Students will start receiving carbon tax compensation from today, as the government gears up for the introduction of the tax on July 1.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said more than 315,000 students on Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY will receive $52 million in payments over the coming fortnight.

Students Credit:Peter Braig

The payments - of up to $190 - will be paid directly to eligible students' bank accounts

''This is to assist them with the average flow-through impact of carbon pricing,'' Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra.