The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprises determining a time-frequency structure of a downlink reference signal, and receiving, from a base station, the downlink reference signal according to the time-frequency structure.