Embodiments of the present invention provide a bandwidth allocation method and apparatus, user equipment, and a base station. The method includes: receiving, by user equipment, virtual bandwidth configuration information, where the virtual bandwidth configuration information is used for indicating a configuration of a virtual bandwidth; and performing, by the user equipment, signal reception and/or signal processing according to the virtual bandwidth indicated by the virtual bandwidth configuration information, where each virtual bandwidth is a part or all of a downlink maximum available bandwidth or a downlink transmission bandwidth, and the downlink maximum available bandwidth is a maximum bandwidth available for downlink transmission. In the embodiments of the present invention, reduction of overheads and reduction of complexity of signal reception and signal processing are implemented, and overheads and complexity of signal reception and processing feedback can be flexibly controlled.