This is the dramatic moment a monkey raided a university dormitory to steal food, terrifying students who tried in vain to shoo it away.

Footage shows the macaque climbing onto the balcony railing before clambering along to another barrier, where four boys were searching for the intruder at Guizhou University in Guiyang, China.

When the primate suddenly leapt onto the fence directly in front of them, the students screamed in fear and scrambled back inside their room on September 20.

One of the boys even darted into the toilet to hide.

Meanwhile, the seemingly unfazed animal balances effortlessly on the bar.

No one was reportedly harmed in the encounter.

In another clip, the residents bolted out of their dormitory as the monkey dashed down the hallway.

Last year, a primate was also spotted pilfering food from a girls' dormitory at Guiyang University.

The school buildings are located next to the Qianling Mountains, home to a large forest park where monkeys frequently forage for food.

The security offices of both universities have strongly warned students against approaching the monkeys to minimise the risk of harm.