Four international students have been robbed at knifepoint by a group of thugs aged as young as 12 in recent months.

The latest attack occurred on Thursday night when Korean exchange student Dong Joo Cho, 23, was punched and threatened with a long bladed knife on Ring Road near the university's library.

University of Newcastle international students education and welfare officer Veronica Meneses said violence against foreign students was a problem across Australia, not just in Newcastle.

But she said international students who had been attacked, or knew of others who had been, would go home and tell others not to study here.

"We cannot treat our guests in that manner, especially ones who bring money into the economy," she said.

She said international students created more than 47,000 jobs in Australia.

Ms Meneses said the university needed to provide a shuttle bus service so students were not walking on campus at night.

She said international students were also concerned the violence could escalate and someone could get killed in an attack.

"We are very worried," she said.

"We've had broken noses and people in hospital but you never know if something worse will happen."

Newcastle University Student Association (NUSA) international student convenor Eduardo Carvajal said although attacks on international students had been going on for years they had been getting more violent and frequent.

"The problem's been getting worse and not just in Newcastle," he said.

He said NUSA was also campaigning the NSW Government to give international students travel concession cards so they would not need to walk at night.

NUSA will hold a meeting for international students on May 29 to discuss the recent attacks and travel concession cards.