore, Judge Margaret Rizkalla said she accepted there was a link between the cultural issues, along with Atagore's depression, and the offences.

"It seems you were very ill prepared to deal with cultural differences," she said.

Judge Rizkalla said the assaults required strong condemnation, as they occurred when the victims were simply walking in a public area.

She jailed Atagore, who pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rape, committing an indecent act with a child under 16 and five counts of indecent assault, for five years and three months.

Atagore must serve a minimum of three years in prison before being eligible for parole.

The court heard Atagore, who has already served 259 days in custody, will likely be deported when he completes his sentence.